NBA Player Sends Cleveland Mascot to the Hospital After Throwing a Punch
- Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:31am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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It may have been done as a joke, but not many people laughed.
On Wednesday, Indiana Pacers player David West was getting ready to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers when he decided to unleash a right hook on the Cavaliers mascot, Moondog. The hit sent the mascot to the floor and eventually to the hospital:
Moondog, played by a local radio DJ, was eventually released from the hospital after having no apparent injuries — save for a a little swelling around his eye. And while at the time no one knew why West cold-cocked the mascot, Sports Illustrated explains what happened:
Moondog was taken to the hospital with an eye injury, but was released after being checked out. The mascot, who often interacts and teases opposing players, got into a mock fight with West during pregame introductions.
The Pacers forward accidentally struck the character in the mask, knocking the mascot to the floor. West was visibly upset following the game and apologized, even sending Moondog a jersey and a pair of basketball shoes.
“He jumped at me so I thought we were playing around and then the next thing I know he went down,” West told the Cleveland Plain Dealer after the game. “It was definitely an accident.”
SI reports Moondog was back on the court for Sunday’s game.
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Comments (51)
Redmanblackdog
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 10:40amAny time there are fists thrown in any sporting event, the police should stop the game and handcuff the aggressor. You would get thrown in jail any where else. Why shouldn’t athletes live by the law of the land? I would love to see fights in hockey, basketball and baseball end with these thugs going to jail.
Report Post »Delaware Patriot
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 11:11amWell…if that happened, there’d be no more HOCKEY…or fans for that matter. Everyone enjoys a good bench clearing hockey brawl…go on, admit it…you love them too :)
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 11:38amPlease stay 10,000 feet away from my sports. Especially hockey. Fighting is a strategic part of the game. Of course he meant to hit the mascot but he didn’t mean to hurt him. This kind of stuff goes on all the time. Lighten up everyone. And I’m a Cleveland Cavs fan! Let’s not wussify everything in our country. Some of these NBA players are thugs but, the vast majority of them are decent, intelligent guys. Also, an idiot thug comes in all colors… e.g. Eminem.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 10:39am“He jumped at me so I thought we were playing around and then the next thing I know he went down,” West told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Watch the tape, West is a liar. The dumb mascot was just standing there.
Report Post »etoddt
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 2:37pmYeah, I can’t tell if the head shots were total serious, but that body shot surely wasn’t for pretend. And there wasn’t anything accidental about the way he laid there on the floor while the players walked over him on the way out.
Report Post »SAVAGEONE
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 10:33amOhhh man.. You know he Felt bad… The player that is… Who means to deck a mascot…
Report Post »lucyloo
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 10:24amit looks like it was a playful punch…not forceful, but hit the mascot right on the eye…….
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 10:13amHe hates “Moondogs”… we must draft a bill and give “moondogs” special rights and reparations!
Report Post »jefftavolieri
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:58amthe racism here is hilarious
Report Post »poster
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:39amMust have been a ******* mascot.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:33am.
Another case of ANAL-CP
ANAL-CP = Africans Not Acting Like Colored People……….
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:33amIf Obama had a son…..it would be that thug. Suprising?
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:19amTypical black thug… he must be part of a union too
Report Post »mdeputy7
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:11pmWhat the heck is wrong with you? “Typical black thug”. It was an accident, first of all. He was just having fun. And what does his color have to do with it? Don’t perpetrate racism. It just sparks more claims that we are a “racist country.”
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:14amNice…. Typical black thug…. Notice all the other black thugs who did nothing to stop of help the mascot… And black folks wonder why people of ALL COLORS are starting to get p*ssed at this behavior?
Report Post »gsp9993
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:21amBlack thugs have so many fine role models
IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Report Post »Moe1138
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:11amIn this day and age, the “street” is never far from the game. This is why I don’t watch professional sports.
Report Post »Bring back the “true” players of the game. Dr. J, West, Maravich, etc
USPATRIOT101
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:16amhonestly, it looks like they were just goofing around and someone got hurt. this was not a angry attack.
Report Post »gsp9993
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:23amAgreed. These new “athletes” are a disgrace to the Pros who made the game.
Nothing more than Cartoon Characters in a giant Sideshow called the NBA
Report Post »FN-FEDUP
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:05amaccidentally punched him in the eye?…is that like almost pregnant
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:05amYou can take the thug out of the hood but you can’t take the hood out of the thug. A thug with money is a rich thug but he is still a thug.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:15amWho will be minus a lot of those bucks if that Mascot is smart and gets a HIGH PROFILE LAWYER, and takes this idiot to the cleaners.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:56amthats assault !!! he should be kicked off the team
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:16amLets see… That’s assault, and I also see a civil fine in this pigs future. Hope the mascot walks with a lot of this thugs money.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 9:28amI’d be happy if they tossed battery in the charges, too. The player just walked off and never even looked back.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:52amI agree.
Report Post »dannyo
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:52amhe’s just a keeeid, he’s was jus playin..
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:51amMy Cavs are so plagued with injuries right now, half our team is D-League call ups. Now our mascot is injured! We need to get the Dawg Pound at the next Cavs/Pacers game with some dog bones and batteries! (Well, maybe not the batteries)
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:48amThat was… No ACCIDENT!
Report Post »lgccac
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:46amLooks like assault to me.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:45amWhat the hell?? Looks like someone was looking for some publicity!!
Report Post »Turtleman
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:44amThis reminds me of what Travon Matin did to George Zimmerman.
Report Post »This reminds me of what the guy did to the tourist in Baltimore.
This reminds me of the violent flash mobs is Chicago last summer.
This reminds me……………
Well, you get the point.
hauschild
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:44amDid ya catch how the teammate stood over the dropped mascot, taunting him?
It‘s like a whole ’nother world out there, folks.
Report Post »BlondLab77
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:43amWhat a cheap shot! If you are interacting and teasing the opposing players you run the risk of really ******* somebody off.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 8:37amGood form and executed like a pro. If basketball does not work out, boxing might. For the mascot . . . what a wuss.
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