Post by MIKE MACALUSO on May 2, 2005 10:34:16 GMT -5
Johnson, PSU players scuffle
Monday, May 02, 2005
BY DAVID JONES
Of The Patriot-News
A season-long rift between departing transfer center Aaron Johnson and his Penn State basketball teammates erupted into a scuffle early yesterday morning at party in the Nittany Apartments in State College.
According to several players interviewed, Johnson, a 6-8, 245-pound junior from the Philadelphia suburb of Exton, and Travis Parker, a 6-5, 242-pound junior forward from Greenville, N.C., got into a brief yelling and shoving match with no punches cleanly landed and no one seriously hurt. Though police arrived shortly after, no charges were filed.
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But the brief skirmish at the four-bedroom apartment, shared by Johnson and graduating seniors Jason McDougald and Kevin Fellows and sophomore Dan Adler, was just another indicator of the bad blood that festered between Johnson and most of the team during its fourth consecutive last-place Big Ten showing. The Nittany Lions finished 7-23, 1-16 in the Big Ten.
Johnson, the Big Ten's leading rebounder last season, announced his transfer three weeks ago. He is trying to decide between a full, two-year scholarship offer from New Mexico for his sit-out and senior seasons or a no-guarantees walk-on invitation to Arizona. UNM assistant Duane Broussard visited Johnson yesterday in State College and asked that he decide by early tomorrow, the 6-8 center said.
Accounts of the scuffle vary wildly, depending on whether the version is Johnson's or that of his teammates.
This much is agreed upon: A party of about 30 students, organized partly by McDougald and Fellows, grew heated after Johnson arrived from a PSU sorority formal shortly after midnight. Parker and Johnson exchanged words, then the confrontation became physical with McDougald and Fellows joining, possibly simply to help break up the fight.
McDougald refused to discuss the fight in specifics: "It was like 45 seconds. It was quick and everybody left."
Johnson said he not only was brawling with Parker but also McDougald, Fellows and several other combatants not on the team. He said Fellows soon tried to break up the fight.
"I was fighting about six on one," said Johnson, nicknamed HoJo. "I was like a gladiator or something. It just shows you what kind of teammates I was dealing with.
"These people aren't from the projects or the 'hood. When you got six people and they can't put a mark on you, it's pretty pathetic. I mean, if you want to fight me, do it one-on-one."
A witness not involved in the scuffle, who wished anonymity, scoffed at that description: "If HoJo's saying he got jumped, that's ridiculous. It was just HoJo and Travis, and it was basically just a lot of shoving and other people trying to break it up. It was one of the most uneventful fights I've ever seen."
Attempts to reach Parker were unsuccessful.
According to several PSU players interviewed, most of the team attended the party and witnessed the fight. The reactions of those interviewed ranged from resentment to comic astonishment at Johnson's story when they were reached yesterday.
Only one spoke on the record. McDougald, who was never a major factor on the floor, said the Nittany Lions will be better off without Johnson, who averaged 9.9 rebounds a game:
"I think so. Now, they can be more of a team.
"He let himself be selfish. He's a selfish player. I don't think he bought into the team concept at all. You could look and see it."
"There was a lack of discipline for some players. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted to because I think the coaches were scared to lose anybody else [to transfer]. Definitely, Aaron was one.
"That won't be a problem next year with that team. Because I think all those [returning players] are on the same page.
"The coaches are trying to get the right recruits in. There's some talent, from what I've heard. I think the future's going to be bright."
When told of McDougald's comments, Johnson responded:
"If selfish is working out every day in Philly last summer and losing 20 pounds, then I'm selfish. I mean, from someone who averaged 1 point a game his whole career. The best thing Jason could've done for the team is give back his scholarship."
Moments earlier, without prompting, Johnson said he resented what he thought was a perception that he was a divisive element:
"I'm supposed to be the problem. My coach and my teammates think I'm a cancer and a lot of blame was put on me. This [fight] just goes to show what kind of teammates I have."
Johnson said he moved his belongings yesterday to the apartment of PSU walk-on Cilk McSweeney, a former prep-school teammate:
"Why live with the threat of this kind of negativity? I don't want to live with that. I'm trying to go to a place that loves basketball, not the kind of thing I experienced last night."
PSU head coach Ed DeChellis and lead assistant Kurt Kanaskie were returning from a recruiting trip to Europe yesterday and were unavailable to comment.
