Angry fans hit with hail of bean bags
The disappointing end to Arizona’s season Saturday night spilled into the streets of Tucson.
Top-seeded Arizona lost 64-63 to Wisconsin on Saturday, coming just short of its first Final Four since 1997 when guard Nick Johnson was called for a controversial offensive foul in the final seconds.
Not long after the game, students on the University of Arizona campus took over Tucson’s downtown streets, where they were met by police in riot gear and gas masks.
According to the Daily Arizona, the school’s student newspaper, “dozens of students [were] shot with beanbags,” by Tucson police.
The Arizona Daily Star reported that 15 people were arrested after police said the crowd converging on University Boulevard to be “an unlawful assembly.”
According to Tucson police Sgt. Pete Dugan, law enforcement was ready for such a reaction.
Police gathered along the downtown street before the game ended, forming a line across University Boulevard and then the Daily Star reported that fans began tossing smoke bombs, beer, sparklers and fire crackers at police.
When police ordered the crowd to leave, those gathered began to chant “U of A.”
David Kitaeff, a witness, told the Associated Press that the gathering began with fans taking photos, then “people got in cops’ faces.”
Meanwhile, in Madison, Wis., an estimated 2,000 fans flooded downtown State Street. Some were seen on top of a bus shelter, one took a dive onto the arms of the crowd as the school’s marching band blared tunes. No arrests were reported in Madison.
“It was crazy,” student Nick Gunowski told the Associated Press. “We watched the game, walked out of the dorm and crowds of kids were running to State Street. It just happened.”Lucky shot
Tim Boven, of Peoria, Ariz., went to US Airways Center to see the Phoenix Suns play the New York Knicks on Friday night and left almost $80,000 richer.
Boven was selected by stadium employees to participate in an in-game contest. His choice was to shoot a free throw for $777, a three-pointer for $7,777 or a half-court shot for $77,777.
Boven went for the big price. He dribbled once, took two steps, then released with his right hand before watching his shot rattle through the rim.
Boven celebrated by raising his arms as the crowd cheered and high-fiving Suns players who were watching from the bench.
“It was pretty amazing,” Boven told KTVK-TV in Phoenix.
Boven said he never thought about shooting anywhere from half court.
“All the people that are involved with it were like ‘What are you going to shoot? What are you going to shoot?’ I’m like. ‘I’m going to do half-court,’ ” he said.
Boven said he’ll donate some of the money to his church and pay off some loans.
He makes how much?
Miguel Cabrera’s 10-year $292-million contract with the Detroit Tigers had many around around baseball talking about it, not to mention many outside of baseball, notably NBA superstar Lebron James.
“I wish we didn’t have a salary cap,” said James, who is making about $19 million with the Miami Heat this season. “He’s the best player in baseball, and the best player in each sport should be rewarded. It’d be nice to sign a 10-year deal worth $300 million.”
Quote of the day
“It got away from us because we just didn’t play very well today. We didn’t do anything.” Arkansas baseball Coach Dave Van Horn after the Razorbacks’ loss at Mississippi State
Sports, Pages 14 on 03/31/2014