Monday, December 14, 2009

Ejected fan: I had tickets, wasn't drunk

Presbyterian fan Brian King said he is not mad at North Carolina coach Roy Williams after being tossed out of Saturday's game at the Smith Center. But he is upset about how he was portrayed.

"I didn't say anything vulgar, I was not intoxicated ... I was cheering for Presbyterian," King, who is from Concord, said. " I was excited to see my little team play a big team. ... When it happened, it was so quiet in the arena; at that point, everyone was talking about their golf scores and portfolios, and I was still cheering. Coach Williams didn't like it, that's all. I don't blame him, but he did over-react."

King was sitting about 20 rows behind Carolina's bench with about six minutes to go when he yelled for Tar Heels forward Deon Thompson to miss a free throw. Williams turned around the looked up at King, and soon three officers were on their way into the stands, and asked King to leave.

"I asked why?" King said in a phone interview. "And I was told, 'Because this is Roy's house, and when Roy says you need to go, you go.' I thought it was sort of amusing."

However, he added: "Never did anyone ask me for my ticket, because ... I had at least two in my pocket, from people who didn't show up."

Steve Kirschner, UNC's associate athletics director for communications, said Williams did not ask for King to be tossed out.

"Coach Williams asked security to go find out if the guy was supposed to be sitting there, because where the guy was sitting is very close -- it's right across, the aisle, I think -- from where Coach Williams' seats are," Kirschner said. " ... When he has seats that he gives himself, personally, or from the basketball office, he wants to make sure those are Carolina people sitting in those seats. So when he turned around and he's looking up there and people are pointing the guy out, he thought those were seats he had given out. So he asked the security guy behind the bench.

"He did not tell the security guy to go get the guy and throw him out."

Randy Young, spokesman for UNC's department of public safety, said that King initially ignored police officers when they approached him.

"Then he began a conversation with them, and he was still not cooperative," Young said. "When he finally made his way across the aisles, they tried to engage him in conversation. He was still relatively uncooperative. At that point it was in the officers' opinion that he had been drinking. At which point they made the decision that it would be better for himself and others that he was escorted from the building. He was not arrested, no charges were pressed, no trespass orders were issued. That was it. He was simply escorted from the building."

King, who was attendting the game with a half-dozen of his former elementary school friends (who were UNC fans) reiterated that he was not drunk. He said again that he was not angry with Williams, but about how the situation was "spun" afterwards: "I've coached little league basketball, and I understand emotions get hot, I really have no problem with happened there. But they tried to portray me as an intoxicated person and that wasn't true."

-- Robbi Pickeral and Ken Tysiac

45 comments:

Locoman said...

Williams should be ashamed of himself.Isn't it interesting how the story changed the next day. Big bucks at work again

Anonymous said...

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a UNC fan, but that shouldn't change how this story is approached. My first reaction was that King had to have said something bad that wasn't being reported, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Roy should have been smart enough to stay quiet about a fan for a school that his team was beating by 40, rather than giving Duke and every other school fodder for harassing him and the rest of the team. He was overstepping his authority by asking security about this guy's seat or whatever he was doing, and he deserves all of the criticism he is currently receiving for this mistake.

Anonymous said...

Poor Poor Ole Roy. How dare someone enter the Dean Dome and not be a Carolina fan. Perhaps he was more upset at the fact that the wine and cheese Tar Hole fans won't sell out the arena out when it's not a top 25 opponent, allowing other schools fans access to tickets.

Shame on Roy for being a poor sport and a spoiled brat. Whether he wants to believe it or not, there are actually some people out there that don't cheer for the TarHoles.

Anonymous said...

zzzzz this is news. Aguy gets ejected from a college basketball game ...Hot of the press Sarah Palin has square glasses!

Anonymous said...

here, check out this link. hopefully it still works. roy is a piece of work...

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/video/6605651/

Anonymous said...

This is the kind of investigative reporting the Observer should be doing. No don't bother figuing out why the city just checked off every item on the 2010 plan for Uptown but hasn't completed one item on the plan for east Charlotte. What we really need is a play by play on the horrid injustice of a guy getting thown out of a basketball game with a full investigation into the justification. Let half the city be driven into the ground that's not news but a man was thrown out of a game 'unjustly' and it's time to call Michael Moore? sigh

Anonymous said...

The young PC fan SHOULD be mad at Williams. Who's the older person? Whose team was winning by a lot? Did Williams REALLY believe what he told reporters? Did he REALLY believe a missed free throw would make a difference?

Does he really believe he was justified? Or is he just so entitled no one can sit near the privileged area and DARE to yell at EweNC?

He needs to write the young man an apology and send him tickets in the "portfolio/golf score" area and admit he overreacted. And never do anything like that again.

Anonymous said...

Another reason to hate Carolina again. Thanks for giving us another reason.

I'm sure someone will give him front row tickets to the Duke/Carolina game at Cameron behind the Carolina bench.

Anonymous said...

