Tennessee State House of Representative member Jeremy Faison attempted to pull down the pants of a high school boys basketball referee last week. On Tuesday, he issued a public apology.
“I acted the fool tonight,” the politician said in a statement. “I’m hoping to be able to make it right.”
The 45-year-old Chairman sat courtside of the Providence Academy gym in Johnson City where he watched his teenage son participate in a game against Lakeway Christian Academy. When a referee called technical fouls for unsportsmanlike behavior, Faison felt it was his duty to make his way onto the court and oppose the calls.
According to multiple news outlets, he was then asked to leave the court but reused. In addition, it was reported that hs son was playing for the visiting team.
“You can’t tell me to leave the floor, this was your fault,” he reportedly relayed to the referee. Video evidence of the event then showed Faison attempting to pull down the pants of the referee before he swiftly exited the game.
Jermey Faison says that losing temper at sporting events is not ‘Christian’ or ‘mature’
“For years I thought how wrong it is when a parent loses their temper at a sporting event,” the Tennesee representative wrote in a statement issued on Twitter. “It’s not Christian and it’s not mature and it’s embarrassing to the child have always been my thoughts.”
The Tennessean also reported that there was a request for police intervention, despite the police never being called. However, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association issued a report that detailed Faison trying to jerk the referee’s pants “down and off.”
“Unfortunately, I acted the fool tonight and lost my temper on a ref. I was wanting him to fight me,” Faison continued in his apology. He went on to report that his actions were stupid and relayed, “Totally lost my junk and got booted from the gym. I’ve never really lost my temper for all to see, but I did tonight and it was completely stupid of me.”
The politician concluded by sharing the sentiments, “Emotions getting in the way of rational thoughts are never good. I hope to be able to find the ref and ask for his forgiveness. I was bad wrong.”
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.