Photo credit The Chess Drum
Akeem and two other kids, none of whom had official access to the exercise room since they weren't staying in the hotel, were using the equipment in a fairly crowded room. Akeem was continually dribbling his basketball. I asked him nicely several times to stop, as did others in the room, explaining that I was concerned the ball would hit someone (I was on the floor doing situps very close to where he was bouncing the ball). I had recently been hit on the head by a basketball while walking on the street in New York and know that it hurts. He refused to stop and after warning him that I would call security I finally did so. He was told to stay out of the room and stop playing with his basketball in the hotel.
As soon as the door opened when someone left (access is only by room key) Akeem came back in and started again to bounce the ball. I had not recognized him so didn't realize he was the same boy who punched Hikaru in the eye at the World Open.
|
Photo credit The Chess Drum |
I have the names of independent witnesses who were in the exercise room during the entire set of incidences. There is no different story nor variation that has any truth whatsoever.
Later, when some of those people found out that Akeem was still allowed not only in the hotel but also in the tournament events they were appalled. A report was filed with hotel security and the police who were called in when Akeem attempted to push Steve Doyle, who had asked him to sit in the TD room while Steve went to find his father. This occurred several hours after the exercise room incident, when Akeem was again seen in the hotel lobby.
It seems that Akeem tells his father his own version of his aggressive behavior, including absolute lies, and his father believes his word instead of that of unanimous witnesses.
I do not want to get into the incident at the World Open but will say only that I will accept the clear-cut descriptions of multiple adult, neutral EYE-WITNESSES--after being warned by a staff NTD, Akeem continued to throw his ball (sounds like a similar situation). He threw it at Hikaru who was passing by on his way to the bathroom. Hikaru caught the ball and didn't give it back but continued walking away. Akeem jumped on his back and punched him in the side of the eye. He had to be physically pulled off Hikaru's back by two of the USChessLive representatives who watched the entire episode. Five (3 USChessLive and 2 other vendors) came forward and unanimously described the incident as such.
It is also a well-known fact that Akeem was expelled from school at least once. I only hope that he will learn to control his aggressive, anti-social behavior.
Carol Jarecki
PS: I find it strange and hard to believe that Jerry Bibuld would write, "On the contrary, I know, because I know Carol and the family that she kicked at the basketball -- I think out of peevishness -- and hit Akeem." How can he "know" when he wasn't even there?? His reference to me "and the family" is insulting and has diminished my opinion of him a great deal. He owes me and "my family" a sincere apology.
Original Message:
On 07 Aug 2002 01:55:50 GMT, in rec.games.chess.politics chessphoto@aol.comnospam (Jerome Bibuld) wrote:
Dear John,
It's not so clear to me. I repeat what I have posted earlier and I'll add to that. Bruce Thompson, Akeem's father, has told me that Akeem says he was dribbling a ball in the exercise room of the hotel when Jarecki ordered him to stop. When he ignored her, she kicked at the ball and hit Akeem. (Both Mr. Thompson and I feel that the hit was an accident.) Akeem "hit back" by reaching for her eyeglasses, in a fit of rage (not an unnatural reaction for a 12-year-old), but caught himself in time and simply left with his ball after tossing some unpleasant words at her (again, not a unnatural reaction from a 12-year-old, especially one who had had, from his point of view, an unjust run-in with her a few weeks before).
We do NOT know that Akeem scratched Carol. On the contrary, I know, because I know Carol and the family that she kicked at the basketball -- I think out of peevishness -- and hit Akeem. (Once again, the question is, "Which side are you on?" You may pretend to be neutral, but I doubt that you are, from the way you make declaratory statements, without semblance of palpable evidence.
We know he scratched Carol. Is he convicted of a crime? No. But he did do it. I don't see what's going on here. Not every incident has to involve criminal charges.
Fraternally,
Jerry Bibuld
gens una sumus