Sunday, December 11, 2011

Disturbing Kabongo gesture adds to loss

Following is an email myself and the rest of the Aggies staff received from a UTEP fan following the game.




Offended.
Twice that I witnessed during the game tonight after making a shot;  Mr. Kabongo Sophomore Guard for NMSU  OBVIASLY grabbed his penis through his shorts and stocked it multiple times wale extending his pelvis toward the student section and sections B & C in the Haskins Center.  I cannot tell you how offensive this was to my wife and several people in my seating area.  I know my wife felt she needed to leave the seating area for a few minutes to compose herself.  She went up to the concourse where she found other women and children recovering from what can be described as a sexual assault without exaggeration. 
I would like to know what if anything The Athletic Departments of the University’s and the Coaching staff at NMSU feel is appropriate for this type of vulgar behavior. 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was sitting in that section and there were no children. In fact no one had to leave to compose themselves. It was a terrible thing but the original poster is embellishing it.

Anonymous said...

A. Kabongo is a complete fool sometimes. The student section had been riding him all night for that first airball that he shot and somehow he felt that would shut them up. Really? Just make the shots and walk away. Or if youre going to do that at least dont turn the ball over later on, in front of the student section. He shouldnt have done it the first tine and idk why he did it again. Stupid move.

B. That being said, I sat in section B row 4 right next to the student body and the things they were sayin to me and what I was saying back were much worse than what Kabongo did. Its college basketball and a rivalry game, no one walked out of the arena with virgin ears or eyes. If you dont like that then stay at home and listen to the game. No one will sexually harrass you there, hopefully.

Jesus

Anonymous said...

Jesus,

You don't have a clue.

You want to shut a crowd up? You beat their team down. That's how you shut up a crowd. Grabbing your crotch and losing the game just says to everyone that that's all you got --- just aping around on the floor like a punk who doesn't know any better. It says, "I don't have game, so I have to act the thug." And guess what, by responding to the crowd, he just acknowledged that the crowd got to him. That's even sadder, don't you think?

Anyone have any real confidence that the Aggies can beat UNM here in a few weeks? Anyone want to predict an easy victory against the Lobos?

If the Aggies, and their coaching staff, don't get it together and figured out, they'll be the fourth best team in the WAC in no time.

Here's something else that's pretty sad. The Miner coach is playing his bench, getting the players plenty of playing time. Wonder if the Aggie coach is doing the same...oh wait, he isn't.

Anonymous said...

Team was not prepared tonight. We lost to a Division II-level Miner squad.

Where we were really beaten was in coaching. The Miners took McKines completely out of the game and our genius coach didn't make an adjustment to get him back in.

I say the Aggies miss the NCAA and NIT tournament yet another year.

Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Ags. You got your clocks cleaned by a bunch of freshmen.

Anonymous said...

Groves did you really just repost an email from a miner fan on YOUR blog for AGGIE basketball. Is an email from a fan (non-coach/university official) a credible source? I'm sure CK did it but stuff like that happens all the time. I'm going write an email to Joe Meunch about how Streeter was adjusting his jock strap while looking in my direction. Lets see if he posts it.

Jason Groves said...

Anon, go ahead and defend Kabongo. Are you also going to defend his 3-10 stat line with seven assists and four turnovers? Just play the game. So what, he made three 3s. If this was an isolated incident that's one thing, but it's a developing trend with one player and the fact that the email was sent to nmsu coaches and administrators means coaches have to now spend time dealing with it when they should be spending time getting ready for their next game.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:37

What dont I have a clue about? I said it was a stupid move by Kabongo and that he should have just walked away. He gave more life to the crowd and even before that was jawing away. He is going to be the team leader next year but he cant have that lack of discipline.

Jason,

Do you think anything will really be done about it? How much time will they really spend on it if any?

Jesus

Jason Groves said...

Jesus, I don't think that anything serious will result. Perhaps not starting a game or sitting for a game at the most. Just my opinion, haven't followed up with coach yet. But yes, I do think there will be a conversation about this between Kabongo and Menzies at some point today not related to basketball. Look, Kabongo is a young player who struggles with discipline so far in his career at times. I love the passion he plays with and the confidence and the swagger. However, Wendell McKines plays with passion, Tyrone Watson plays with passion, Jonathan Gibson played with passion and confidence. Can anyone honestly see any of those players doing the same thing? Kabongo has a chance to be really good at some point. Until then, just play the game.

