Police Investigating Spartan Fan Incident: Police are talking to witnesses who saw an altercation between a drunken Spartan fan and seldom-used Michigan junior center Amadou Ba. According to video tape, the fan walked past Ba an hour before the game between rivals Michigan and Michigan State at the Spartans’ Breslin Center. The fan turned around and said something again to Ba, who stood up and shoved the fan to the floor. Police escorted the fan out of the stadium, and he went to the hospital. Officials have not mentioned the fan’s injuries. Ba said the fan challenged him in some manner.
Witnesses said the fan appeared drunk. Although the incident occurred well before game time, that does not excuse Breslin Center security workers from protecting all players, especially the opposing team’s players. There’s no excuse for letting fans — especially drunken ones — wander the court near players while they are practicing before a game. [2/20/06]
