Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 24, 1993 TAG: 9305240053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: YPSILANTI, MICH. LENGTH: Short
Five people were arrested for assaulting police officers Saturday night, and more arrests on assault charges were possible, said Kathleen Tinney, the university's assistant executive vice president.
Five people were taken to a hospital for head injuries suffered when rocks, bottles and chairs were thrown. All were treated and released, Tinney said.
Organizers said safety concerns led them to cancel the tournament's Sunday games.
"It was our feeling that it is safety first and that is our number one concern," tournament spokeswoman Mary Kerr said. "It was the best call we could make."
It is the second straight year violence was reported at the event, which drew an estimated 25,000 players and spectators.
There were no problems at the event until police officers assigned to local high schools left at 7 p.m., Tinney said.
"A little after 7:30 p.m. one fight broke out and that just spread throughout the whole tournament," Tinney said. The initial fight appeared to be between youths from rival high schools, she said.
Though most of the fights involved spectators, Tinney said some of the tournament's 7,500 participants were involved.
The tournament began 20 years ago at Lowell, Mich., pitting thousands of recreational basketball players against each another. The main attractions are the men's and women's open courts, which pit former collegiate, and sometimes professional players, against each another.
by CNB