Masai Ujiri Prevented by police from taking the court moments after the Raptors win the NBA title

[ChevyVanMiller]

34 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said:

The only reason I know what he looks like is because I live close to Toronto and seen him on TV a bunch of times. 

I can't say I know what the president of any of the California teams look like or could pick out of a crowd the president of the majority of sports teams.

Wouldn't it be racist if he just let him walk right by without seeing a pass just because he was a 'Well Dressed Black Man' so he must be an important part of one of the teams front office?

 

Of course the other teams president is going to be sympathetic in that situation, it happened at his team facility. What else is he going to say? "Should have had your pass on bro!"

I don't really want to belabor it any further, but he didn't simply stop him and ask to see his pass. This is from the Toronto Star column that I am linking below: "The video shows Ujiri is walking slowly. He does not have the special armband the NBA distributed for entry to the court, but is pulling his NBA credential out of his jacket. Strickland puts out both hands and shoves, hard enough to throw Ujiri back. He barks, “Back the f—- up, man!” Ujiri takes a step forward and says, “What did you push me for? You’re pushing the president of the Raptors.” Strickland shoves again, hard. Ujiri’s face is pure anger and bewilderment; he cannot seem to believe this is happening to him. He pushes back."

 

I highly recommend you read the full article. You will see the full array of lies that Strickland told to besmirch the name of a good man at the top of the NBA executive chain. The department withheld the video because they knew that it showed nothing of what Strickland claimed.

 

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-the-truth-is-there-to-see-and-it-s-all-too-familiar-1.24190674

Edited August 24, 2020 by ChevyVanMiller

[NoSaint]

33 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said:

The only reason I know what he looks like is because I live close to Toronto and seen him on TV a bunch of times. 

I can't say I know what the president of any of the California teams look like or could pick out of a crowd the president of the majority of sports teams.

Wouldn't it be racist if he just let him walk right by without seeing a pass just because he was a 'Well Dressed Black Man' so he must be an important part of one of the teams front office?

 

Of course the other teams president is going to be sympathetic in that situation, it happened at his team facility. What else is he going to say? "Should have had your pass on bro!"

I think the questionable part is the huge escalation. 
 

Nothing wrong with asking for the pass. No ones saying that’s an issue. It’s that he approached the guy so aggressively as an adversary. 

[TBBills]

Just fire the cop, problem solved.

[PromoTheRobot]

On 8/22/2020 at 5:22 PM, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

If the security guy knew the other guy was “the President of the Toronto Raptors, whose team had just won the NBA Championship, who was trying to take his rightful place to celebrate with his players on the court“ and just wanted to mess with him, we agree. 
 

If he didn’t, it seems to me he was security doing security $&@$, though in a pretty dopey way.  Being a “well dressed black man” really has nothing to do with it if he had no idea who the guy was.   It appeared to me they were both shoving each other for a bit, which is the dopey part imo.

 

It appeared  to be a series of unfortunate events...poor planning by NBA (all the key players should be identified and a process to get them on the court established in advance),  the prez with his badge in his pocket where no one could see it, then understandably trying to rush through security, and the security guard blocking the wrong guy at the wrong time.

 

 

 

 

Ujiri was in the process of process of showing the man his credentials. But the sheriff already made up his mind. Unprofessional.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

7 hours ago, ChevyVanMiller said:

I don't really want to belabor it any further, but he didn't simply stop him and ask to see his pass. This is from the Toronto Star column that I am linking below: "The video shows Ujiri is walking slowly. He does not have the special armband the NBA distributed for entry to the court, but is pulling his NBA credential out of his jacket. Strickland puts out both hands and shoves, hard enough to throw Ujiri back. He barks, “Back the f—- up, man!” Ujiri takes a step forward and says, “What did you push me for? You’re pushing the president of the Raptors.” Strickland shoves again, hard. Ujiri’s face is pure anger and bewilderment; he cannot seem to believe this is happening to him. He pushes back."

 

I highly recommend you read the full article. You will see the full array of lies that Strickland told to besmirch the name of a good man at the top of the NBA executive chain. The department withheld the video because they knew that it showed nothing of what Strickland claimed.