1982 Grad....this is disturbing. I love Roy as a basketball coach. I think his visoion off the court may be clouded. Some of his comments make me think HE may be the one that has been drinking. I guess when he retires he can get a job with The Panthers, they like to throw folks out for just standing up.

Roy could clear this whole thing up and make a great PR move by giving this guy tickets to a upcoming game.

Anonymous said...

Who cares...it's his house, his rules. If this really bothers you that much, then you must have done something really wrong early in your life.

Anonymous said...

Stay Klassy, Karolina, stay Klassy. This is why the rest of the world hates UNX.

Hoagie58 said...

"I dont think anyone should say negative things towards our players". Are you freaking kidding me??? Up to this point, I was indifferent too the Tarheels. Thanks Roy- your bullshit attitude has cost you at least one fan. NEVER have I seen a player ejected from a sporting event for saying bad things about the home team's players-EVER. And the "I thought they were my seats" excuse- what the hell ever! Frankly, I hope the guy gets an attorney, and sues the crap out of Roy and the Tarheels for defamation. Pure bullshit!

Anonymous said...

So fans should not say anything insulting to a player anymore? OK Roy, the next time a UNC fan makes fun of an oopponent's player or heckles them, that UNC fan should get tossed immediately.

Of course this won't happen (and I actually don't think it should) but this just shows what I've said about Williams for years. He's an arrogant SOb who thinks he's bigger than the game, and the UNC sheep just smile and follow.

Anonymous said...

I know someone sitting near where it happened. It was very harmless, and the kid was not uncooperative. There are 3 wrongs here,,,throwing the kid out, lying about the reasoning by the pigs that tossed him, and coach RW hiding behind some insignificant spokesperson that delivers the weasel words. What a low rent, cowardly crew.

Jerry said...

question is why did it take the O so long to cover this story?? It was on yahoo sports yesterday. Had I been kicked out of Roy's house I would be alot richer right now then I was yesterday and Roy would be--well thats not true UNC would have less money to spend on covering up stories like Roys temper

Anonymous said...

I guess we need to go back to piping in fake fan noise, like we used to, to keep the fans from other schools from being heard.

Yours truly,

Dean Smiff

Anonymous said...

Good night. I knew there was a reason I don't like Basketball much to begin with - and dislike Carolina Basketball above all other forms!

Ft. Mill Bobcat said...

Anon 6:51pm, thanks for the link
http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/video/6605651/

In the video, Roy glares at the fan and says "Shut the f*ck up. Yeah I am talking to you." Then the police take the confused Presbyterian fan out of the arena. Roy owes the opposing fan an apology and UNC owes him some form of compensation. If Larry Brown said this to an opposing fan during a Bobcat game, he would be suspended.

Anonymous said...

Roy is becoming Bobby Knight as he ages. We will see a chair on the court pretty soon.

Anonymous said...

how sad...poor little Roy working his own book of Roy. I guess when it's quiet in the Dean (Im not dead yet) dome you can pick and chose your ejections. I can only wish I was there. I would give you a reason to eject me.

University of No CLASS, just came front and center. When I purchase my tickets, I promise you I will say what I want, when I want. You have an issue, bring it.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like old Roy is become the dad he talks about in his book. Totally classless...Nect time one of his players says the F word what will Rod do?

Anonymous said...

I was at the game, sitting behind the PC benches 15 rows up. At the start of the game this tool was seated about 5 rows closer than me. For the whole first half he was saying offensive things, dropping f-bombs loudly, insulting players from both teams, etc., trying to get a rise out of people sitting around him. When the second half started he didn't make his way back down to his seat but sat a few rows directly behind me. The guy was definitely drunk (or doing the best drunk guy impersonation ever). It quieted down behind me and I didn't know where he went until the commotion that ended with him being escorted out. He was definitely displaying behavior highly inappropriate for any game outside of Cameron.

JoshH said...

I actually have some inside info on this dude. I was at Four Corners on Franklin St. the majority of the day on Saturday to watch the App. State game. This dude was almost kicked out of the bar for causing a scene and yelling profanity. If he wasn't drunk the guys definately got some other issues.

Anonymous said...

Anytime a person admits to having a few beers but then says they weren't intoxicated, you have to pull the BS flag on that. I know I've said it myself. He doesn't want to make himself sound bad because clearly his company knows about it now. Roy definitely was over the top with his actions but from multiple accounts of people that witnessed the "drunk" it sounds like he deserved it. "I wasn't intoxicated!" Ha, please. You had all day to drink and prepare for this game, you were hammered pal.

Anonymous said...

I worked with Brian for a number of years. He DOES NOT drink. He is a fine man and a very hard worker.

I guess you can beleive what you want.

The bottom line is UNCC Should fill up the arena. Not Brian's fault that he was able to score great tickets.

On the video the police had no right to pull on his shirt. Must have been the rent-a-cop campus police.

Anonymous said...

The bottom line is "The Coach" handles this poorly. Not much more to the story than that.

For a major level basketball coach to engage a member of the crowd is poor taste. "Redneck" may be a better work bit that may flatter Mr. Williams.

