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Father demands apology from Big Baby 05.11.09 at 2:42 pm ET
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There are those who will remember Game 4 between the Celtics and Magic as “the game won by Big Baby.” Then there are those who will remember it as “the game where Big Baby shoved the kid.” And that fan’s father is making no mistake of how he is remembering it.

The Orlando Sentinel has reported Ernest Provetti, the father of 12-year-old Nicholas, has sent an e-mail to the NBA demanding an apology from Davis. According to Provetti, Davis shoved his son after hitting the game-winner so hard that his baseball cap fell of his head and he dove into his seat.

In addition to referencing Davis as “raging animal with no regard for fans’ personal safety,” Provetti told the Sentinel in a telephone interview, “The NBA makes it clear to not cross the sideline. If I cross that line, the NBA will take away my tickets. It’s a double standard.”

Provetti, a former Celtics fan from New Jersey, now lives in Orlando and sits courtside at every Magic game.

(via RedsArmy.com)

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  • Tom T

    Don’t sit courtside if you don’t want to be bumped by players. You accept that risk when you buy your seats, you moron. Obviously more money than brains speaks out again.

  • Dixon

    Hey buddy, don’t let your 12 year old stand one foot away from the sideline, moron. Oh, and we’ve all seen the replay. So your kids stupid hat fell off. Who cares? And when did he dive in his seat? You might want to make sure there aren’t millions of views every minute of an event if you gonna lie about it. The kid was still standing up, and Davis even made an attempt to avoid the little shit. So shut up.

  • Andrew

    nothing intentional, shuuuut upppppp!!!!!, push no , bump no , shove no

  • Jim from Michigan

    Great parenting! My team lost and I was too stupid to keep my child out of harms way. Apologize to your son for being a clown. Boo Hoo.

  • Steve From Australia

    Man you Celtics fans are something else. I’m a fan of neither team but I could just imagine the response if an Orlando player had come into Boston and done the same thing ? Imagine the outcry ? ‘No class’ is what I often hear from fans about other teams, players etc but when the shoe is on the other foot. Sure there wasnt much in that with Big Baby and the kid but what if there was ? I think an apology wouldnt be too much to muster up ? So I’m guessing just because you have courtside seats it gives any player the right to shove you ? Yeahhhhh I’m pretty sure it doesnt work like that. I know I dont think I’d liked to be shoved by the likes of someone like Shaq and whilst there was no intention on the part of Big Baby, just be a man mate and apologise. Whats it going to hurt ?

  • Steve from San Antonio

    Steve from Australia, you live in a country with a normal legal system. We on the other hand live in a country where an apology can be used as evidence of guilt in a potential civil suit. The father probably is a ex-New Jersey lawyer and is just mad that he paid five grand for courtside playoff seats for him and his kid to watch a crushing loss. Is it just coincidence that he instantly fires off an e-mail to the NBA and somehow the news leaks out to the Orlando press? Call me a cynic, but I doubt it. And calling Big Baby a “raging animal with no regard for fans’ personal safety” just shows this story for what it is – sour grapes from an Orlando snowbird. Go back to Disneyworld, you whiner!

  • Steve From Boston

    Steve from San Antonio made me laugh.

  • Jeff

    I notice this last night when they were showing the replay at the end of the game. Clearly it was not intentional on Big Baby’s behalf, in fact, I am not even sure he realized his hand hit the kid.

    I was thinking, even last night, Big Baby should jog over and give the kid a pat on the head and an autograph – just to carry the standard of the Celtics organization as tops in the game.

    When he didn’t even acknowledge it, I figured he didn’t realize he had bumped the kid – and that was that. No harm…

    But this Dad is making a mockery of the whole situation – and he should be ashamed of himself for trying to escalate this into something it was not.

    The funniest thing about this entire clip is dwight howard crying and whining because the C’s were celebrating after the shot! Talk about sour grapes!

    FYI “superman” – if you don’t want our B-team celebrating on your home court – then do something to stop it.

  • Steve From Australia

    Steve From San Antonio…..bloody great point. I wasnt aware the legal system was so screwed up over there. In that case…I’m with you. Back to Disneyworld for you Mr Howard !!!!!

