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Ex-ref says Wilkins hit him first, tweets about incident
The man accused of attacking NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins at Philips Arena Wednesday night tweeted about the incident.
Rashan S. Michel -- who allegedly punched Wilkins after the Hawks-Magic game because, he said, Wilkins owed him money -- tweeted, "I call what happened at Philips Arena earlier, Operation Repo...next time have my money!"
Michel, 36, was arrested and charged with one count of simple battery following the incident. Michel was released from the Fulton County Jail on $1,000 bond early Thursday.
Michel, who told police he was owed money for suits purchased several years ago, hit Wilkins in the chest and also hit a security guard, said Officer Kim Jones, an Atlanta police spokeswoman. Michel, of Atlanta, has worked as an NBA and college basketball referee and previously owned his own clothing company.
In another tweet, this one addressed to Wilkins' Twitter account (DWilkins21), Michel wrote "pay your debts, poser."
Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said in a statement Wednesday night that Michel "was promptly arrested and was taken into custody by the Atlanta Police Department. At this time the Hawks have no additional information or comment regarding this situation." Attempts to reach Wilkins Thursday morning were unsuccessful.
NBA.com's Sekou Smith tweeted that Wilkins got in three "solid" punches during the brief fight, while his assailant landed none.
In a Thursday morning interview with the Frank and Wanda Morning Show on V-103, Michel claimed Wilkins hit him first, cohost Frank Ski told the AJC.
"He said he was approaching Dominique because Dominique owed him about $13,000 and wasn't paying for the suits, but the security guard grabbed him and after that Dominique punched him first, and he responded," Ski said, recapping the interview.
Ski said he knows both men personally and called the incident "uncharacteristic of each of them."
Wilkins, 51, serves as a Hawks vice president and television analyst. Wilkins, who played for the Hawks from 1982 until 1994, ranks 11th on the NBA's alltime scoring list with 26,668 points.
Wilkins was not injured in the incident, which occurred as he mingled with fans. He had just finished his TV work on press row following the Hawks' 85-82 win over Orlando.
Michel was the youngest ref at age 23 when he started working NBA games in 1997. He officiated NBA games until 2001, and later opened a custom clothing company.
The man accused of attacking NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins at Philips Arena Wednesday night tweeted about the incident.
Rashan S. Michel -- who allegedly punched Wilkins after the Hawks-Magic game because, he said, Wilkins owed him money -- tweeted, "I call what happened at Philips Arena earlier, Operation Repo...next time have my money!"
Michel, 36, was arrested and charged with one count of simple battery following the incident. Michel was released from the Fulton County Jail on $1,000 bond early Thursday.
Michel, who told police he was owed money for suits purchased several years ago, hit Wilkins in the chest and also hit a security guard, said Officer Kim Jones, an Atlanta police spokeswoman. Michel, of Atlanta, has worked as an NBA and college basketball referee and previously owned his own clothing company.
In another tweet, this one addressed to Wilkins' Twitter account (DWilkins21), Michel wrote "pay your debts, poser."
Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said in a statement Wednesday night that Michel "was promptly arrested and was taken into custody by the Atlanta Police Department. At this time the Hawks have no additional information or comment regarding this situation." Attempts to reach Wilkins Thursday morning were unsuccessful.
NBA.com's Sekou Smith tweeted that Wilkins got in three "solid" punches during the brief fight, while his assailant landed none.
In a Thursday morning interview with the Frank and Wanda Morning Show on V-103, Michel claimed Wilkins hit him first, cohost Frank Ski told the AJC.
"He said he was approaching Dominique because Dominique owed him about $13,000 and wasn't paying for the suits, but the security guard grabbed him and after that Dominique punched him first, and he responded," Ski said, recapping the interview.
Ski said he knows both men personally and called the incident "uncharacteristic of each of them."
Wilkins, 51, serves as a Hawks vice president and television analyst. Wilkins, who played for the Hawks from 1982 until 1994, ranks 11th on the NBA's alltime scoring list with 26,668 points.
Wilkins was not injured in the incident, which occurred as he mingled with fans. He had just finished his TV work on press row following the Hawks' 85-82 win over Orlando.
Michel was the youngest ref at age 23 when he started working NBA games in 1997. He officiated NBA games until 2001, and later opened a custom clothing company.