Why Rushing the Court/Field After a Game Should Not Be Permitted

[Ksyrup]

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A Tucson High School basketball player has been left partially paralyzed after being tackled by fans celebrating his game-ending dunk Friday night.

The Arizona Republic reported on the story in Tuesday's editions.

Joe Kay, a senior and starting forward, capped Tucson's 62-54 victory over Tucson Salpointe Catholic with an exclamation slam. A group of fans overtook him after flooding the court, coaches who reviewed film of the game told the Republic. Kay suffered a fractured jaw and a torn carotid artery -- the carotid supplies blood to the brain -- and subsequently suffered a stroke, according to the newspaper's report.

Kay, a 4.0 student who has a full volleyball scholarship to Stanford, remained in intensive care Monday, listed in serious condition at the University Medical Center in Tucson. There were signs of improvement: Kay ate breakfast and said a few words, Tucson coach Gary Lewis told the Republic.

Lewis recalled in his interview with the newspaper the moments after which Kay got up and walked over to his coach with assistance.

"I got on one side and we walked him over," Lewis said. "Just before we got to the locker room, he couldn't walk at all, and we had to drag him in.

"We knew something was serious. Joe is a great communicator and he wasn't speaking at all. He wouldn't respond to us anymore."

Tucson students on Tuesday were told of Kay's injuries over the public address system, the Republic reported. Counselors were available on campus.

Kay turned 18 on Saturday. Tucson has a game Tuesday night, and Arizona's Class 5A playoffs begin in a week.

"When I left him [Monday], he gave me the thumbs up, as if to push everybody through this," Lewis told the Republic.

Dick McConnell, who coaches Tucson Sahuaro and coached Lewis in high school, consoled Lewis at his home Sunday. McConnell also watched film of Tucson's postgame.

"To think that could happen ... ," McConnell said. "When they said what happened, I had chills." McConnell had surgery in the previous week to remove plaque building on his carotid artery.

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[Chubby]

And we're going to prevent this how?

[rkmsuf]

Have them play naked?

[Ksyrup]

And we're going to prevent this how?
A little law enforcement would be nice.

[GoldenEagle]

Kind of off topic but I did not know the NCAA sponsered male volleyball.

[Chubby]

A little law enforcement would be nice.

Not to downplay the incident as this is a tragic event.

However a quick story, my frosh year in college my school made it to the conference finals of the MAAC and had a shot at the NCAA tourny for the 1st time in 50 years. There was probably 50 of us, tops. This was at the Pepsi Arena in Albany where I'm sure they have many more security people than at a HS game. Well we won and we rushed the court. The 5 old secuirty guys barely slowed us down.

It's just not possible to stop it, have you seen how much security there is at SU bball games? The students STILL rush the court when they feel like it. There just isn't enough security/money to prevent it at college games much less HS games.

[rkmsuf]

I've never understood the whole knock me down thing. Dude, I just scored a TD...get off me!!!

[rkmsuf]

Not to downplay the incident as this is a tragic event.

However a quick story, my frosh year in college my school made it to the conference finals of the MAAC and had a shot at the NCAA tourny for the 1st time in 50 years. There was probably 50 of us, tops. This was at the Pepsi Arena in Albany where I'm sure they have many more security people than at a HS game. Well we won and we rushed the court. The 5 old secuirty guys barely slowed us down.

It's just not possible to stop it, have you seen how much security there is at SU bball games? The students STILL rush the court when they feel like it. There just isn't enough security/money to prevent it at college games much less HS games.

Can't you just jump up and down? Do you have to jump on top of people? A good high five is very effective...

[Chubby]

Can't you just jump up and down? Do you have to jump on top of people? A good high five is very effective...

Well we didn't jump on top of people, just rushed the court and hi fived all the players and danced like loons so we'd get on ESPN (which we did, couple of people came up to me afterwards and said they saw me on tv).

[KevinNU7]

Kind of off topic but I did not know the NCAA sponsered male volleyball. Sadly Title XI has withered the participating schools down to about 25. Almost all of them are on the West Coast (ie Pac-10 and Mountain Conference)

[rkmsuf]

Well we didn't jump on top of people, just rushed the court and hi fived all the players and danced like loons so we'd get on ESPN (which we did, couple of people came up to me afterwards and said they saw me on tv).

I guess I'm more focused on the tackling you see in celebration...

[Ksyrup]

I've been waiting for something like this to happen. I'm sure it's happened in the past, but I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Kinda like sports teams involved in airplane crashes.

[rkmsuf]

I've been waiting for something like this to happen. I'm sure it's happened in the past, but I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Kinda like sports teams involved in airplane crashes.

OK Costanza...

[Chubby]

I guess I'm more focused on the tackling you see in celebration...

THAT I've never understood. "Hey we won, let's injure our players!"

[SunDancer]

It's just not possible to stop it, have you seen how much security there is at SU bball games? The students STILL rush the court when they feel like it. There just isn't enough security/money to prevent it at college games much less HS games.

Why does SU storm the court like after every win pretty much? It's not like they would be "upsetting" Pittsburgh or whoever. They are national contenders. If its like maybe Marshall knocking off UConn at their home court, then I would storm the court.

[Chubby]

Well the last time they stormed the court was last year when Pitt was #1 or #2 and we were like #20 so it was a big deal. Basically if it's a "big game", it's close, and we're the underdog the court gets rushed.

[Daimyo]

It's just not possible to stop it, have you seen how much security there is at SU bball games? The students STILL rush the court when they feel like it. There just isn't enough security/money to prevent it at college games much less HS games.

I'm sure they have camera's all around. Start disciplining the people who are caught and i bet you can make a dent. If not start arresting them. If the school wants to take it serious I'm sure they could stop it.

[sterlingice]

Sadly Title XI has withered the participating schools down to about 25. Almost all of them are on the West Coast (ie Pac-10 and Mountain Conference) Psst... that's Title IX. I wouldn't know this except that I hate it. ;)

SI

[finkenst]

so some kid got paralyzed...

let's not forget the wisconsin students who got killed several years ago at a football game...

as for there not being money in preventing the rushing of the field: Lawsuits. I'm sure that school will get sued by the kid and his parents.

[Fonzie]

I'm sure they have camera's all around. Start disciplining the people who are caught and i bet you can make a dent. If not start arresting them. If the school wants to take it serious I'm sure they could stop it.

A promising avenue to explore might be to combine that approach with 10' deep, 10' wide moats around the courts/playing fields, filled up a third of the way with used razor blades, broken glass, and hypodermic needles. Such an obstacle might discourage the crowd from straying onto the playing surface.

[finkenst]

A promising avenue to explore might be to combine that approach with 10' deep, 10' wide moats around the courts/playing fields, filled up a third of the way with used razor blades, broken glass, and hypodermic needles. Such an obstacle might discourage the crowd from straying onto the playing surface.

and then some fan or player will fall into the moat on "accident" and we'll have yet another tragedy.

[Fonzie]

and then some fan or player will fall into the moat on "accident" and we'll have yet another tragedy.

Oh, I'm not saying that it's a good idea, just that it might be effective. :)