Avery Johnson's wife charged with assault

[Adidas410s]

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and reserve center DJ Mbenga, who was inactive and in street clothes for Game 4, entered the stands late in the first quarter after Cassandra Johnson, wife of Mavs coach Avery Johnson, got into a dispute with two Suns fans.

Cuban and Mbenga were joined by team security coordinator Jim Colleran in a section overlooking the Mavs' bench to check on Cassandra Johnson. A misdemeanor assault complaint was reportedly later filed by the fans against Johnson for allegedly shoving and swearing at them.

It was not immediately known if Cuban or Mbenga are facing sanction from the league for going into the stands. NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said the incident would be reviewed by the league office Wednesday.

Then-New York center Antonio Davis was suspended for five games in January for entering the stands during a game at Chicago to confront a fan he thought was harassing his wife. But Davis, in that scenario, was an active participant in the game who was penalized for what NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson described as "breaking the barrier from the court into the stands."

It was not immediately clear whether the actions of an owner and/or an inactive player would be interpreted similarly.

Cuban tried to downplay the incident at halftime, calling it "a non-event."

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

[Phil C]

The problem is that some people don't know how to behave like good guests while others don't know how to behave like a good gracious host.

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Phil C
The problem is that some people don't know how to behave like good guests while others don't know how to behave like a good gracious host.

I would be glad to conduct a 2 hour class on this subject for them if the NBA wanted and felt like they needed it (which seems to be the case) for a nominal fee plus expenses say about $5 grand? :)

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by Phil C
I would be glad to conduct a 2 hour class on this subject for them if the NBA wanted and felt like they needed it (which seems to be the case) for a nominal fee plus expenses say about $5 grand? :)

That's less than those people pay to sit in those seats next to the bench anyways!

[Emerson1]

Marc Stein is an idiot, probably not even true.

And I'm sure DJ or Mark Cuban really don't care if they are fined. The fan is just trying to get money anyways.

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by Emerson1
Marc Stein is an idiot, probably not even true.

And I'm sure DJ or Mark Cuban really don't care if they are fined. The fan is just trying to get money anyways.

I first heard this reported on Mike and Mike this morning so I'm sure it has some legitimacy if ESPN is reporting it.

[Emerson1]

Once again Marc Stein doesn't get all the facts


Johnson’s wife involved in altercation with fans
By Mercedes Mayer
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

PHOENIX — A pair of Phoenix Suns fans filed a misdemeanor assault complaint against the wife of Mavericks coach Avery Johnson after an altercation during Tuesday night’s Game 4.

Jose Martinez, 34, of Scottsdale, Ariz., accused Cassandra Johnson of shoving him and his fiancee, Rebecca Kettle, 32, and swearing at them in the first quarter of the Mavs’ 106-86 loss at US Airways Center.

Johnson said she didn’t touch the couple, only asked them to "not get up so much so my son can see the game."

Johnson was sitting in the lower bowl with her two children in seats the family purchased instead of tickets provided by the team. She said her family dealt with unruly Suns fans during Game 3 on Sunday and wasn’t going to sit by idly this time.

"(Kettle) got belligerent, so I went off and got an usher," Johnson said. “I told (the usher) it was going to be heated, I needed to get some help.

"I didn't want to embarrass my husband or anyone in the Mavericks organization."

Johnson said the only contact she had with the pair came when Martinez brushed her away. Several Suns fans surrounding Johnson were shouting at her, and Martinez said Johnson's children were both crying.

Martinez said Johnson shoved Kettle and, as he was trying to separate the two women, Johnson shoved him.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban, team director of security Jim Colleran and inactive center DJ Mbenga went into the stands on Johnson’s behalf. Cuban asked the Johnson family to move to the locker room or a suite for the remainder of the game.

Security escorted Kettle and Martinez, who are partial season-ticket holders, to other seats . As they were being relocated, Kettle made an obscene gesture at Johnson.

Jon Bloom, the Suns' director of security, said that aggravated the situation, and Kettle was forced to leave the arena.

As the situation unfolded, a clearly concerned Avery Johnson looked into the stands during a timeout. The Johnsons have been married 14 years.

Martinez and Kettle didn’t know they were dealing with Johnson's wife but did think it was a Mavs player’s wife.

Martinez, speaking on behalf of Kettle, said Johnson refused to leave her seat, and, "ultimately, they threw (Kettle) out of the game. We have no disrespect for Coach Johnson — we were just there to cheer."

Cuban called the situation a "non-event," saying it was only something because it was Johnson’s wife.

"I heard something went on, but we've been in situations before on the road," Avery Johnson said. "When you're on the road, things happen, people throw stuff at you. We'll see what happened. I haven't talked to her yet."

[Adidas410s]

That is the story that was reported by Mike and Mike. It didn't include the part about the fans gesture or them eventually being removed...but it did state that she requested security help. Also, Marc Stein's story was originally posted last night before the game even ended. It was then revised about an hour after the game to include the comment about the possible assault charge. He was simply reporting the facts as he received them. I don't see what the problem is with Stein here. He is usually on the 10AM-12PM local ESPN Radio show here giving Mavs updates and I have found him to be knowledgeable and accurate in his reporting.

[shadow13]

Was she really charged with an assault?

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by shadow13
Was she really charged with an assault?

Every report that I have read said that she was charged with a misdameanor assault.

[Emerson1]

She should charge sexual harassment charges on the guy that touched her.

[Bullaholic]

I just wish the Mavs team would have showed as much "fight" last night as the coach's wife.

[District303aPastPlayer]

why would mark cuban get fined for going into the stands? isnt he already sitting there??

[Bullaholic]

Originally posted by District303aPastPlayer
why would mark cuban get fined for going into the stands? isnt he already sitting there??

My guess is that the NBA frowns on any member of team mangement or player going into another part of the stands with any violent intent or envolvement.

[shadow13]

Why is it that some people always rant and rave and talk smack to someone and when that person starts back at them ,they run to the police. First of all this a woman watching the game with her kids, what kind of deadly assault could she have committed. I think the law needs to be redefined,because now of days you can file charges on someone for looking at you wrong,anyway shouldn't there be witnesses before someone can be charged with a crime, or is it just the word of the cpl. filing.

[kaorder1999]

i havent seen one article that says she was charged with anything. where are these articles. maybe i am just overlooking them

[Maroon87]

Originally posted by shadow13
Why is it that some people always rant and rave and talk smack to someone and when that person starts back at them ,they run to the police.

Word...:)