Vecsey Sued, Faces Charge In Store Fight

Peter Vecsey was charged Friday with fourth-degree assault in an attack on a man who reportedly called the NBC basketball analyst “an idiot” at a toy store in Everett.

The charge was filed in Lynnwood District Court a day after Vecsey and another man were sued by Derek and Tracey Nephew for unspecified damages in Snohomish County Superior Court.

The second man, identified only as “John Doe 1” in the suit, also may be charged with assault, said Mike Jacobs, Lynnwood city attorney. The man lives in the area and has no apparent connection with NBC, Jacobs added.

Fourth-degree assault is a gross misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Vecsey, in Seattle for the NBA Finals, has 20 days in which to respond to the suit after being served with a copy of the document.

“I’d love to say something but I can’t,” Vecsey said at Seattle’s KeyArena before the start of Friday night’s Chicago-Seattle game. Besides working for NBC, he writes a column for the New York Post.

Both cases stem from an episode Tuesday at the Toys R Us store in Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, a suburb between Seattle and Everett.

A police report and the lawsuit gave the following account:

Derek Nephew told police that his wife recognized Vecsey as the couple shopped Tuesday at Toys R Us. Nephew told his wife he didn’t believe her and added, “And besides, Peter Vecsey is an idiot.”

Vecsey, who was with two other men, heard the comment and the two got into an argument, a police report said. Nephew then said he thought some of Vecsey’s comments on the air were “kind of stupid.”

When Vecsey told him to leave the store, Nephew said he was shopping and wasn’t going to leave. Vecsey then said, “I’m not going to hit you, but my friends will,” Nephew told police.

Nephew said he tried to walk away, but one of the men with Vecsey grabbed him and hit him, and Vecsey joined in.

To scope, or not to scope

Bulls guard Ron Harper, bothered by soreness in his left knee since Game 2, said he probably will have arthroscopic surgery during the off-season.

He had fun with reporters in the locker room before Friday’s game, suggesting he would have his knee scoped as early as next week and as late as next preseason.

“You don’t have surgery during your time off,” Harper said, a big smile on his face. “You have surgery during their time; you wait for training camp.”

A more serious Harper said that after the season he would work with Bulls medical personnel to evaluate his situation and a decision would then be made.

Suns talk trade

Charles Barkley may not be the only player the Suns are prepared to trade this summer in an effort to rebuild from a 41-41 season.

NBA sources said the Suns are working aggressively to improve their position in the June 26 draft, and are negotiating a deal with the Vancouver Grizzlies, who have the third pick of the draft.

The Suns could not trade players of value to the Grizzlies for the No. 3 pick at this time because Vancouver doesn’t have enough room under the NBA’s salary cap.

Instead, if a deal is struck, Vancouver would pick a player for the Suns at No. 3. The deal then would be completed after July 1 when Vancouver, with five unrestricted free agents and the club’s option on two others, can free up cap room. Phoenix would offer Wayman Tisdale and Wesley Person.

They wrote it

“Rodman lived up to the name of his book: ‘Bad as I Wanna Be.’ He may actually have been worse than he wanna be.” - Dave Boling, Tacoma News Tribune.

“Are those rings supposed to go around their fingers or around their necks?” - Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune.

“This was a win that buried all the talk about the Bulls being the greatest team in history. They weren’t even the best team this week.” - Steve Kelley, Seattle Times.

“They have lived to trash-talk about it.” - Tom Friend, New York Times.