HowboutthemCowboys Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 OKLAHOMA CITY - To hear Oklahoma football fans tell it, some things just aren't done in the heart of Sooner Nation, and one of them is to walk into a bar wearing a Texas Longhorns T-shirt. That's exactly what touched off a bloody skirmish that left a Texas-shirt-wearing fan nearly castrated and an Oklahoma fan facing aggravated assault charges that could put him in prison for up to five years. The shocking case has set off a raging debate in this football-crazed region about the extreme passions behind a bitter rivalry. Some legal observers have even questioned whether this case could ever truly have an impartial jury. "I've actually heard callers on talk radio say that this guy deserved what he got for wearing a Texas T-shirt into a bar in the middle of Sooner country," said Irven Box, an attorney in this city 20 miles from Oklahoma's campus in Norman. According to police, 32-year-old Texas fan Brian Christopher Thomas walked into Henry Hudson's Pub on June 17 wearing a Longhorns T-shirt and quickly became the focus of football "trash talk" from another regular, 53-year-old Oklahoma fan Allen Michael Beckett. Thomas told police that when he decided to leave and went to the bar to pay his tab, Beckett grabbed him in the crotch, pulled him to the ground and wouldn't let go, even as bar patrons tried to break it up. When the two men were separated, Thomas looked down and realized the extent of his injuries. "He could see both of his testicles hanging on the outside of his body," said Thomas' attorney, Carl Hughes. "He was wearing a pair of white shorts, which made it that much worse." It took more than 60 stitches to close the wound, and police interviewed Thomas at a nearby hospital emergency room. Beckett's attorney, Billy Bock, concedes that his client commented about Thomas' shirt, but said it was just good-natured ribbing and that he apologized to Thomas when it appeared to upset the Texas fan. Later, Bock said Thomas approached his client at the bar and threatened him. "My client is a little man, and this guy (Thomas) is 30 to 40 pounds bigger than him," Bock said. "He's bigger, stronger, younger and probably faster, and he aggressively leaned in and touched my client and threatened to beat him up. ... My guy was defending himself and just took control of the situation." Thomas' attorney disputes Beckett's version. "That's total malarkey," Hughes said. "My client never said a word to him. He got up to pay and when he paid and left a tip, the guy grabbed him." Beckett, a 53-year-old church deacon, federal auditor and former Army combat veteran, has pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance comes Oct. 4, two days before the Sooners and Horns tangle in their annual football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 3rd time posted, first here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted September 11, 2007 Author Share Posted September 11, 2007 sorry BJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codwagon Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 "He could see both of his testicles hanging on the outside of his body," said Thomas' attorney, Carl Hughes. "He was wearing a pair of white shorts, which made it that much worse." I thought they were supposed to hang on the outside of the body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pope Flick Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 I've had friends refused service in College Station for the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polksalet Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 I've had friends refused service in College Station for the same thing. A friend of mine wore a turban into the Dixie Chicken a couple days after 9/11 AND a longhorn t-shirt. Everyone stared a hole in him for a few seconds and the whole place broke into laughter. I can't remember the owner's name but he gave my friend a free meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 should read " these oklamhomo fans are dumber than a sack of dirty diapers" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pope Flick Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 A friend of mine wore a turban into the Dixie Chicken a couple days after 9/11 AND a longhorn t-shirt. Everyone stared a hole in him for a few seconds and the whole place broke into laughter. I can't remember the owner's name but he gave my friend a free meal. THerein lies the difference between Texans and Oklahomans: there is a sense of humor in the Lone Star State. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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