Other Sports Deputy Dogg

Great Expectations · 12-14-2009, 11:38 AM

Roy Williams has fan kicked out of game Reply
For being too "negative" towards his player shooting free throws.

Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:44 pm EST

Roy Williams kicks out heckling fan at the Dean Dome
By Chris Chase

With six minutes to go in North Carolina's blowout win over Presbyterian yesterday at The Dean Dome, Roy Williams instructed security personnel to eject a fan who had heckled the Heels' Deon Thompson during a free throw attempt. The man, wearing a Presbyterian shirt and sitting a few rows behind the Carolina bench, yelled "hey Deon, don't miss it!" during the second free throw, which caused Williams to turn around, exchange some words and, eventually, point him out to security. WRAL has video of the incident.

Drunk, profane fans are a menace at games, but there's no indication the ejected party was either of those things. "Hey Deon, don't miss it," is about as tame a taunt as there gets in a college basketball arena. That may be the nicest heckle Deon Thompson hears all season. When the Tar Heels go play at Duke, such a statement might be considered a compliment.

When asked about the move after the game, Williams said:

"I don't think anybody should yell anything negative at our players. Period. Let's don't make it a bigger thing than it is. But I just don't think anybody should yell negative things toward our players (when) you come in on our tickets to watch our game."

Let's not make it a bigger thing than it is? That's easy to say after Roy himself made it a bigger thing by having some cops grab a guy who was rooting for his team in an acceptable (if slightly obnoxious) manner. If the other people sitting around the Presbyterian fan were offended, they could have gone to security themselves. What's a two-time national championship coach doing worrying about what some guy from a tiny little school is saying in a game that his team would end up winning by 39? Isn't this a little beneath Roy Williams?

Because Roy is normally such an affable guy and this came in a meaningless game in the middle of December, there won't be much criticism lobbed his way. There should be. It was inappropriate for Williams to censor a fan that wasn't breaking any rules. He overstepped his bounds and should be embarrassed about his actions.

Dan Wiederer makes a good point on his blog The Fast Break: If Mike Krzyzewski had ejected a heckler at Cameron Indoor can you imagine what the public outcry would have been? We'd be comparing him to Kim-Jong Il. When good ol' Roy does it, it's folky and home-spun and protective of his players.

It's a little thing and, in the long run, not a big deal. On most nights, Roy Williams is as classy a man as there is in college basketball. Saturday, as we all do sometimes, he slipped up.

**TrebMaxx** · 12-14-2009, 11:50 AM

IMHO, that was not very classy on Roy's part. Would he do the same to a NC fan when an opposing player is attempting an free throw?

CoMoChief · 12-14-2009, 11:53 AM

Roy could give a shit about Presbyterian basketball fans.

kepp · 12-14-2009, 11:57 AM

I'm sure that's not the whole story, but even if it's half of it, it was not a classy move by Roy.

**Rain Man** · 12-14-2009, 01:16 PM

Wow. This could completely change the nature of road games.

"Uh, security? These 10,000 people are being negative toward my players. Please remove them."

journeyscarab · 12-14-2009, 01:25 PM

Was it this guy?

12-14-2009, 11:38 AM
Great Expectations MVP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Joplin, MO Casino cash: $13272338	Deputy Dogg Roy Williams has fan kicked out of game Reply For being too "negative" towards his player shooting free throws. Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:44 pm EST Roy Williams kicks out heckling fan at the Dean Dome By Chris Chase With six minutes to go in North Carolina's blowout win over Presbyterian yesterday at The Dean Dome, Roy Williams instructed security personnel to eject a fan who had heckled the Heels' Deon Thompson during a free throw attempt. The man, wearing a Presbyterian shirt and sitting a few rows behind the Carolina bench, yelled "hey Deon, don't miss it!" during the second free throw, which caused Williams to turn around, exchange some words and, eventually, point him out to security. WRAL has video of the incident. Drunk, profane fans are a menace at games, but there's no indication the ejected party was either of those things. "Hey Deon, don't miss it," is about as tame a taunt as there gets in a college basketball arena. That may be the nicest heckle Deon Thompson hears all season. When the Tar Heels go play at Duke, such a statement might be considered a compliment. When asked about the move after the game, Williams said: "I don't think anybody should yell anything negative at our players. Period. Let's don't make it a bigger thing than it is. But I just don't think anybody should yell negative things toward our players (when) you come in on our tickets to watch our game." Let's not make it a bigger thing than it is? That's easy to say after Roy himself made it a bigger thing by having some cops grab a guy who was rooting for his team in an acceptable (if slightly obnoxious) manner. If the other people sitting around the Presbyterian fan were offended, they could have gone to security themselves. What's a two-time national championship coach doing worrying about what some guy from a tiny little school is saying in a game that his team would end up winning by 39? Isn't this a little beneath Roy Williams? Because Roy is normally such an affable guy and this came in a meaningless game in the middle of December, there won't be much criticism lobbed his way. There should be. It was inappropriate for Williams to censor a fan that wasn't breaking any rules. He overstepped his bounds and should be embarrassed about his actions. Dan Wiederer makes a good point on his blog The Fast Break: If Mike Krzyzewski had ejected a heckler at Cameron Indoor can you imagine what the public outcry would have been? We'd be comparing him to Kim-Jong Il. When good ol' Roy does it, it's folky and home-spun and protective of his players. It's a little thing and, in the long run, not a big deal. On most nights, Roy Williams is as classy a man as there is in college basketball. Saturday, as we all do sometimes, he slipped up.
Posts: 7,233

12-14-2009, 11:50 AM	#2
TrebMaxx Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Peoples Republic of CoMo Casino cash: $977252	IMHO, that was not very classy on Roy's part. Would he do the same to a NC fan when an opposing player is attempting an free throw?
Posts: 4,336

12-14-2009, 11:53 AM	#3
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $7982254	Roy could give a shit about Presbyterian basketball fans.
Posts: 39,174

12-14-2009, 11:57 AM	#4
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $5149212	I'm sure that's not the whole story, but even if it's half of it, it was not a classy move by Roy.
Posts: 14,512

12-14-2009, 01:16 PM	#5
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2818491 VARSITY	Wow. This could completely change the nature of road games. "Uh, security? These 10,000 people are being negative toward my players. Please remove them." __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,840

12-14-2009, 01:25 PM	#6
journeyscarab SHOCKERS BABY! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Overland Park, KS Casino cash: $3463555	Was it this guy?
Posts: 3,414