 

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-the-truth-is-there-to-see-and-it-s-all-too-familiar-1.24190674

Ok one more thing, and remember I categorized the behavior of both men as “dopey”. 
 

Why on earth would one of the most high profile personalities in the arena not have the special armband distributed by the NBA that signifies you have access to the floor?  So, he approaches the checkpoint with neither of the easily identifiable visuals that are apparently required to access the floor, hits the checkpoint where the guy charged with security has been told “No armband, no lanyard, no entry”, is rummaging in his pocket to get one of the two pieces of ID and he has no accountability here?   None?   It’s just a rogue security guard targeting a well-dressed exec to bust his balls?   

 

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Ujiri was in the process of process of showing the man his credentials. But the sheriff already made up his mind. Unprofessional.

Generally speaking, “dopey” behavior is unprofessional so no argument from me.  At the same time, unprofessionalism on the other side contributed to the problem.  Whether he wasn’t issued the required armband, stuck it in his pocket with the ID or left it at the table, he showed up at a chaotic time with none of the required ID and attempted to access the court. How hard was it to follow the two part protocol? 
 

 

 

 

[LeGOATski]

11 hours ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Ok one more thing, and remember I categorized the behavior of both men as “dopey”. 
 

Why on earth would one of the most high profile personalities in the arena not have the special armband distributed by the NBA that signifies you have access to the floor?  So, he approaches the checkpoint with neither of the easily identifiable visuals that are apparently required to access the floor, hits the checkpoint where the guy charged with security has been told “No armband, no lanyard, no entry”, is rummaging in his pocket to get one of the two pieces of ID and he has no accountability here?   None?   It’s just a rogue security guard targeting a well-dressed exec to bust his balls?   

 

Generally speaking, “dopey” behavior is unprofessional so no argument from me.  At the same time, unprofessionalism on the other side contributed to the problem.  Whether he wasn’t issued the required armband, stuck it in his pocket with the ID or left it at the table, he showed up at a chaotic time with none of the required ID and attempted to access the court. How hard was it to follow the two part protocol? 
 

 

 

 

This.

 

Usually the team leadership is coralled and set up with an escort prior to coming onto the court to celebrate. None of the normal protocol was followed so it turned into a chaotic situation, but the guard's reaction (and subsequent lawsuit) was totally stupid.

[NoSaint]

I’ve got to ask- even if he was some guy trying to slip by do any of you think the guard is even in a remote galaxy of acceptable behavior yet alone the ballpark of it?

 

on the flip side do you think it’s weird that a well known vip might put their pass in their pocket and flub taking it out in the heat of the moment?

 

ones a train wreck and the other is a bit spacey, no?

19 hours ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Ok one more thing, and remember I categorized the behavior of both men as “dopey”. 
 

Why on earth would one of the most high profile personalities in the arena not have the special armband distributed by the NBA that signifies you have access to the floor?  So, he approaches the checkpoint with neither of the easily identifiable visuals that are apparently required to access the floor, hits the checkpoint where the guy charged with security has been told “No armband, no lanyard, no entry”, is rummaging in his pocket to get one of the two pieces of ID and he has no accountability here?   None?   It’s just a rogue security guard targeting a well-dressed exec to bust his balls?   

 

Generally speaking, “dopey” behavior is unprofessional so no argument from me.  At the same time, unprofessionalism on the other side contributed to the problem.  Whether he wasn’t issued the required armband, stuck it in his pocket with the ID or left it at the table, he showed up at a chaotic time with none of the required ID and attempted to access the court. How hard was it to follow the two part protocol? 
 

 

 

 

it’s kind of akin to getting billy clubbed for going 60 in a 55 though. 
 

sure, if you weren’t speeding you might not have been pulled over in the first place but.... 

[apuszczalowski]

23 hours ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Ok one more thing, and remember I categorized the behavior of both men as “dopey”. 
 

