THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300452
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The end of the season for the Hampton Roads Admirals was an ugly one, with the general manager of the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks engaged in a cursing match with the Admirals, and one of the Tiger Sharks accusing coach John Brophy of racism.
Robert Haddock, Tallahassee's only black player, accused Brophy of calling him ``Buckwheat'' in a postgame shouting match Tuesday.
Brophy was unaware of the allegation until after the Admirals had lost to Tallahasse, 2-0, Wednesday in the final game of the playoff series. Once informed, he vigorously denied it.
But the alleged slur, passed on to the media by Tallahassee general manager Tim Mouser, was the talk of talk radio all day in Tallahassee, and by game time the 4,478 fans at the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center were in an angry mood.
They chanted derogatory slurs about Brophy's Irish heritage, rocked the glass behind the Admirals' bench and pelted Brophy and the Admirals with popcorn, beer, ice and cups.
At game's end, Mouser had to be restrained from behind the Admirals' bench by police after pushing on the glass and engaging in a shouting match with several Admirals.
Brophy reacted angrily when told of Haddock's allegation.
``He said what?'' Brophy screamed. ``I don't give a ---- what they say, I called him nothing. He isn't worth talking about.''
Haddock would not confirm the allegation made to Mouser.
``I'm not allowed to speak about that at the moment,'' he said. He indicated the team may seek ECHL sanctions against Brophy.
Mouser, however, didn't hesitate to speak when asked why he was engaged in a shouting match with the Admirals behind their bench.
``After (Chris) Phelps squirted me in the face with water and after (Mike) Nemirovsky and (Corwin) Saurdiff swing sticks at our fans? Absolutely I was there,'' he said ``After Brophy says to my player, `Hey Buckwheat, we'll get you tomorrow,' absolutely.
``They're a low-class organization. . . . Victories are enjoyable. This one in particular. I can't believe (Admirals president) Blake Cullen puts up with it.''
The Admirals alleged to have swung sticks said that Mouser wasn't squirted with water, and that the sticks never reached the fans.
Also, Admirals assistant coach Al MacIsaac insisted that Brophy did not speak to Haddock.
``He made it up,'' MacIsaac said. ``Broph never said that. He never said a word to the guy.'' by CNB