saintz08

Saints owner says he won't return to Baton Rouge after fearing for his life

WWLTV.com

Saints Owner Tom Benson says he won’t attend any more Saints games in Baton Rouge after he claims he feared for his life in some terrifying encounters with fans after the game.


Saints owner Tom Benson lunges at the Channel 4 camera, knocking it down and causing a microphone to fall off the equipment. Benson also got into a verbal argument with a fan.

In an e-mail that league sources say Benson sent to the NFL Commissioner and other high-ranking officials, he complained about a lack of security and a confrontation with obscenity-hurling fans.


“My trip to Baton Rouge was a total disaster…� he wrote. “We were attacked by hecklers who shouted at me and my party and put my wife and family in danger.�


Benson also claims that several cameras were impeding his departure from the stadium.


“If it had not been for my grandson and his friend, we could have been killed,� said the e-mail.


The e-mail apparently referenced the situation captured by WWL-TV cameras that showed the owner lunging at, grabbing and forcing down an Eyewitness News camera. Benson then engaged at least one fan in a vulgar confrontation, while his grandson blocked the camera from filming the episode.


Eyewitness News’ Lee Zurik said his cameraman was positioned between seven and ten feet from Benson and was not in the way of the route Mr. Benson and his party were taking to leave.


As for security, LSU athletic officials told Eyewitness News that the NFL and Saints informed them that there was no need to provide extra security because Mr. Benson had his own.


Accompanying Benson on Sunday after the game, were at least three members of his security team including: the chief detective of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department, Fred Williams, former Deputy Chief of the New Orleans Police Department Gerry Ursin, plus one current Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputy.


No one from the Saints responded to requests for comments on the e-mail.

http://www.wwltv.com/sports/stories/....2162b664.html

xan

Wow, man o man o man o MAN. Am I supposed to be sympathetic here? Am I supposed to buy into something like a conspiracy? Who DIDN'T watch that taped encounter and wonder why Mr. Benson went out of his way to engage both the heckler or the press team. This is like the 6 bouncers from the Burbon Street bar that killed the med school student claiming that it was in self defence, which was also on tape.

I guess you can't just take the high road, Mr. Benson. But then, given the "product" you call the Saints this season (and I am a die-hard fan that wishes you the riches that comes with SUCCESS) you seem to call s--t "gold" and gold "s--t".

Euphoria

Lets see you mess with the State and the Cajuns about possible moving the Saints... what do you expect to be allowed to live? lol.

BoudinSandwich

It sounds very logical to me. You keep poking at the gator, eventually, it's going to bite you. Maybe he should try fire?

fhotard

I smell BS!!!
He's obviously trying to shore up his case for a move.

Hmmm...in danger because someone was verbally expressing what a scumbag you are?

Yes, thank goodness he was there to protect you from the big, mean camera!
What a piece of work this man is!

TallySaint

Good Lord.

A bizzare season.


What's next?



( insert BLANK STARE smiley here)

jrmllb

Can it get any worse? Wait a minute we are talking about Benson and the Saints, of course it could

Quote of the day: "No situation is so bad that you can't make it worse with a little effort"
That is it we need more effort

Euphoria

We are in a catch 22 now... Tag could force the team to play in Baton Rouge until the dome is ready next year and Benson could then turn around and keep Has as coach or bring in worse.

BoudinSandwich

I normally don't do this sort-of thing, but here is how I feel about this situation.

yasoon

There was a time a couple of years ago when people gave Benson crap for not spending any money when we actually had a pretty good sized payroll. I thought the criticism was unfounded and I made the point. Now, I never questioned his lack of a commitment to winning.

Let me just say that I now have seen this man for the maniacal monster that he is and I regret ever making a single point in his favor.

He has shown us that he is nothing more than a petulant old bastard trying to make any point to favor is greedy cause. I saw the video. If there was an aggressor, it was him. So, someone taunted him...big deal. Feared for his life? What a joke. The practice facility destroyed? Nope.

The other great thing is that there are cops in the WWL video. And you know the man has his own security detail. This was what he wanted. He wanted an altercation. He wanted to write the letter before he even went to the game.

Benson is a classless piece of $hit.

Last night on the NFL show, they compared him to jerry jones. Sorry, but Jones' embarassing moments have come due to his desire to win. There is no comparison.

I imagine Tags cringed when he saw the tape/email. I would guess that the NFL is seriously looking at their image and the damage that Tom could possibly do. Force him out...that would be fantastic.

True colors baby. Just like the friend who is great till you need him. That's when you learn the core of a person. And Tom's core is evil and dirty.