Inhistoric.com: The Sports History Blog

When the New York Knicks visited the Chicago Bulls in January 2006, the hype was centered on Eddy Curry's return to the Windy City. After the game, all anyone could talk about was Antonio Davis.

During a timeout break in the final minutes of the game, the Knicks forward climbed over the scorers' table and into the stands of the United Center. Davis walked ten rows up before reaching the area where his wife, Kendra, and two kids were sitting. The intermission was extended as a crowd of gawkers, officials, and security surrounded the area. Davis did not take a swing or do anything at all hostile. He shortly returned to the court and was automatically ejected for entering the stands.

"I witnessed my wife being threatened by a man that I learned later to be intoxicated," Davis stated in a written statement. "I saw him touch her, and I know I should not have acted the way I did, but I would have felt terrible if I didn't react. There was no time to call security. It happened too quickly."

Antonio made headlines because the NBA was only a year past the Pacers-Pistons brawl, where Ron Artest stormed into the stands to beat up a fan. In fact, Davis entered the seats on the same day that five Pacers involved in that brawl were sentenced to a year of probation.

Davis was suspended five games, which was a lighter punishment than it would have been for almost any other player. Davis was president of the NBA players' union and had built a crystal clear reputation. Some sportswriters thought it was reckless to jump into the seating area like that, however most thought it was admirable for him to have his wife's well being in mind.

The spectator in question was 22 year-old Michael Axelrod (the bald man in the leather jacket at the top of the photo), who happened to be the son of David Axelrod, who was the chief political consultant for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Michael was involved in an argument with Kendra Davis that led to Antonio's cameo in the stands. He contended that he was not drunk at the time and that Kendra had been the instigator.

Michael claimed that Mrs. Davis came over to his seat after he loudly booed a call against the Bulls. She allegedly yelled, "Shut your goddamn mouth!" and began to harass him and scratch his face. Other fans hollered for her to sit down and she started to yell at another fan. Axelrod then motioned for security to come and defuse the situation. "I started trying to wave more security down, then I turned around and Antonio Davis was standing right there."

Axelrod's claim appeared to be entirely accurate. Footage showing Kendra approaching his seat and him waving for security was unearthed. One fan close to the action gave the same account and said that Kendra had done all the drinking. Other spectators agreed that if anyone was the aggressor, it was her. Davis lacked credibility in the matter, as she once engaged in a shouting match with Latrell Sprewell back in 2001.

Axelrod threatened to sue for $1 million, but eventually met with the Davises and came to an agreement (which is easier to do when your dad is a renowned political strategist). The whole crowd-entering thing totally overshadowed what was a really crazy basketball game. Besides Davis, there were a pair of ejections, a game-tying three and a game-winning shot by Ben Gordon in overtime.