Gus Johnson is one of the most excitable play-by-play men in college basketball today. Check that - he is the most excitable. And now that NCAA tournament time is finally upon us, we’ll all get to bask in more generous glory of our guy Gus.
However, Mr. Johnson may be taking the whole “March Madness” thing a little too literally. How else can you explain good ol’ Gus getting into a melee with a restaurant manager?
The hijinks happened last Saturday at the Blues City Cafe on Memphis’ famous Beale Street. Apparently Gus wasn’t too pleased with the service, so he exchanged a few words with cafe manager Danny Reed. But eventually, foul words turned into fisticuffs.
A couple of cops soon arrived on the scene, and Reed explained that the unhappy Johnson was refusing to leave the restaurant. Here’s what happened next, according to the official police report (as provided by DEADSPIN):
As officers were speaking to both parties a disturbance developed in the back of the restaurant. Officers began walking towards that area, when a loud crash came from the area where Reed and Johnson were.
Officers returned and observed Reed and Johnson on the ground struggling with each other. Officers broke up the two and detained Johnson as he was refusing to let go of Reed. A waitress advised that she saw the incident and observed Johnson push Reed first. Reed advised that Johnson pushed him and was about to swing at him, when he grabbed him to avoid being struck. Johnson advised Reed pushed him first.
The report goes on to say that since the officers didn’t see who shoved first & there were no visible injuries, no arrests were made. Reed did add that there might be video of the whole heated exchange, so keep your eyes peeled to YouTube.
Gus doesn’t hop on the March Madness mic until tomorrow. So there’s still time to chill out and hope this incident blows over. But wouldn’t it be deliciously ironic if an ad for Blues City Cafe appears during Gus’ broadcast? TV viewers in Memphis better keep a lookout for it.







9:02 pm on March 19th, 2009
dont like the service, pay bill and leave never to return. dont play the celebrity card in a small hole in the wall joint on the eve of march madness in a #1 seeds town and start a fist fight. douche bag, actions of a ego driven black.