I hate to say it, but when I heard of the basketball brawl between IU Southeast and Berea College on Feb. 18, I was excited.
A real news story had finally come along that people might actually care about. I couldn’t wait to learn more.
When I did, I learned IU Southeast probably didn’t start the fight.
I don’t think the IUS basketball players were wrong to fight back.
The fight began after Mikah Turner, Berea’s leading scorer, knocked down Rick Bodiford, IUS junior guard, while trying to set a screen.
Players jumped from both benches and fans rushed onto the court.
The referees canceled the rest of the game and declared it a no-contest.
Put yourself in the player’s shoes. If a whole group of people started beating up your teammates, wouldn’t you get off the bench, too?
I know I would. I don’t care what my elementary school teachers or parents said.
If someone is whaling on a friend of mine, I’ll do what I can to physically stop them.
Granted, I’m not very strong and probably couldn’t connect a punch.
I can barely lift my backpack.
I’ve seen the YouTube video of the fight, which is definitely worth watching. Type in “video surfaces of brawl at college” into YouTube, and you should find it.
After reading quotes in the first story The Horizon published last week and the follow-up story this week, I understand how this could look bad on the university.
However, this was a special instance.
I can’t recall a single time this has happened here before. I don’t think it’s big enough of an event to give us a bad reputation.
People would’ve remembered the fight if Bobby Knight jumped in and threw a chair across the court.
This is going to be at the back of everyone’s minds now that March Madness is here.
What I don’t get is why the university officially said the fight wasn’t consistent with the Core Values.
Last time I checked, the Core Values are integrity, holistic learning, connectedness and nurturing environment.
This is how the Core Values should apply to the brawl:
• Integrity — Don’t just
sit back and let your teammates get hurt. Be a friend and help.
• Holistic learning —
This has nothing to do with sports at all. If anything, this taught the team something.
• Connectedness — If this
doesn’t unite the IUS basketball team, I don’t know what will.
• Nurturing environment
— I’m sure the sports medics were very nurturing to the players.
I just don’t like how the Core Values are a blanket statement everyone can fall behind to damn the players.
They don’t need to be condemned.
They knew they were in trouble when they were suspended.
They don’t deserve any more flack for standing up for their teammates.
Sure, it isn’t an example of good sportsmanship, but I also know I wouldn’t have done anything differently than the players did.
By JOSEPH DEVER
Senior Editor
jwdever@umail.iu.edu