Monday, May 02, 2005
BY DAVID JONES
Of The Patriot-News
A season-long rift between departing transfer center Aaron Johnson and his Penn State basketball teammates erupted into a scuffle early yesterday morning at party in the Nittany Apartments in State College.
According to several players interviewed, Johnson, a 6-8, 245-pound junior from the Philadelphia suburb of Exton, and Travis Parker, a 6-5, 242-pound junior forward from Greenville, N.C., got into a brief yelling and shoving match with no punches cleanly landed and no one seriously hurt. Though police arrived shortly after, no charges were filed.
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But the brief skirmish at the four-bedroom apartment, shared by Johnson and graduating seniors Jason McDougald and Kevin Fellows and sophomore Dan Adler, was just another indicator of the bad blood that festered between Johnson and most of the team during its fourth consecutive last-place Big Ten showing. The Nittany Lions finished 7-23, 1-16 in the Big Ten.
Johnson, the Big Ten's leading rebounder last season, announced his transfer three weeks ago. He is trying to decide between a full, two-year scholarship offer from New Mexico for his sit-out and senior seasons or a no-guarantees walk-on invitation to Arizona. UNM assistant Duane Broussard visited Johnson yesterday in State College and asked that he decide by early tomorrow, the 6-8 center said.
Accounts of the scuffle vary wildly, depending on whether the version is Johnson's or that of his teammates.
This much is agreed upon: A party of about 30 students, organized partly by McDougald and Fellows, grew heated after Johnson arrived from a PSU sorority formal shortly after midnight. Parker and Johnson exchanged words, then the confrontation became physical with McDougald and Fellows joining, possibly simply to help break up the fight.
McDougald refused to discuss the fight in specifics: "It was like 45 seconds. It was quick and everybody left."
Johnson said he not only was brawling with Parker but also McDougald, Fellows and several other combatants not on the team. He said Fellows soon tried to break up the fight.
"I was fighting about six on one," said Johnson, nicknamed HoJo. "I was like a gladiator or something. It just shows you what kind of teammates I was dealing with.
"These people aren't from the projects or the 'hood. When you got six people and they can't put a mark on you, it's pretty pathetic. I mean, if you want to fight me, do it one-on-one."
A witness not involved in the scuffle, who wished anonymity, scoffed at that description: "If HoJo's saying he got jumped, that's ridiculous. It was just HoJo and Travis, and it was basically just a lot of shoving and other people trying to break it up. It was one of the most uneventful fights I've ever seen."
Attempts to reach Parker were unsuccessful.
According to several PSU players interviewed, most of the team attended the party and witnessed the fight. The reactions of those interviewed ranged from resentment to comic astonishment at Johnson's story when they were reached yesterday.
Only one spoke on the record. McDougald, who was never a major factor on the floor, said the Nittany Lions will be better off without Johnson, who averaged 9.9 rebounds a game:
"I think so. Now, they can be more of a team.
"He let himself be selfish. He's a selfish player. I don't think he bought into the team concept at all. You could look and see it."
"There was a lack of discipline for some players. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted to because I think the coaches were scared to lose anybody else [to transfer]. Definitely, Aaron was one.
"That won't be a problem next year with that team. Because I think all those [returning players] are on the same page.
"The coaches are trying to get the right recruits in. There's some talent, from what I've heard. I think the future's going to be bright."
When told of McDougald's comments, Johnson responded:
"If selfish is working out every day in Philly last summer and losing 20 pounds, then I'm selfish. I mean, from someone who averaged 1 point a game his whole career. The best thing Jason could've done for the team is give back his scholarship."
Moments earlier, without prompting, Johnson said he resented what he thought was a perception that he was a divisive element:
"I'm supposed to be the problem. My coach and my teammates think I'm a cancer and a lot of blame was put on me. This [fight] just goes to show what kind of teammates I have."
Johnson said he moved his belongings yesterday to the apartment of PSU walk-on Cilk McSweeney, a former prep-school teammate:
"Why live with the threat of this kind of negativity? I don't want to live with that. I'm trying to go to a place that loves basketball, not the kind of thing I experienced last night."
PSU head coach Ed DeChellis and lead assistant Kurt Kanaskie were returning from a recruiting trip to Europe yesterday and were unavailable to comment.