Saints owner says he won't return to Baton Rouge after fearing for his life

[goliath]

http://www.wwltv.com/sports/saints/s....2162b664.html


Saints Owner Tom Benson says he won’t attend any more Saints games in Baton Rouge after he claims he feared for his life in some terrifying encounters with fans after the game.


Mike Bland / WWL-TV

Saints owner Tom Benson lunges at the Channel 4 camera, knocking it down and causing a microphone to fall off the equipment. Benson also got into a verbal argument with a fan.

In an e-mail that league sources say Benson sent to the NFL Commissioner and other high-ranking officials, he complained about a lack of security and a confrontation with obscenity-hurling fans.

“My trip to Baton Rouge was a total disaster…” he wrote. “We were attacked by hecklers who shouted at me and my party and put my wife and family in danger.”

Benson also claims that several cameras were impeding his departure from the stadium.

“If it had not been for my grandson and his friend, we could have been killed,” said the e-mail.

The e-mail apparently referenced the situation captured by WWL-TV cameras that showed the owner lunging at, grabbing and forcing down an Eyewitness News camera. Benson then engaged at least one fan in a vulgar confrontation, while his grandson blocked the camera from filming the episode.

Eyewitness News’ Lee Zurik said his cameraman was positioned between seven and ten feet from Benson and was not in the way of the route Mr. Benson and his party were taking to leave.

As for security, LSU athletic officials told Eyewitness News that the NFL and Saints informed them that there was no need to provide extra security because Mr. Benson had his own.

Accompanying Benson on Sunday after the game, were at least three members of his security team including: the chief detective of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department, Fred Williams, former Deputy Chief of the New Orleans Police Department Gerry Ursin, plus one current Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputy.

No one from the Saints responded to requests for comments on the e-mail.

[goliath]

http://www.wwltv.com/sports/saints/s....21541f13.html

Full text of Benson note to the NFL

10:01 PM CST on Wednesday, November 2, 2005

(Editor's note: The following is a letter that NFL sources say Saints Owner Tom Benson sent to the league. It was dictated to Eyewitness Sports' Lee Zurik)

Paul, Roger, Jeff,

My trip to Baton Rouge was a total disaster. As my wife and the rest of my party left the suite, well before the end of the game, we were attacked by a number of hecklers who shouted obscen ies at me and my party and put my wife and family in danger. Security was inadequate and nonexistent and we were led out through a hostile crowd on a very long route. If it had not been for my grandson and his friend, we could have all been severely injured or killed. In addition, the media was forcing cameras in our faces and slowing down our escape from a very dangerous situation and experience. We finally escaped without serious injury, but only due to luck and the intervention of my grandson and his friend. Secruity had completely abandoned us.

After this traumatic experience, I will not return to Baton Rouge for any reason, including any games scheduled for the end of this season or a contemplated next season. No person, much less the owner of an NFL team, should have either he, his family, or his friends subjected to this form of danger, intimidation, and abuse. We will not be back in Baton Rouge for any reason. I was advised not to go, but wanted to support the league. It was my mistake. I wanted each of you to know of this miserable experience and disappointment to me after i had tried to cooperate in every way.

Sincerely,
Tom Benson

[gameFACE]

Man, this is getting good.................

[j-6]

What is this, one part truth and two parts bull ? I guess the JP head detective, the former NOPD deputy chief and the active duty JP cop he had with him didn't attend the same Rex Kwon Do dojo that his grandson went to, since they "completely abandoned" him.

I guess that's fine if Benson is looking for more crutches to lean on in his attempted escape from Louisiana, but this is ridiculous. He shoved the cameraman, not the other way around. All of the heckling he recieved is from his poor decision to not sack up and address the fans in a timely fashion, and he yelled back. And as far as the security goes, it was his home game. at your own director of security and be thankful that Saints fans for the most part are too intoxicated to throw batteries like they used to do in Cleveland.

Tommy needs to stop this whole martyr routine and man up a little. He got caught playing footsie with SA's mayor and the folks in Louisiana don't appreciate it. Sending a tear-stained letter to the commish instead of addressing the media on the subject (or just plain paying for more security personnel) just shows what a coward Benson is.

[Shiner Bock Girl]

Man, this is getting good.................

And these fans are calling Benson nuts???? What a bunch of uncivilized psychos. Yeah way to go idiots, what a way to keep your team, threaten the owner....I'm sure he can't wait to bring his team back there now....

[Oh, Gee!!]

