Friday, May 28, 2010
Here We Go Again: Sorting Though the Zach Randolph Mess
Posted
by Chris Herrington
on Fri, May 28, 2010 at 12:23 AM
By now, everyone who cares about the Memphis Grizzlies knows about Zach Randolph’s latest troubles, most significantly his implication in a drug case in his native Indiana, but also a report of his connection with an assault at a Los Angeles strip club. In both cases, the direct subject of the allegation is not Randolph but rather an associate of his, an old story for those familiar with Randolph’s notorious — but unseen or unnoticed in Memphis — “Hoop Family” entourage. (As Flyer editor Bruce VanWyngarden quipped, Randolph may be “posse-whipped.”)
Roughly 24 hours after the initial report on the Indianapolis drug case first emerged, I’m just now getting a chance to dig into the story. Let’s look at what we now know about the case — I’m focusing on the Indianapolis case here, which seems much more serious — and where things could go.
See the full article from “Memphis Flyer”
Only problem: A couple nights ago, Randolph was in a Los Angeles strip club at 2 a.m., where one of his people may or may not have jumped a guy.
So commitment means hanging out at strip clubs. And distancing yourself from bad characters means getting them to take care of your house.
Here’s hoping “he’s not a target of the investigation right now” doesn’t mean “but he will be soon enough.” The way things have been going for Randolph lately, it’s hard to have much confidence.
The man is the target of headline writers across the country, for two fiascos in two disparate states.
“Is Zach Randolph Indiana’s Drug Kingpin?” wrote the wildly popular sports website, deadspin.com.
“NBA Star Named In Strip Club Beatdown,” wrote the entertainment website, tmz.com.
See the full article from “Memphis Commercial Appeal”
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The last 24 hours haven’t been good for NBA All-Star Zach Randolph after being mentioned in police reports in two different states in two days. First the Grizzlies forward was linked to an Indianapolis drug ring, and is now being mentioned in a Los Angeles strip club beat down.
…
Randolph’s legal troubles don’t stop in Indiana; in Los Angeles a man claims he had been badly beaten by a friend of Randolph’s around 2:00am Thursday at a strip club. According to TMZ.com, the victim, Gary Ferguson, told police Randolph was present at the club, but did not strike him during the alleged attack. This isn’t Randolph’s first run-in with Ferguson. Ferguson sued Randolph last year after claiming the Grizzlies forward attacked him at a pizza restaurant in 2008. So far, no charges have been filed in Thursday morning’s attack.
See the full article from “MyFox Memphis”
… Zach’s continued commitment to the team has been evident the last couple of weeks as he’s been working out with members of our staff on the West Coast.”
Randolph has not been charged or arrested in connection with the case against Boyd.
But Randolph is taking a public relations hit this week.
According to TMZ.com, Randolph was named in a police report detailing an alleged brawl in an Los Angeles-area strip club. According to the report, officers responded to Starz gentlemen’s club about 2 a.m. Wednesday morning after someone called 911 claiming a man had been badly beaten by someone associated with Randolph.
The man told police Randolph was present at the club but did not strike him during the alleged attack.
The strip club is located in Gardena, Calif., which is an L.A. suburb.
See the full article from “Memphis Commercial Appeal”
NBA Star Named in Strip Club Beatdown
Originally posted May 27th 2010 10:43 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
It’s been a bad morning for NBA star Zach Randolph — TMZ has learned the 6′9″ All-Star has been named in a police report detailing an alleged brawl in an L.A. area strip club yesterday.
According to the Gardena Police Department, officers responded to Starz strip club around 2 AM Wednesday morning — after someone called 911 claiming a man named Gary Ferguson had been badly beaten by someone in Zach Randolph’s crew.
Ferguson told police Zach was present at the club — but did not strike him during the alleged attack.
…
As for the strip club incident — we’re told police are investigating. So far, no charges have been filed against anyone.