I guess there is a big differnce in saying the "F Word" on your post game show which is heard by thousands and saying you do not give a Sh** about NC on National Television to be heard by millions. I guess there is a double standard/

Anonymous said...

9:05 ANON....I must have missed the part where he said he had a "few" beers.

Anonymous said...

"When it happened, it was so quiet in the arena; at that point, everyone was talking about their golf scores and portfolios, and I was still cheering."

Sorry, but that jab right there proves he is and was an ass. I side with security on this one.

Unknown said...

"The bottom line is UNCC Should fill up the arena. Not Brian's fault that he was able to score great tickets."

Please do not confuse our fine institution here in Charlotte with that classless operation to the East.

Anonymous said...

It sad that the newspaper even reports on something so stupid and trivial in sucha detailed manner. And then the morons pop out of the woodwork and feed into the garbage nd legitimize it.

Anonymous said...

Is it really "Roy's house"? I was under the impression that UNC is a public university. Roy just needs to coach his team, not the fans.

Anonymous said...

A couple people I know were sitting by him and smelled alcohol on his breath...he had drank that much...plus he almost fell over he was so drunk. He wouldn't even respond to the cops...but don't let the facts get in the way of some good ol fashioned ABC Roy bashing.

Anonymous said...

I was at the game and had listen to this idiot for too long. He was drunk, obnoxious and very disrespectful. There were kids and ladies near by and they should not have been subjective to that type of language. It was not until he threw something onto the court that he got Coach Williams' attention. For the poster that accuses the Coach for using the "f" word, review it again. He does not. The two police officers were extremely patient with the jerk, but after several minutes of being belligerent, a sheriff's deputy arrived and then the three of them escorted the guy out. As a woman used her cell phone to video tape the whole thing, this dimwit flips her off and cusses her out, too. The real issue should be, why wasn't he arrested? He sure should have been. For those that hate Carolina, keep hating, you'll have a lot to hate for a LONG time.

Anonymous said...

Let's see here. Roy gets new suit, Roy falls and hits head in office, Roy has shoulder surgery, UNC mascot has difficulity getting to bathroom at halftime. Those are all stories I have seen. And you people complain that this story is trivial and unworthy of coverage. Take off the baby blue glasses people. Roy screwed up and you all know it and so does he. Pick a more worthy hero!

Anonymous said...

Roy needs to stop wearing that american flag pin on his lapel because what he did was unamerican.Cry baby roy......doesn't he practice crowd noise during free throw practice? Tiger's dad used to jiggle change in his pocket's while tiger putted in order to distract him,and it made tiger the world's #1 golfer because it made him concentrate and tune out any noise.I guess roy boy doesn't know how to teach that.Roy needs to climb back in the tanning bed and chill out!!

Anonymous said...

Coach K looks like the kid-catcher in the old "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" movie.

To be a Pukie, you must be an ugly white kid or a gay black. What's the connection?

Anonymous said...

Commenting about K's looks and referring to Duke fans, which I am not, as "pukies" Very classy.

Anonymous said...

Here's the issue -- Roy is pissed that Carolina fans are giving tickets to fans from opposing schools. He made a comment around the Michigan State game that he hadn't given tickets to people who had asked because they hadn't come to the Gardner Webb game.

Anonymous said...

I am not a UNC fan. I hope that King files suit against UNC as neither Roy or the "security" will take responsibility for their heavy handed behavior and the defamation of King's character. I'm sure that there is a good graduate of Duke or Wake Law School who would enjoy dishing it at Roy and UNC. It is a three point shot and a slam dunk. Roy should be ashamed for showing his true colors. As for UNC security, they acted with the stupidity that we've come to expect from campus cops! I hope that Mr. King stands up for his rights!

Anonymous said...

...BREAKING NEWS: Ejected fan actually Coach K's son-in-law and he's suing Roy to have the Dean Dome name changed to Krzyzewski Palace!

Anonymous said...

Don't make me wrong. Being drunk or not is not the point. It's not important who tells he was drunk or who tells he was not drunk. Was he driving? No. Since when people cannot get drunk to watch a game? Since when getting a cope to escort a fan out of arena becomes coaches' job description. Since when saying f words deserves being arrested? Since when Carolina fans become clueless? Your coach fucked it up. Admit it.

Brian said...

"I DONT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT CAROLINA"

Don't get mad at me. Roy Williams said the same thing.

Youtube it and you will see.

Anonymous said...

A ticket to a sporting event is a revocable license. They can toss him for anything, including profanity and other inappropriate behavior. It says it on the back of the ticket to any major sporting event.

Anonymous said...

Coach Roy is just the latest in a long line of carolina blue tools....

Anonymous said...

The guy was drunk!!!! He was with blue (w)hoses. And as for Coach k talk. Do you guys recall a Maryland player Mr. Veal. Couch k had to throw half the duke fans out for throwing rubbers and used tampons on the court.Real class like the rest of you tampon holders. Happy Holidays.