Presbyterian fan Brian King said he is not mad at North Carolina coach Roy Williams about 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 6 minutes to go when he yelled for Tar Heels forward Deon Thompson to miss a free throw. Williams turned around and 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
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
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kind of sinister actually
Wed, 12/16/2009 - 18:45 — rws10I actually thought it was rather sinister that a basketball coach has that much power, that he can point at someone in the stands and have uniformed police run up and pull him out of the stadium. I watched the video, the guy was in no way drunk or uncooperative, and by all accounts he said nothing rude or vulgar. He did what any rational person would do, which is to hesitate for a moment at the absurdity of the situation, that the police really were there to take him away, without any questioning or anything. And then the police grabbed his shirt and started pulling him faster to the stairs, even though he was already walking in that direction. People need to speak up against this kind of abuse of power, or else next time it might be you the police come for! Shame on Roy Williams, and shame on those police and security officers for doing Roy's bidding instead of protecting the rights and dignity of their citizenry.
Little surprising for Roy
Wed, 12/16/2009 - 15:09 — imsoundBeing a lifelong Jayhawk fan, and the one of the only people in Lawrence at the time who DIDN'T want to burn Roy in effigy, I am surprised that he acted like that....frustration is what it sounds like....
He coached for years in the what is considered by most in college basketball as one of the loudest & roudiest arenas in the country, Allen Fieldhouse. KU fans are unrelenting, ESPECIALLY next to the benches....he should know that this is the way things are in this game....when we have fans from other teams at the Fieldhouse we don't typically let it get that quiet, but if they do get loud, then you take it and move on.....I don't see Bill turning around and giving the opposing fans a hard time...
Seeing a game at Pauley Pavilion, we got loud as KU fans, and guess what UCLA fans did....GOT LOUD BACK.....Drown them out.....it's Basketball, Roy......what happened to him....?
I'm not gonna take any cheap
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 17:32 — mad_maxI'm not gonna take any cheap shots at Roy or blow this out of proportion, but it does seem very much wrong that this happened IMHO. The only thing that has been officially confirmed is that the fan said "Miss it, Deon!". If it was for sure that he was yelling vulgar language or if he had taken any tests to confirm whether or not he was drunk then it would be a different story. I'm sorry, but the fact that there is nothing to go on but assumptions and what a few fans claim they "saw" at the game, leaves me feeling like tossing the fan was unfair. You folks can justify it all you want by saying "he should have recognized where he was sitting" but the fact is, the fan had his ticket just like everybody else and he is allowed to be as loud and obnoxious as he wants. Imagine what would happen if this took a snowball effect...fans getting kicked out every game for "annoying" other fans in stands. If that happens, then just about every UNC fan should be kicked out of the RBC center every year (even the ones that show up when State isn't playing Carolina, I know, it's pretty sad considering State isn't their rival). What makes this even better for Roy-haters (or worse I guess, depending on how you look at it), is Dan Patrick's recent column...haha I see that ACCNow has a thread on that now too.
I agree...the fan was being
Wed, 12/16/2009 - 10:29 — duke_blueI agree...the fan was being a true fan. Supporting his team and harrassing the other. However, you don't get into a pool full of sharks and splash frantically and not expect to get bit. Ticket or no ticket...drunk or not drunk...yelling or not yelling...the guy should feel lucky that he was escorted out by security instead of a couple of angry carolina fans.
Roy was being the coach. Defending his team and their families. Maybe....he was letting out some left over anger issues from a previous game, but still.
Classic...
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 11:23 — ProwlingWoofieWell done, THX1138 !!!
If Roy was a man, he'd apologize. If Baddour had gonads, he'd make him !
When pigs fly....
Rude Fans
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 10:49 — THX1138Dont let the Presbyterian fan fool you. Ol Roy was right to toss the guy. Presbyterian fans are thugs. I have seen their beer-fueled frenzy in the parking lot after their home games. They acost rival fans and non-believers with bibical insults and vigorously pummel them with pillows. It is a little known fact that their team nickname, the Blue Hose, is derived from the Blue Hosers of Death. Roy cannot have people like that in the Dean Dome bothering the intelligensia and the whine and cheese crowd, not to mention the delicate psyche of his free-throw shooters. Several of my Tarheel friends were at the game, or know someone who was, and they were all sitting right next to the Presbyterian fan. They have assured me his behaviour was hightly offensive, and he was smoking crack right before Roy threw him out. Well done, Roy.
The Whine & Cheesy Roy
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 01:28 — bobmacRoy, you were in a basketball arena and not in a library. COME ON, MAN!!!!!!!
I can't wait to see what the Duke Crazies will have ready for 'ole Roy.