Anonymous said...

My anon 7:29 post said nothing about his poor performance. Nor was I defending him. I agree he's hurting the team more than he's helping and I stated that "he probably did" grab his crotch toward the crowd. My post was addressing you posting a UTEP fan's complaint. I could email you, Menzies, and Boston right now about something I might have seen at a game. Does NOT make me credible or honest.

Jason Groves said...

Like i said, this isn't an isolated incident, even in the same game. Kabongo was jawing with fans on the other end of the court behind me during a free throw late in the game. Or how about the time he had to be separated from Gillenwater during a WAC tournament game last year. You're right, one email doesn't make it an issue. An email, in addition to a fan comment to Sports Editor Teddy Feinberg, as well as Feinberg's own observation of the event is credible.

Anonymous said...

Damn, I should've written a typo-filled e-mail to the University of Arizona and Tucson media with an exaggerated description of the names their players called our cheerleaders a couple of weeks ago and the long-term effect it had on my emotional state. I'm still recovering. Could've gotten some press. True story, BTW...minus the exaggeration of how it effected me, of course. Awful things happen in and around the student section at just about every arena I've visited.

In all seriousness, I agree with Jason that CK needs to let his game do the talking. He's great when focused. The great ones never let the crowd get to them. Channel your emotion better, son. The scoreboard is the best way to reply to mouthy fans. CK needs to sit out a game...mostly just so the gentle, kind and never-obscene folks in El Paso can sleep more soundly.

Jason Groves said...

Call me old fashioned, call me boring. but there is a difference between a player talking trash to opposing fans in the arena and grabbing his crotch....twice.

Here's an idea. Do something. Wendell McKines, Hernst Laroche, Tyrone Watson and Hamidu Rahman have all hit big shots for NMSU. Meaningful shots in conference games, WAC tournament games. They have earned the right to be out of line, yet they let their play do the talking

Anonymous said...

Jason,
You're not old fashioned. You have class - something Kabongo knows nothing about. He's self centered, as shown in his ball hogging, and has no impulse control. That has nothing to do with immaturity. It has everything to do with integrity and self respect. We refuse to go to UTEP when Aggies play because of the abuse we've experienced from the fans. It looks like we're no better than they are - maybe even worse. When an official representative of NMSU resorts to inappropriate and vulgar behavior, all Aggies suffer for it. Kabongo needs to grow up. Menzies needs to toughen up and bench CK until he's able to behave and recognize that his selfish behavior in ball handling and attitude affects his entire team and all their fans.

Anonymous said...

Agreed that there's a difference between a crotch-grab and trash talking, though if someone called my daughter the names the AZ players were calling the NMSU cheerleaders, well, things probably would've gotten outta hand. But point taken. No argument. Inappropriate is inappropriate.

Also agreed that CK was in the wrong and needs to let his play do the talking. No need to be obscene, nor is there any real need to ever engage the crowd. Play the game.

However,I have to admit I laughed at the overly-dramatic tone of the letter, particularly the "..a sexual assault without exaggeration." My friend, that's the very definition of "exaggeration." Did they set up a Red Cross station to help the "violated" women and children "recover?" How are they today? I hope there are no long-term effects and that they don't have access to MTV...lotsa crotch-grabbing there that could further "assault" them.

Not condoning what CK did in the least, and I agree some action should be taken by NMSU. However, I've been to the Don and Sun Bowl on several occasions and have been victim to some unprovoked, obscene, vulgar taunts and gestures with my children present. Apparently, it only bothers them when the person that does it is wearing crimson shorts and basketball sneakers. C'mon MAN! ;)

Anonymous said...

Feel blessed, Jason, that the lord and savior Jesus has taken it upon Himself to respond to your blogs. I would think this would garner your site some real advertising dollars, and, if I'm, ahem, Christian Kabongo, I'd take note that God's son is paying closing attention.