Bedford principal: Administrators communicating about investigations into Pioneer altercation
Pioneer assistant Matt Felicia reaches for Jibreel Hussein after a heated exchange on the court following the game at Pioneer on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
- Related: Alleged racial slur leads to brief altercation between Pioneer players and Temperance Bedford fans
Temperance Bedford High School principal Scott Stalker said Wednesday afternoon that administrators from his school and Pioneer High School have been in communication regarding the altercation Tuesday night following a boys basketball game at Pioneer.
Stalker said the two parties will determine if any investigations are necessary.
Stalker was present at Tuesday’s game, where Pioneer players had to be restrained during a postgame incident with Bedford fans. Pioneer coach Rex Stanczak said a racial slur was directed at Pioneer player Jibreel Hussein. Hussein attempted a dunk at the buzzer with his team up by three, and later pointed at his jersey in front of the Bedford student section.
Stalker said he spent the entire game within 15 feet of the Bedford student section and “didn’t hear any racial comments communicated at any time.”
“The Bedford High School players, coaches, students and parents were under control,” Stalker said.
He declined to say what he witnessed as precipitating events to the altercation.
Stalker was critical of public comments that were made following the incident. Stanczak told AnnArbor.com that “someone’s got to do something about these Bedford fans. I understand that they’re from a little different area of the world." Stalker did not specifically mention Stanczak.
“The issue, in my opinion, should not be used to make generalized statements about either school,” Stalker said.
Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.
Comments
Shocked
Fri, Feb 22, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
Not a resident of either schools. However reading this article makes me think of a few things: 1. Both communities believe they are above the rest of the residents in their respected county. Both communities have massive elitist attitudes, 2. Poorly written article, or should I say horrible journalism, of course thats what sells in today's world, 3. Just watched the Fab Five documentary last night on ESPNU. For such a diverse community those young men received a tremendous amount of hate mail, from the locals, and 4. An article that should point out racism publizes what could be considered racial comments regarding a entire community by the coach preaching against racism. Success is not easily received or given up for some.
leonard
Fri, Feb 22, 2013 : 1:57 a.m.
Wow,I got berated when I said there is a culture at Pioneer. Hmmm, back to back incidents
Parent Speaks
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 7:18 p.m.
Another sporting season. Another Pioneer athletic issue. First it was Huron and now it's Bedford. Anyone else see a trend?!? Yes... It's PIONEER. This needs to STOP! Their new Princ needs to get control of her AD. The AD needs to get control of her coaching staff. Their Coaches need to get control of their players. Are Coaches even supposed to be talking to the media? Isn't it AAPS policy to not talk to the media when situations like this occur? Isn't that why Test was fired? And now the Pioneer HC publicly states that Bedford: used racial slurs, is uneducated and are basically hillbilly's that don't live in the real world because of a lack of diversity. Really?!? He should be fired and/or atleast suspended for his comments about Bedford. You would think that AAPS has a policy in place for this since the last Pioneer incident that occurred in the fall. Wonder what the consequence will be for their HC? Should be an interesting upcoming meeting with the AAPS Super, new Princ and the AD....
SportFan110
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
How much of this has to do with Pioneer's new AD this year? This is the second incident this year since she took over. It was the same way when at the previous school she was at. She always seemed to disappear, especially if there was some sort of tension or conflict.
southyoop
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 6:59 a.m.
I'm sooo sensitive...please don't call me a Yooper, I may go off at someone....cuz I have ancestors who were yoopers....and I am offended by that and need reparations for generations ago....um...who may have been insulted or something....or if I made a bad trade or something....grrrrrr
PineyWoodsGuy
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 4:40 a.m.
#1. Pioneer Athletic Leadership needs Oversight: "After Hussein missed his at the buzzer dunk, he went up to the Temperance Bedford student section and pointed at his jersey and yelled at the student section." Hussein is only a teenboy and he draws a pass, But his coaches should have counseled him and team In-Advance that such conduct is Poor Sportsmanship! Shame on the Adults!!! #2. Pioneer has lots of potential opponents in Livingston, Jackson, Lenawee and Monroe counties, as well as western Wayne county. Why not give Bedford a rest and Not Schedule Them for the next few years?
Hearsay
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 3:44 a.m.
What a joke. Thank goodness our judicial system has a hearsay rule. We would have over zealous judges acting like this writer. Last time I checked you are supposed to gather facts from both sides before running with a story. Because one side takes their time to investigate what happened doesn't mean they should be crucified in the court of public opinion. I have never seen a Bedford athlete taunt an opposing section like that . If they did I guarantee they would have major ramifications . They wouldn't blame it on the crowd. I'm surprised all you living in glass houses types didn't blame Bedford for your football brawl between Pioneer and Huron, for surely such a highly educated,diverse community such as yours is incapable of such an act. I just wish Jackson Lamb,who has more integrity in his pinky than pioneers whole coaching staff, would reconsider his commitment to U of M over this incident. You would lose one great student athlete.
kejamder
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 5:39 a.m.
what does U of M have to do with it?
brian
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 3:40 a.m.
