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Chicago Sky owner defends Enes Kanter Freedom ejection, compares threat to shooting a gun
ReChicago Sky owner defends Enes Kanter Freedom ejection, compares threat to shooting a gun
Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter defended the ejection and ban of Enes Kanter Freedom from Wintrust Arena, comparing the decision to not warning someone who shoots a gun. Alter said Freedom became a potential threat when he stepped toward the court, and he disputed Freedom's account of the confrontation with guard Natasha Cloud.
Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter is defending the team's decision to eject and ban Enes Kanter Freedom from Wintrust Arena, comparing the situation to a scenario where someone who shoots a gun does not receive a warning before punishment. In an exclusive interview, Alter explained why Freedom was not given a warning before being removed from Sunday's game against the Indiana Fever.
Alter announced Tuesday that Kanter was banned after the team determined he was a threat. He said Wednesday that the determination came when Freedom took a step toward the court. "That's when he became a potential threat," Alter said. "We had league security, we had arena security, we had Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky security, Chicago Police Department, all of them were there. All of them acted immediately. All of them, you know, it was the quickest decision I've ever seen in someone being ejected from a game."
When asked why Freedom was not given a warning before his ejection, Alter said, "He wasn't given a warning because certain threats don't get warnings. To use an extreme example, uh, when you, when you shoot a gun at someone, you don't get a warning, 'Don't do that again.' It, it's, you know, your action doesn't deserve a warning."
Alter acknowledged that he does not know if Freedom actually stepped on the court. Freedom has said he did not step on the court. The WNBA Fan Code states that fans who attempt to enter the court will be immediately ejected. Footage shows Freedom stepping toward the court before a security guard promptly stops him from going any further.
Freedom has argued he should have been given a warning before his ejection in a letter to the WNBA. The WNBA fan code does not state that fans are entitled to a warning before ejection. Freedom has alleged that the confrontation began after he cheered for Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. According to Freedom, Cloud turned toward him and said, "She's not going to sleep with you," before later cursing at him.
Alter confirmed that Cloud was part of the confrontation. "Was she part of the confrontation? Yes, she was," Alter said. "They were going back and forth, so that is correct." When asked whether the Sky had determined that Cloud violated any rules or planned to discipline her, Alter said, "There was not."
Alter said he had not spoken to either participant about that allegation but had talked to several people who were sitting right there and did not have a stake in the matter. "These are people who did not know each other. They didn't come with each other. I spoke with them independently of each other, so they had no knowledge of what the other person told me," Alter said.
Those spectators told Alter that Freedom initiated the first verbal interaction by directing basketball-related trash talk at Cloud. He said security did not intervene at that point because the comments had not crossed the line. "What they all shared with me was that he initiated the first verbal contact with Cloud, with doing some what I characterize as basketball trash talking," Alter said. "That was the first initial contact between Cloud and Mr. Freedom. That's what then spiraled into the back and forth between them."
Alter said the exchange included "her shouting things at him" and Freedom making "hand gestures and facial gestures" toward her. However, Alter could not provide the exact words the spectators attributed to Freedom. He also acknowledged that he did not have audio confirming the spectators' accounts. "I do not have any audio," he said.
According to Alter, at least one nearby spectator offered a different perspective. A woman wearing Fever apparel who sat behind Freedom said she did not hear him say anything to Cloud before Cloud approached him. Alter suggested the woman could not hear it given where she was sitting. "Her comment is not inconsistent with what I was told by people who were actually sitting in direct proximity," Alter said.
The witnesses have not been publicly identified, Alter could not provide Freedom's alleged words, and no audio has surfaced to verify either version. Alter nevertheless characterized Freedom's claim that he did not initiate the exchange as a lie. "We now know that is a lie," Alter said.
Alter also repeatedly declined to discuss whether Cloud's actions received or would receive a separate review. When asked why the Sky had not disciplined Cloud if she approached Freedom before he stood and moved toward the court, Alter said her conduct did not affect Freedom's responsibility for his own actions.