Roy Boy What were you Thinking?
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 00:31 — unc1dmoRoy Boy has a stiff for a PG who was torched in the Garden and Rupp arena....and The guy in the stands was too kind to Thompson...he should have yelled hey "Charmin Soft" ....miss the shot...
Will already be a long day in Dallas...Those 2 weak links will DOOM this team in every BIG Game this season..... ....
And if that is not enough to deal with already ..... Roy goes "Elin Woods" on a fan ...
Roy and his team better now be prepared for 40 minutes of verbal HE!! in every road arena...looks like "3rd Reich Roy" has the noise covered in the Cheese & Whine Dome....but this will hopefully blow up on him on the road.....the dumb A** deserves it !!!!!
ROY
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 23:36 — beavus43LOOKS LIKE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOW THE LATEST CASUALTY IN THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHAPEL HILL.
Interesting how in an
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 00:16 — chrismg1Interesting how in an article about a Presbyterian fan being escorted out of an arena people feel the need to invoke the names of Obama and Hitler. Maybe if some of you yell loudly enough, Glenn Beck will do a show about how innocent christian conservatives are being shut out of sports arenas all over the nation in some vast left-wing conspiracy.
who really knows what went on, and for that matter who cares. Judging from this guy's comments I can buy the official story from security officers about his being uncooperative. He seems like one of those obnoxious fans who will scream and yell at the players unceasingly. I would expect a similar reaction in the RBC center or Cameron if someone was to sit behind the bench and yell obnoxiously. From the tone of his comments he seems like he has an ax to grind as well. That said, the guy needed to recognize where he was (in the section largely made up of players friends and family) and that the people sitting in that area would probably be less tollerable to his yelling than fans in other sections.
He may or may not have been intoxicated, but from some of the comments already posted, it seems some ACCNow posters are.
So what?
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 23:20 — MRCPack17I think this whole issue has been blown way out of proportion. With that said, I think Roy may have over reacted a bit, but so what? Coaches blow up all the time in collegiate sports. Just look at the numerous outbursts from Bobby Knight, Coach K, Jim Calhoun, or even that OK State coach who is determined to let everyone know that he's a man. My point here is that when coaches get heated about an issue, they have a tendency to lash out. To that same end, numerous fans have been removed from games for indecent behavior. As a die-hard State fan, I've seen numerous drunken and out of line fans (Wolfpack fans and visiting fans) be escorted out of CF. I've read some comments, not on this site, that are demanding Roy make a public apology and some even calling for his head to roll. As lovely as the world would be with a Roy-less Chapel Hill, those people are going too far and they seem to be caught up in a witch hunt. As much as I enjoy seeing negative press about the Tar Holes, I don't think this is the right incident for trollers to hang their hats on. But it is going to be fun to see how some of the UNC's opposing fans treat this incident when the Heels come to town.
Roy needs to worry about
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 22:13 — huddogRoy needs to worry about what's happening on the court and not in the stands. The pain killers must have worn out.
next up will be mandatory
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:12 — dsspr1next up will be mandatory lessons on how to properly cheer.....not too loud, with a touch of soft applause, to compliment the tender feelings of the young lads on the court....
Cameron, RBC and every other basketball arena will eagerly await 'ol Roy's visit
but
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:32 — gvillegatrwill you eagerly await a loss that will come with Roy's entrance!? ...
lamb chops will be served in
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:55 — dsspr1lamb chops will be served in generous portions this season
Final Score from the Smith Center
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 20:52 — boheathObama "Won"
Presbyterians "Nothing"
Way to go Roy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Again, wtf does Obama have
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 22:11 — wevaughaAgain, wtf does Obama have to do with this discussion?
Roy
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 20:51 — PACK_MIKE77Attending a game in Carmichael Auditorium a few years ago as an opposing fan, I was asked repeatedly where I got my tickets. I got them from a season ticket holder. Carolina fans are not tolerant of opposing fans in their complex and they do try to intimidate and stop the practice of ticket holders giving tickets to opposing fans. Hence, the whine and cheese crowd. This will become reality when UNC is the only school allowing wine to their Educational Foundation members at their sporting events.
Check out the sleeveless button down blue sweaters that is now the uniform in the Dean Dome.
are you really this dumb?
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:02 — gvillegatrthis coming from a fan base that claims they WILL NOT give up home football tickets to UNC fans every other year! good one, chump! douche!
Pack_Mike77
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:02 — Heels20It's a long way from 1983, ain't it?
robbi robbi robbi robbi
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 20:51 — Worz4UNCmuch ado about nothing but YOU think it's news to report WHAT HE SAID
this is truly middle school journalism which ONLY serves to arouse the ABCers and their neanderthal opinions
vanity......irony.....or just roy...