Oh brother, can't we just get along. This is so silly. Move on people.
treetowncartel
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 2:33 a.m.
Regardless of what was said, if anything, going over to the other teams bench and tugging on your jersey won't get you a scholarship offer from Coach. There is no "I" in team. Line up, shake hands and head off t your respective locker rooms.
Mike
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 2:13 a.m.
Bedford fans have a history of this type of abuse of high school players
hmsp
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:51 a.m.
Same insults and a very hostile crowd when this team went down to Bedford. A lot of animosity directed towards the African-American kids, and kids of Middle-Eastern ancestry. I find it astonishing how people who weren't there are so positive about what happened. As for, "had to be restrained," I don't know about that. "Were restrained, just in case?" Yes. I myself helped escort him and another kid down to the other end of the gym... Just in case. Neither one of them ever did anything like shrugging me off or pushing my hand away. I never felt a sense of physical threat to myself or anyone else there. I did pick up on a lot of anger, of course, but I hardly blame them.
TheTruth
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:38 a.m.
For everyone who would like to actually hear what the alleged "racial slur" was, that only Hussein heard.. After Hussein missed his at the buzzer dunk, he went up to the Temperance Bedford student section and pointed at his jersey and yelled at the student section. The teenagers in the section were obviously upset and told Hussein to "sit down". As it was loud and a high energy environment, it is believed that Hussein heard them call him "Saddam". Not one person I have spoken with heard him or his family being called anything else. The student section at Bedford is usually very spirited and may take it too far occasionally, but there were two Bedford officials within 15 ft of the student section the entire game and after the game. Maybe something racists was thrown out there by a Bedford fan, but that does not excuse what the varsity coach of AA Pioneer said about the entire Bedford community. Besides that, him and the AA Pioneer AD did nothing but watch the "altercation" ( AA attempts at attacking Bedford fans). Please also note, the Bedford Varsity Basketball team had no part in this situation. Also, I was at the game where Pioneer visited Bedford, a Pioneer player took off his jersey and pushed up against Jackson Lamb after shaking hands while Jackson was about to be interviewed.. Again, nothing was done by the Pioneer coach and a Bedford principal and cop had to pull York off of Jackson. Only stated facts. Please do not call an entire community "ignorant" and "uneducated" because of an alleged comment without hearing the facts, and also to report a story about this without knowing the facts is pathetic. I know it's a story that sells, clearly but to be so biased against a community is sad.
boo
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:28 a.m.
May be time for some changes at Pioneer. AD and Coaches. The players are a reflection of their leaders. Seems to be a lot of poor sportsmanship coming from that school. And the negative press can't be helping matters. Thats not what I want to read about my school.
Engineer
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:24 a.m.
Seems to be a trend. Pioneer seems to be the common denominator irregradless the sport.
Silly Sally
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:20 a.m.
The Ann Arbor School District is losing control of Pioneer High School. A teachable moment happened last night, and it was a bad one. With a lot of hearsay, Coach Rex Stanczak says, "Jibrell Hussein told me that a fan in the stands called me a N$#XS". No one heard this alleged insult, though many did see Pioneer player Jibrell Hussein taunting the opposing team with his unsportsman like conduct. What all have learned from this teachable moment is that all you have to do is behave badly, Jibrell Hussein's bad conduct, and then to get away with it, cry racism, even if no one heard any insult but you. That doesn't matter. Even if he did hear an insult, everyone now knows that there does not need to actually be one. What power! What a bad example our schools
tolfb
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 12:27 a.m.
I noticed the principal was close to the Bedford student section the entire game. It's hard to believe anything real inappropriate was said. I saw no administration from Pioneer at all. No AD, security or administration to be seen. Thankfully the Pioneer JV coach was doing what he could.
SpartyOn17
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:24 a.m.
Silly answer Sally
Silly Sally
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:21 a.m.
to excuse his bad behavior
SpartyOn17
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
Wouldn't you say that its harder to believe that this was totally unprovoked? Especially after a win...why would the player be so mad if nothing was said?
Michigan Man
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 12:25 a.m.
Pioneer High School Administration, Faculty, Staff and apparently students seem to have some unresolved anger management issues needing rather immediate attention. Why is everyone so pissed off over at Pioneer High School?
thecompound
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 3:15 a.m.
Maybe not having an official principal the first semester contributed to the attitude problem......
happydave57
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:04 a.m.
They have been since Bob Seger graduated.....
Mike
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 11:21 p.m.
It sounds the only people out of line here were Jibreel Hussein and Rex Stanczak.
Mike
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 3:26 a.m.
The only person who claimed to hear the slur was Hussein. Out of everyone there, one person heard it. That is farfetched.
Silly Sally
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:22 a.m.
Are they hearing voices?
John of Saline
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 11:07 p.m.
Well, then. Where's the video? Someone's got video, whether cell-phone or the "official" Pioneer camera still running after the end of the game.