Benson was arguably the worst owner in the NFL pre-Katrina

[tgrgrd00]

And these fans are calling Benson nuts???? What a bunch of uncivilized psychos. Yeah way to go idiots, what a way to keep your team, threaten the owner....I'm sure he can't wait to bring his team back there now....

Oh yea...It's ok for Benson to threaten the people of LA but when a fan heckles him they are "uncivilized psychos".

This man is insane...He feared for his life? C'mon...give me a break. The camera man was in his way? Bull , watch the video again. He clearly goes out of his way to push that camera. As a matter of fact I think he pushed one of the cops out of his way to get to it. If he is so scared why isn't he hiding behind the cop instead of pushing him out of the way so he can get to the camera man and fan?

There he is caught in yet another lie and people still defend this guy.

Incredible.

[Oh, Gee!!]

He charges too much for cars

[SA210]

I think Benson used this situation to his advantage to escape Louisiana. So, it's between SA and LA.
I'm sure Tags is still gonna release another statement about the commitment to Lousianna and possibly going to LA on purpose to show that he hates SA.

[PeterBurns]

Woooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Oh, Gee!!]

I think Benson used this situation to his advantage to escape Louisiana. So, it's between SA and LA.
I'm sure Tags is still gonna release another statement about the commitment to Lousianna and possibly going to LA on purpose to show that he hates SA.

do we even want the crappy 'Aints and their crappy owner. I'm beginning to think that I'd rather watch the Cowboys for free on FOX-NFL than pay $60 to see a ty team in person.

[samikeyp]

I would be afraid too if I was threatening to move a city's NFL team.

[Shiner Bock Girl]

Oh yea...It's ok for Benson to threaten the people of LA but when a fan heckles him they are "uncivilized psychos".

This man is insane...He feared for his life? C'mon...give me a break. The camera man was in his way? Bull , watch the video again. He clearly goes out of his way to push that camera. As a matter of fact I think he pushed one of the cops out of his way to get to it. If he is so scared why isn't he hiding behind the cop instead of pushing him out of the way so he can get to the camera man and fan?

There he is caught in yet another lie and people still defend this guy.

Incredible.

And the camera man was not even supposed to be there...It was a secure area...The camera man deserved to be thrown out....You ppl i believe are the liars....They were trying their best to egg him on to start trouble...He didn't start it, they were there....

[cherylsteele]

Benson was arguably the worst owner in the NFL pre-Katrina

Unlike the Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell?

[tgrgrd00]

And the camera man was not even supposed to be there...It was a secure area...The camera man deserved to be thrown out....You ppl i believe are the liars....They were trying their best to egg him on to start trouble...He didn't start it, they were there....

BULL ...I LOVE HOW YOU JUST MAKE UP.

I know exactly where Mr. Benson and the camera man were when this happened. They were next to the elevators underneath the upper deck extension. Benson was coming down from his suite and was leaving the stadium after getting off of the elavator on the ground floor. There are gates for ticket holders right next to where this happend...how in the do you make a public ticket taking area secure? Do you think all of these people just broke through a fence or something to harrass Benson? Do you really think that WWL TV who is the most watched and accredited news station in Louisiana would violate a secure area with a camera and then broadcast the incident to the country?????

You are so full of you need to go sit on the toilet...because trust me it is about to start coming out.

[Shiner Bock Girl]

BULL ...I LOVE HOW YOU JUST MAKE UP.

I know exactly where Mr. Benson and the camera man were when this happened. They were next to the elevators underneath the upper deck extension. Benson was coming down from his suite and was leaving the stadium after getting off of the elavator on the ground floor. There are gates for ticket holders right next to where this happend...how in the do you make a public ticket taking area secure? Do you think all of these people just broke through a fence or something to harrass Benson? Do you really think that WWL TV who is the most watched and accredited news station in Louisiana would violate a secure area with a camera and then broadcast the incident to the country?????

You are so full of you need to go sit on the toilet...because trust me it is about to start coming out.

Oh really i'm making this up....

NFL: No action against Benson expected
10/31/2005, 1:24 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
http://www.cleveland.com/sportsflas...torylist=sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An NFL spokesman said Monday that the league would not likely take action against New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, who a day earlier lunged at a television news crew, grabbing a camera and wrenching it downward.

"It appears to be nothing more than a brief, heated exchange with a member of the media that was caught on camera," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "It's not the first time in the world of sports entertainment that something like this has occurred. It was a tough day for the Saints and their fans."