  • Hockeygiser

    Hey Ernie, get a life. “Davis shoved his son after hitting the game-winner so hard that his baseball cap fell of his head and he dove into his seat.” I suggest you look at the video tape before you open your mouth. The way I see it, you owe the country an apology too. Do you have any idea how many people have had to look at you in your white pants and white shoes in the last 20 hours. Give it a rest!

  • Mike-Return to the Rafters

    This guys is a whiny little girl. His son was clearly too close to the court and BBD did NOT knock him down. He’s looking for free publicity and is embarrassing his son by doing this. Check your ticket moron, if you get ran into by a player diving for a loose ball how is that any different?? Don’t sit so close if you have an issue. You’re not even a real fan anyways, just some snob with enough $$ to afford courtside seats.

  • Rick

    Apparently there was more than one Big Baby at the game.

  • Tom

    Stop cryin you rich loser. Get a life.,

  • jim from greenland

    Do I wish that I could afford courtside seats to watch a playoff game. Now you know how fans feel under a hoop when a player gets hammered and falls into them. Don’t cry when you are standing and leaning over the court to get a better view. You know what they say-basketball is a contact sport!

  • Gary

    Hey! This guy is in Facebook! Be sure to send him a friendly greeting!

  • Bryan P

    Big Baby- Send his kid a celtics hat two size too small with “Sorry” written on it. The kid needs to learn how to appreciate a real team anyways

  • DrJeff

    I’m still in shock that BBD made the shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • George D

    Read the back of your tickets moron, sounds like a Yankee fan to me

  • Mike C

    If you look at this closely Davis is squeezing between the ref, on the court, and you guessed it, daddy dearest barely off the court. Davis in his euphoria is just running to his team mates and barely hits the kid. Get the hell off the court and your dumb kid wouldn’t get “shoved” or “assaulted.” Davis will apologize because he’s a great guy but how ridiculous has our society become? Besides I’m sure daddy dearest will buy his 12 years old an expensive present to heal his fragile psyche

  • dan

    typical. notice that provetti doesn’t look the kid’s way as baby’s comin. why’s he lookin in the stands? hey provetti, look out for your own instead of looking up to see who’s looking at you.

  • subroc

    The outrage police demands somthing else. Big Baby should demand an apology from the father for not keeping his child off the field (court) of play. If he was sitting in his seat, this wouldn’t have happened.

  • http://supergoddessgirl.blogspot.com rebecca

    This is one of the most ridiculous issues I’ve heard come out of any sporting event.

    First of all — if you don’t want to be involved up close and personal at a basketball game — don’t sit in the front row. Basketball is one of the MOST physically engaging sport with regards to fan interaction because of the proximity of the seats on the court.

    Would every person who gets hit with a foul ball in the stands at Fenway demand an apology? I do believe at each hockey game an announcement is made that there is the possibility of pucks flying over the boards into the stands…

    And truly, Big Baby wasn’t overly rough or malicious. It was excitement and honestly – the kid was in the way!!!

    I think the father needs to grow up a bit.

  • Nick

    This guy can’t be serious. If you look at today’s Herald on page 51 there is a picture of Rondo haven fallen out of bounds and the same guy is screaming. I think its because he got some sweat on his fancy shoes. Give it a rest, your sitting courtside. Just be happy you got to see a champion up close and personal.

  • http://weei.com Art

    Hey Provetti you are a freakin joke and a loser..You are what’s wrong with this country..When are you going to file the law suit??People like you make me sick..You’re making a fool of yourself and are a poor excuse for a father..

  • Brian from Phoenix

    You sit courtside, you take that risk. Plus, a “former” Celtics fan! He obviously is a band wagon fan, thats Karma baby, pick a team and stick with it. Thats BBD’s way of saying you’re not welcome back, NOW SIT DOWN!

  • Peter

    Did this clown actually say this??
    “The NBA makes it clear to not cross the sideline. If I cross that line, the NBA will take away my tickets. It’s a double standard.”

    A double standard??? What double standard!!! Davis didnt go into the stands you frickin’ moron! As for your account of what happened, the video not only shows you didnt actually see the contact by Davis and your son but there was no diving into his seat either. You’ve set a wonderful example for your son ernie, with any luck, DCS will be paying you a visit……..

  • Nick

    for one thing your a fan you cant really DEMAND anything…he didnt have to say he was sorry at all but did cause thats the kind of person he is…not to mention how the kid wasnt even paying attension to big baby at all so he kinda deserved it…i really hate people like that

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