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Avery 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."
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."