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 20:50 — asartainCan't put my finger on it....maybe a Duke English Major can help me out.....but isn't this the same "Roy" that wore a Kansas shirt to the championship game two nights after they stomped unc???.....now he says that nobody can come in their house and say negative things about his team???.......there's just something wrong with a guy that can see no wrong in either of those situations....
?
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:01 — Heels20The comment on the Kansas sticker (which as a UNC fan, I had no problem with) is so far off-topic that I don't even know how to address it.
Furthermore, I find it interesting that you moronic UNC haters don't have any suspicions on why Roy, in his 21 seasons worth of remarks WAY worse than "miss it," suddenly decided to direct security to a fan for nothing. Bias, or pure stupidity? I would let you decide, but I feel that you are most likely incapable.
Speaking of Obama Lovers
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 20:49 — boheathWill Roy invite Obama to the Dean Dome for another pick up game?????????????
ABC Zombies on the prowl ....
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 19:42 — AgentPiercecomparing Roy to the greatest serial killers, mass murderers, and societal riff-raff of all-time !!!! Yee Haaaa ..... it's a ABC bottom-feeders Mardi Gras!
Imagine that scene in Night of The Living Dead as the zombies march towards the farm house .... except tonight "they" are on the prowl to devour Ol' Roy. "It" literally does not get any better than this. LOOK OUT ROY ..... here come the ABC zombies!
have you seen the video??
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 19:34 — gvillegatrI saw it last night courtesy of a friend on facebook via wral sports page site. If it is still up go look at the guy. He can't even walk. the cop had to brace his arm as Brian attempted to walk across the aisle.
Also, I have seen this guys FB page and he was not so corgial (msp?) there as he was to Ken or Robbi about Coach Williams.
Me thinky this guy is the one who is trying to hide the skeletons so-to-speak.
and lets not forget who threw Coach Williams son, Scott, out of a basketball game a few years ago ... THE RAT!
You need to watch the video
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 22:06 — wevaughaYou need to watch the video again. The man didn't have any trouble walking. The cop grabbed his arm to force him out of the stadium. The man was reluctant to give up his seat because he DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. Roy Williams acted like an ass. He should have shown more character after the game by admitting that he might have overreacted a bit.
Two things
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 12:32 — Heels201. The man does look hammered in the video.
2. I was actually there to witness him staggering from section to section. I have friends who saw him running his mouth and slurring words outside the Dean Dome before the game even started.
The point is
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 15:52 — duke_bluedrunk or not....the guy should have realized where he was sitting and kept his mouth shut. He was basically dis-respectful. I don't like Roy, but I do respect him and he is a damn good coach. Cough...cough....
Two conditions would have to apply for me to step foot in the Dean Dome:
1. Someone gave me the ticket. From moment one I would be looking for someone to trade seats with, because I sure as he11 wouldn't be sitting anywhere near the holes bench. 20 rows is a good distance back, but not far enough for me. So Roy, you better believe that once I was sitting in a more opposing team friendly section, I would be yelling my "a" off for Deon to miss a free throw. No matter how I got the ticket. This is a highly aggressive fan based conference. Get used to it!
2. They would have to be playing Duke of course!!
Roy showed his rearend just
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 19:17 — tboard47Roy showed his rearend
just like Tiger Woods did but on a different subject
pure unaldulterated arrogance by "gods"
Roy being Roy doesn't cut it
Roy looked like and acted like a donkey
He should stand up like a man and apologise
to the young man
and UNC should not say he was intoxicated
talk about stupid of the school- I would sue
"UNC should not say he was
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 19:22 — Heels20"UNC should not say he was intoxicated
talk about stupid of the school- I would sue"
Yes, as I watched him stagger from section to section, my first thought was, "hey, he's sober!"
I'm sure you would sue, that's the solution to everything for all you Obama lovers.
WTF does Obama have to do
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 22:08 — wevaughaWTF does Obama have to do with it? You're an embarrassment to your alma mater.
I'll only address this one more time...
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 12:29 — Heels20When was the last time a conservative said "Aw he got thrown out even though he deserved it. He should sue because he got his feelings hurt"?
wait, what, a non-democrat
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 19:27 — noneyabusinesswait, what, a non-democrat tarhole?!
You just earned the slightest bit of respect from me.
Your boys are the ones
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 19:30 — Heels20Your boys are the ones talking about suing a coach who asked security to check a man's ticket. You don't see too many conservatives doing that...
Just Roy Being Roy ....
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 18:18 — AgentPierceJust Roy Being Roy .... no big deal .... no need to spin it.
Critics of Roy will gnaw on it for a few years but otherwise no biggie.