Why on earth would one of the most high profile personalities in the arena not have the special armband distributed by the NBA that signifies you have access to the floor?  So, he approaches the checkpoint with neither of the easily identifiable visuals that are apparently required to access the floor, hits the checkpoint where the guy charged with security has been told “No armband, no lanyard, no entry”, is rummaging in his pocket to get one of the two pieces of ID and he has no accountability here?   None?   It’s just a rogue security guard targeting a well-dressed exec to bust his balls?   

 

Generally speaking, “dopey” behavior is unprofessional so no argument from me.  At the same time, unprofessionalism on the other side contributed to the problem.  Whether he wasn’t issued the required armband, stuck it in his pocket with the ID or left it at the table, he showed up at a chaotic time with none of the required ID and attempted to access the court. How hard was it to follow the two part protocol? 
 

 

 

 

It also wasn't like Masi stopped and stood in front of the Security to show him the pass. He was reaching into his pocket making an attempt to take it out while also trying to walk past the guard whos main job at that point is to just prevent anyone from getting onto the court. I don't condone that the security guards actions were what they should have been, but in that situation, where you are tasked with trying to prevent people from a crowd of thousands from getting onto the court, its possible that your going to do whatever it takes to do that task. Its also possible that this guard had no idea that they would have an executive go through his area to access the court as i would assume that they usually have specific areas where they would normally go through to get there.But hey, he should have known that a Black man wearing a suit had to be someone associated with a team.........

[NoSaint]

10 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said:

It also wasn't like Masi stopped and stood in front of the Security to show him the pass. He was reaching into his pocket making an attempt to take it out while also trying to walk past the guard whos main job at that point is to just prevent anyone from getting onto the court. I don't condone that the security guards actions were what they should have been, but in that situation, where you are tasked with trying to prevent people from a crowd of thousands from getting onto the court, its possible that your going to do whatever it takes to do that task. Its also possible that this guard had no idea that they would have an executive go through his area to access the court as i would assume that they usually have specific areas where they would normally go through to get there.But hey, he should have known that a Black man wearing a suit had to be someone associated with a team.........

you’ve oversimplified his job greatly. It’s simply not just stop entry by all means needed. 
 

what he did was out of bounds and for a reason. This is one of many ways it could’ve gone south.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

4 hours ago, NoSaint said:

I’ve got to ask- even if he was some guy trying to slip by do any of you think the guard is even in a remote galaxy of acceptable behavior yet alone the ballpark of it?

 

on the flip side do you think it’s weird that a well known vip might put their pass in their pocket and flub taking it out in the heat of the moment?

 

ones a train wreck and the other is a bit spacey, no?

it’s kind of akin to getting billy clubbed for going 60 in a 55 though. 
 

sure, if you weren’t speeding you might not have been pulled over in the first place but.... 

I don’t think it’s weird that anyone would put a lanyard in their pocket and leave the armband at the table, or that there was a mix up and he wasn’t given one...or it was misplaced...or he wasn’t properly instructed.  5 things could have caused this, and as I said earlier, it’s a shame that his moment in the sun was tarnished by the incident.  It does not make him a bad guy, 100% at-fault, predominantly responsible or even partially at-fault.  I have no idea why there was a breakdown, but there clearly was a breakdown.  Why not just acknowledge that?  

I think the security guard was dopey, I think he overreacted.  As for your billy club example, I think it’s the wrong analogy.  The exec wasn’t doing anything wrong, I never suggested he was.  A better example would be going to a concert knowing you have tickets but not stopping at the gate and just proceeding through.  At some point, someone restrains you even though you ponied up the $175 and $27 Ticketmaster service charge.  And yes, maybe an aggressive ticket agent pushes you to stop you from moving forward.  
 

I don’t think they let you go because you’re well-dressed, or look like you could be in the band, or because you are employee of the year at Krispy Kreme.  Sometimes sh7t happens, and sometimes it’s just because the dominoes fall the wrong way.  
 

 

 

[C.Biscuit97]

This cop is a joke.  He is the stereotypical cop that people hate.  A wannabe tough guy who has already provided to be a shady dude.  I hope he pays for his tough guy act.  Tried to ruin a great moment for a dude who has overcome a ton to get where he is.