WWL-TV, a CBS affiliate in New Orleans, was videotaping Benson leaving the Saints game in Baton Rouge on Sunday after a 21-6 loss to Miami. Chris Slaughter, the station's assistant news director, said his gameday crews routinely tape Benson departing the stadium after games, win or lose.

The station has shown Benson numerous times doing his "Benson Boogie" on the field with an umbrella after games. But after Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, Benson charged the cameraman with a raised hand before being eased away by his security entourage.

"We were taking video like we've done many times of Mr. Benson leaving the game," Slaughter said. "It was run-of-the-mill taping to that point."

The video also appeared to show Benson responding angrily to a heckling fan.

The Saints referred all comments to Aiello, who said that if the TV station wanted to file a complaint they could send him a letter and a copy of the video. However, he also pointed out that WWL was taping in "what was supposed to be a secure, private area."

Slaughter said WWL was still considering its options on Monday.

[Shiner Bock Girl]

BULL ...I LOVE HOW YOU JUST MAKE UP.

I know exactly where Mr. Benson and the camera man were when this happened. They were next to the elevators underneath the upper deck extension. Benson was coming down from his suite and was leaving the stadium after getting off of the elavator on the ground floor. There are gates for ticket holders right next to where this happend...how in the do you make a public ticket taking area secure? Do you think all of these people just broke through a fence or something to harrass Benson? Do you really think that WWL TV who is the most watched and accredited news station in Louisiana would violate a secure area with a camera and then broadcast the incident to the country?????

You are so full of you need to go sit on the toilet...because trust me it is about to start coming out.

Maybe you need to go into time out with your little friend Loose Cannon.

[TheWriter]

Oh snap, Shiner Bock Girl justed burned the out of tgrturd.

[Shiner Bock Girl]

Oh snap, Shiner Bock Girl justed burned the out of tgrturd.

I was wondering when help would arrive..LOL....

[Shiner Bock Girl]

http://www.cafepress.com/frankopinions.33259038

AWWW that is too kool...LOL...Thanks for the link....

[hicksi]

...was taping in "what was supposed to be a secure, private area."[/B]

Slaughter said WWL was still considering its options on Monday.

Then what were all the fans doing in that area?

[hicksi]

http://www.cafepress.com/frankopinions.33259038

We're Sorry, You've Encountered an Error!

[Shiner Bock Girl]

Then what were all the fans doing in that area?

The fans taunting him were befroe the game, during and after before he went into the suppossedely secure area where A fan and camera man started egging him on..

[exstatic]

Then what were all the fans doing in that area?

I think that was one of Benson's questions, too.

[tgrgrd00]

Oh really i'm making this up....

NFL: No action against Benson expected
10/31/2005, 1:24 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
http://www.cleveland.com/sportsflas...torylist=sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An NFL spokesman said Monday that the league would not likely take action against New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, who a day earlier lunged at a television news crew, grabbing a camera and wrenching it downward.

"It appears to be nothing more than a brief, heated exchange with a member of the media that was caught on camera," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "It's not the first time in the world of sports entertainment that something like this has occurred. It was a tough day for the Saints and their fans."

WWL-TV, a CBS affiliate in New Orleans, was videotaping Benson leaving the Saints game in Baton Rouge on Sunday after a 21-6 loss to Miami. Chris Slaughter, the station's assistant news director, said his gameday crews routinely tape Benson departing the stadium after games, win or lose.

The station has shown Benson numerous times doing his "Benson Boogie" on the field with an umbrella after games. But after Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, Benson charged the cameraman with a raised hand before being eased away by his security entourage.

"We were taking video like we've done many times of Mr. Benson leaving the game," Slaughter said. "It was run-of-the-mill taping to that point."

The video also appeared to show Benson responding angrily to a heckling fan.

The Saints referred all comments to Aiello, who said that if the TV station wanted to file a complaint they could send him a letter and a copy of the video. However, he also pointed out that WWL was taping in "what was supposed to be a secure, private area."



Slaughter said WWL was still considering its options on Monday.

I can't get your link to work.....

I think this Aiello guy is wrong or making up things as they go. There were people all around when this happened...I would like to know how he defines a "secure, private area." Private nor secure is this area. I know exactly where he was because my LSU season ticket entrance is about 50 feet from there. There are thousands of people that pass through this spot on any gameday. I don't know how how this could be considered private or secure.

Maybe "supposed to be secure" was what Benson thought it was going to be.

Hey if he was supposed to be in some bubble or something then I would understand but knowing the area like I do there is no way to make it private or secure.