AP Yancy Gates didn’t start the Cincinnati-Xavier brawl on Saturday, but the Bearcats center was the man who inflicted the most damage — to the face of Xavier senior Kenny Frease and to the reputations of his school and himself.
And for that, Gates, a Cincinnati senior who grew up The Queen City, apologized Monday, eventually breaking down into tears.
“My actions were just not what I’m about as a person, as an athlete,” he said. “I’m sorry for the embarrassment I put on myself, the University of Cincinnati and the city of Cincinnati. That’s not what we’re about. Now people all over the country just now hearing about Cincinnati, that’s all they know it for. That’s embarrassing. I just want to move forward and do whatever I can to make up for it.”
Gates spoke at a press conference that also included coach Mick Cronin and the other Bearcats suspended for their roles in the brawl, Octavius Ellis, Ge’Lawn Guyn and Cheikh Mbodj. Cronin and Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock offered explanations for the length of the various suspensions and why they settled on this and not dismissals , a move many had called for and expected.
That fact wasn’t lost on Gates.
“It could have been over for me,” Gates said. “I was worried about the rest of the teammates in the locker room; if I was to be dismissed for the rest of the season, that’s not only hurting me, that’s hurting the other guys in the locker room. I was a little scared that it might have been over. It might have been my last game in a Cincinnati jersey.”
Instead, he’ll miss the next six games and also – according to Cronin – have to do some community outreach and do his best to rebuild the school’s image and his image as best he can. If not, his Cincinnati career may be over. (He also may have to deal with criminal charges.)
“I don’t know about the environment. I can take responsibility for my actions,” Gates said. “I should have grabbed the freshmen instead of going out there throwing punches. Some people are going to say it’s fair; some people are going to say it’s unfair. That’s not up for me to decide. All I can do is take my punishment.”
Related stories:
- Crosstown Brawl could re-shape Cincinnati, Xavier programs
- Teams hand out suspensions from brawl
- Video: Cronin says ‘zero excuse’ for incident
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- evanhartford - Dec 12, 2011 at 5:13 PM
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Its interesting. As mad as I am that this happened, I’m happy with the way Cincinnati has handled themselves since then. I don’t think anyone should be banned. As bad as it was, there are players that are guilty of far worse, only to get suspended for a game or two. Hopefully they’ll learn their lessons and grow from this. I think Coach Cronin should be applauded for his press conference immediately following the game.
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- bangitfootball - Dec 12, 2011 at 5:45 PM
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Your a punk Gates. Frease wasnt even looking your way, it was a sucker shot.
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- florida727 - Dec 12, 2011 at 5:51 PM
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“Tearful Gates apologizes, ready to accept punishment”
Tearful apology = “damn TV cameras, if they weren’t there, I could’ve gotten away with that sucker punch on that white boy”
Ready to accept punishment = hate to break the news to you chump, you ain’t got no choice, whether you accept it or not, your @$$ is sitting on the bench for six games, should be the whole freakin’ season
Kermit Washington II
Way to go Gates. Your legacy has forever been sealed. Worthless b*tch.
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- profootballwalk - Dec 12, 2011 at 6:12 PM
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@evanhartford – they came out taking about ‘we’re gangstas’ – you’re happy with the way they handled it? This punk-a$$ sucker punches a guy who’s not looking – you think that was the first time he ever did that in his life? He was looking for someone to sneak-punch because he’s a coward and a punk. That sucker punch is who he really is, deep down.
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- 1historian - Dec 15, 2011 at 7:39 AM
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takes one to know one?
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- paesan59 - Dec 12, 2011 at 7:35 PM
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What this guy did was awful no doubt. I have read many comments about this in how he should get the most punishment. Instead of trying to lay down the hammer on this guy/kid, I think what Cinci did was the correct thing. Yates seems like he realizes the bad decision he made and wants to learn from his mistake. I am all for giving Yates a second chance to learn from his mistakes he made as long as this is his actual second chance. I know nothing about Yates before this happened so there might be previous issues that I do not know of.
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- fockers2009 - Dec 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM
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He acted like an arrogant ghetto thug and feel absolutely no sympathy for him. He should be permenatly kicked off the team. No college program needs displays like this on or off the court.
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- 1historian - Dec 15, 2011 at 7:40 AM
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work on your spelling
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- merbnz - Dec 13, 2011 at 9:40 AM
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Remember NCAA and all the colleges out there…”You reap what you sow”. By giving scholarships to so many uncaring, self-proclaimed “gangstas” you’re wasting your money. These guys couldn’t care less about an education. Spend your money on kids that want to get a degree. That want to make a difference in their community, city, state or country. All these guys want is to play professional basketball. Most of them won’t get that opportunity and they wasted 3-4 years of everyone’s time, effort and money. These guys suck!
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- rickb56 - Dec 13, 2011 at 10:33 AM
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Tearful apology my ass…
Does anyone really know, why the brawl began in the first place? Cross town rivals?
I know it may be trite to say, but what ever happened to the shake hands and just tell your opponent “good game”?
If its to that point..where its that much of a hassle just to congratulate the other team without declaring war…its time to quit playing…after all..its still a game..granted, a money game…but a game nonetheless.
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- psousa1 - Dec 13, 2011 at 11:51 AM
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He saw a white face standing there so he thought it would be safe for him to swing away and other imbecile tried to stomp him. Is there any doubt? It is the elephant in the room. To think otherwise is delusional.
If a white player goes out of his way to attack a black player and a white teammate decides to stomp him on the way down this would be all over televison, newspapers, bloggers demanding they not be suspended from the team but expelled from school.
