Authorities identify seven people who threatened referee after Kentucky's NCAA tourney loss

Yahoo ^ | May 27, 2017 | Jeff Eisenberg

[Colonel Kangaroo]

A two-month investigation by a Nebraska prosecutor has identified seven people who threatened referee John Higgins after Kentucky’s 75-73 NCAA tournament loss to North Carolina last March.

Those seven people could eventually face charges from the FBI or authorities in their jurisdictions, Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov told the Associated Press on Friday.

“Based on the investigation’s findings, our office has determined that no local charges will be filed and that pursuit of any criminal charges would be best served by deferring to authorities in the appropriate jurisdictions,” Polikov said in a statement.

Kentucky coach John Calipari incited a firestorm when he opened his postgame news conference by lashing out at the referees. Said Calipari, “You know, it’s amazing that we were in that game where they practically fouled out my team. Amazing that we had a chance.”

The 19 fouls called on Kentucky were only one more than the 18 assessed to North Carolina, but Wildcats stars DeAaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo each spent huge chunks of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. Fox, Monk and senior forward Derek Willis finished the game with four fouls apiece.

What ultimately cost Kentucky more than the first-half foul trouble was a late drought after the Wildcats had opened a five-point lead with five minutes to go. North Carolina scored the next 12 points, endured a furious Kentucky rally and won the game on a Luke Maye jumper as time expired.

Angry that their team had fallen one basket short of the Final Four, a small percentage of Kentucky fans took out their frustration by harassing Higgins.

They bombarded Higgins’ roofing business with a flood of bogus negative online reviews, causing his ratings to plummet. They made nonstop phone calls to Higgins’ business and his unlisted home number. The worst of the lunatics even made death threats toward Higgins.

Polikov told the Associated Press that at least two media outlets had promoted and posted a video montage that exposed Higgins’ contact information.

“This information has been referred to the Federal Communications Commission for further investigation,” Polikov said.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

I think an argument can be made that American sport fanaticism and obsession has reached its highest development with fans of University of Kentucky basketball. Of course, Calipari's whining didn't help the situatiom.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

And it wasn’t the refs who missed all those shots late.

[dfwgator]

Too bad Ashley Judd wasn’t one of them.

[Cowboy Bob]

A two-month investigation by a Nebraska prosecutor has identified seven people who threatened referee John Higgins after Kentucky’s 75-73 NCAA tournament loss to North Carolina last March.

But after almost one year, still no leads on the Seth Rich murder...

[Tax-chick]

Maybe Nebraska prosecutors could be brought in to investigate that, rather than the DC police.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Or an arrest of Hordonna

[wally_bert]

I’m glad that I can totally ignore sports of just about every kind.

It amazes me how wacko deranged fans can get over a lousy ball game. It’s also funny.

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...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[lee martell]

Same here. There is a certain type of sports fan to which The Game becomes a something between a Proxy Religion and a Voodoo Doll. We sometimes read about South American Soccer fans killing and beheading coaches on the field and are baffled. Well, there is tiny (000.2 %)percentage of fans here who seem capable of the same thing. This skewed loyalty now extends to politics too, but the percentage of nutballs is much higher.

[wally_bert]

I seem to have a great many sports wackos in my area that only see that college ball to the exclusion of every thing else.

When I tell those people that no of it matters to me, I get some evil eyes.

[ptsal]

Seems like the reward being offered would get some action.

Who killed Seth Rich?

[wally_bert]

Pickles could machine gun the coach on live international TV and she would get away with it. It would be blamed on the coach.

[abb]

Sadly, I have some of those types in my extended family.

[Tax-chick]

Danged if I know.

[Hot Tabasco]

A two-month investigation by a Nebraska prosecutor has identified seven people who threatened referee John Higgins after Kentucky’s 75-73 NCAA tournament loss to North Carolina last March.

Sorry Seth Rich, you should have been a basketball referee......

[wally_bert]

The spousal unit is boxer line at times if I dare mock the chicken (gamecock) or the shiny bugs (fireflies).

Dare, dare - Sheriff Bart.

[CommieCutter]

I would love to see another death penalty placed on their program.

[WKUHilltopper]

And yet investigating the murder of Seth Rich and the secretary of state selling out the country for her own gain just isn’t worth spending the time on.

[LeoTDB69]

If Higgins name was Trump, the media would be celebrating those threats.

[IrishBrigade]

When I tell those people that no of it matters to me, I get some evil eyes.

why do you tell those people that...?