Coach Accused Of Knocking Out Umpire
Altercation Occurs After Controversial Call
POSTED: 10:24 am CDT May 12,
2008
UPDATED: 7:18 pm CDT May 12,
2008
COLUMBIA, Tenn. -- A girls' softball game in Maury County got ugly when one of the coaches got into a fight with the umpire on Saturday.
Video: Coach Accused Of Punching Out UmpireWitnesses said the incident occurred after a dispute over a play at the athletic fields on Park Drive in Columbia during a 10-year-old girls’ league softball tournament game.The altercation apparently intensified when umpire David Ray Kelly called Summertown Lady Volcanoes assistant coach Jonathan Rose a liar, according to what witnesses told police.Police said as Kelly turned to walk away, Rose punched him and knocked him unconscious.Dispatchers at Columbia’s 911 center received a call after the incident telling them that an umpire was down.“You have to watch yourself and be on your toes all the time,” said Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association umpire Dave LeMarbe.He said the behavior is becoming too common.“It happens on a nightly basis where an umpire has to eject a coach or a player or a fan and has to call the office and write a report,” LeMarbe said.He said laws need to get tougher to protect officials because the bad behavior doesn’t teach children good sportsmanship.“Kids just want to have fun. … And when the parents and coaches are arguing with the umpires, the kids just want to go back to playing and have fun and enjoy the game,” LeMarbe said.The game was canceled about halfway through. Rose was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Kelly later regained consciousness and refused medical treatment.The United States Fast Pitch Association, which was in charge of the weekend’s tournament, said Rose and the Lady Volcanoes will no longer be allowed to play in the association.
Video: Coach Accused Of Punching Out UmpireWitnesses said the incident occurred after a dispute over a play at the athletic fields on Park Drive in Columbia during a 10-year-old girls’ league softball tournament game.The altercation apparently intensified when umpire David Ray Kelly called Summertown Lady Volcanoes assistant coach Jonathan Rose a liar, according to what witnesses told police.Police said as Kelly turned to walk away, Rose punched him and knocked him unconscious.Dispatchers at Columbia’s 911 center received a call after the incident telling them that an umpire was down.“You have to watch yourself and be on your toes all the time,” said Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association umpire Dave LeMarbe.He said the behavior is becoming too common.“It happens on a nightly basis where an umpire has to eject a coach or a player or a fan and has to call the office and write a report,” LeMarbe said.He said laws need to get tougher to protect officials because the bad behavior doesn’t teach children good sportsmanship.“Kids just want to have fun. … And when the parents and coaches are arguing with the umpires, the kids just want to go back to playing and have fun and enjoy the game,” LeMarbe said.The game was canceled about halfway through. Rose was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Kelly later regained consciousness and refused medical treatment.The United States Fast Pitch Association, which was in charge of the weekend’s tournament, said Rose and the Lady Volcanoes will no longer be allowed to play in the association.- Popular WSMV Slideshows
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