Bulls fan, Antonio Davis and wife bury hatchet over confrontation at United Center

By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer
January 23, 2006

CHICAGO (AP) -- No more harsh words, and no lawsuits.

The beef at the Bulls game was a big misunderstanding, and in the end, everyone agreed to move on.

Michael Axelrod, the Chicago fan who quarreled with the wife of Knicks forward Antonio Davis at the United Center last week, issued a joint statement with the Davises on Monday, saying the episode "evolved from some misunderstandings."

Axelrod said he wouldn't follow through on his threat to sue Davis and his wife.

"Common sense strongly suggests that we collectively put this episode behind us and move on. That's what the Davises and Michael Axelrod plan to do, and we hope everyone else will, as well," the statement read.

The trouble started when Axelrod and Kendra Davis exchanged words during the Bulls-Knicks game at the United Center on Wednesday. Another fan became involved, and Antonio Davis ran into the stands during a timeout in overtime.

While Davis remained calm and allowed security to handle the situation, he was ejected and issued a statement after the game saying a drunk fan had touched Kendra.

The next day, Axelrod said he had only one glass of wine with dinner a few hours earlier and had threatened to sue for at least $1 million. On Friday, Axelrod and his attorney said they would drop the issue if the Davises issued a public apology.

The Davises refused. But agent Bill Duffy and Axelrod's father David -- a prominent Democratic political consultant -- continued to talk.

"It's good to come to a sensible resolution of this matter, especially where good people are involved," Duffy said in the statement. "You have two strong, wonderful families, and there's no reason why a heated moment should divide them."

Davis was ultimately suspended for five games by the NBA for his foray into the seats.

Axelrod's attorney, Jay Paul Deratany, said in a telephone interview: "Both sides expressed regret for any miscommunication that occurred. Both parties want to move forward -- with being a fan and watching the game and being a ballplayer."

Michael Axelrod, 22, works for his father and for Deratany, a family friend. Deratany had given the Davises a week to apologize before filing a battery lawsuit against Kendra Davis and a slander suit against her husband.

"It's never been our desire to push this forward," Deratany said. "It's always been our hope that we could resolve this amicably and without litigation."

The incident sparked memories of last season's brawl involving fans and players during a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, which resulted in lengthy suspensions and criminal charges for Indiana's Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal.



Updated on Monday, Jan 23, 2006 11:13 pm EST

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[RichB]

I smell a payoff.

that's what I was thinking... but who knows..

[Spurs Crusader]

Originally Posted by RichB

I smell a payoff.

Yep.

[To be named later]

I smell two sides with power, money, and high profiles sensing a stalemate, both pondering, what was the harm that justifies $1,000,000?

[Spurs Crusader]

I smell one side with more money, and the other that's willing to take some of that cash.

[mg06]

I smell a fart... ohh boy, I shouldn't have eaten that leftover burrito...

[Jones]

The Davis family wasn't going to apologize or back down so the wiener Axelrod kid backed out the best way he could from his ridiculous million $$$ lawsuit.

[Spurs|ATX|]

Originally Posted by RichB

I smell a payoff.

definitely.. he wouldnt change his mind so abruptly without a little dough in it for him..

[Jones]

I think he backed down because he realized he wasn't going to get any money at all. Axelrod said he would drop the suit if Antonio would apologize but Antonio said he wasn't going to apologize. I don't think Axlerod was ready to go ahead with the suit. His lawyer kept downplaying the suit because they realized it made them look greedy and ridiculous. I don't think Axelrod got a cent.

[Grego]

So they made up in a bedroom? Is that what you are saying? As long as he didn't get hurt like that last girl.......

[To be named later]

I don't think Axelrod got any money either.

His $1,000,000 lawsuit was baseless. How had Axelrod been harmed? What, if anything, would a jury or court of law say was deserving of a $1 Million dollar reward?

I'd say a lot of it has to do with the father, "a prominent Democratic political consultant" who would not look good with a money hungry son and a frivolous lawsuit.

[Malice]

Maybe the Davis's descided to fund Axelrod's next porn film as a payoff?

[my2sons]

yet you have peanut head on espn going on and on and on on fan involvement, yet the replays consistantly showing davis pointing her finger and the fan calling for security. yes fans are getting out of countrol, but bspn seems to look for the opportunity to bite off the hands that feed them.

[Supernatural Anesthetist]

Davis already lost a pretty good chunk of change with the suspension. Perhaps his wife won't be quite so easily provoked in the future.

[babalanja]

Originally Posted by To be named later

I'd say a lot of it has to do with the father, "a prominent Democratic political consultant" who would not look good with a money hungry son and a frivolous lawsuit.

I'm leaning towards the same conclusion.