See the full article from “TMZ.com (blog)”
Memphis Grizzlies big man Zach Randolph is accused of being a “major marijuana supplier,” TheIndyChannel.com reports. According to the web site, a reliable informant was first to raise the charge.
Indianapolis police recently found a car registered to Randolph filled with marijuana and gun ammunition. Cops then raided storage space rented by Randolph, where “controlled substances” and “cars with secret compartments” were found.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Randolph has not yet been charged with any crime, but a detective reportedly called the Grizzlies star a “financier for known drug dealers in Indianapolis.”
Randolph has been arrested numerous times throughout his life, including a marijuana arrest when he was with the Portland Trailblazers. Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.
UPDATE: A bad day gets worse for Randolph. TMZ reports that in a separate incident, a member of Randolph’s posse is accused of beating a man at a strip club.
See the full article from “Huffington Post (blog)”
INDIANAPOLIS — A viewing is set for Wednesday for a Franklin Township firefighter who was killed Sunday in a high-speed crash.
Indiana State Police said David Newsom, 34, was going more than 80 mph when he lost control of his pickup truck in the 2700 block of Madison Avenue.
Newsom crashed into another vehicle, hit a utility pole and then crashed into Club Zeus, a strip club.
Police said they aren’t sure why Newsom, also a logistics manager for Indiana Task Force One, was speeding.
Newsom’s funeral is on Thursday at 11 a.m.
See the full article from “WRTV Indianapolis”
Indianapolis IN Truck Wreck: Speeding Franklin Twp. firefighter killed in crash
2010-05-26 01:52:58 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com – Justice News Flash, Press Release)
05/25/2010 // West Palm Beach, Florida, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Indianapolis, IN—A motor vehicle collision (MVC) involving a firefighter’s pickup truck, car, utility pole, and strip club resulted in injuries ranging from minor to fatal. The violent crash occurred on the south side of Indianapolis on Sunday, May 23, 2010, according to information provided by TheIndyChannel.com.
Reports indicated 34-year-old Franklin Township firefighter David Joseph Newsom was traveling along the 2700 block of Madison Avenue when the wreck occurred.
Newsom reportedly lost control of his pickup truck and smashed into another vehicle. On impact, his truck was sent careening into a power pole and then through Club Zeus. A band was playing inside at the time.
See the full article from “Justice News Flash”
LeBron James: Why Not Indiana?
LeBron,
Hear me out on this one. Why not Indiana?
Don’t even mention this idea to your posse because they will shoot it down faster than Plaxico Burress at a strip club.
Please forget that less than a week ago I called you, “over-hyped, over-marketed, and an overrated basketball player.” As well as other harsh comments such as, “saying his name in the same sentence as Michael Jordan , Magic Johnson, or Larry Bird is an insult to some of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen.”
By now every feasible city and team in the NBA are figuring out ways to roll out the red carpet for you, “The King.”
Cleveland put together a lame song titled, “We are LeBron,” with the lyrics, “Just tell us King, what changes we must make, We’ll rename every street ‘LeBron’ if that’s what it takes…”
See the full article from “Bleacher Report”
Off-duty firefighter killed after crashing into strip club
…
Indianapolis – An off-duty Franklin Township firefighter is dead after losing control of his truck, hitting a car and slamming into an Indianapolis strip club. Nobody else was seriously injured. David Joseph Newsom, 34, was driving south on Madision Ave. at around 6:30 p.m. Sunday when a State Trooper clocked him going 81 mph by Manuel High School. The trooper tried to pull Newsom over, but he soon hit a curb and lost control. His truck then hit a car, snapped a utility pole and slammed into Club Zeus Showclub. Newsom was thrown from his vehicle. He was unresponsive at the scene and later died at Wishard Hospital. Investigators still don’t know why Newsom, a firefighter for 8 1/2 years, was speeding or what caused him to lose control. Brandi Parks and Mason Tate were waiting at a stoplight with their young boys at an intersection when they saw Newsom’s truck fly …
See the full article from “Fox 59″