| Ken Smotrys was punched in the face by an angry black player; those wounds healed. Despite what a high-profile civil rights attorney told a nationwide television audience, an investigation concluded that Ken Smotrys did not push a black player to the ground and call him "nigger"; the wounds of accusation may never heal. __It was a fairly normal play. That’s the scary part for anyone who officiates. One play out of the thousands that prep football official Ken Smotrys has covered in his 12-year career. The game, however, had a volatile emotional undercurrent that Smotrys and his crew didn’t bargain for: racial tension. __First, the cast: Beverly Hills High School is a team with a mix of minority and white players. They played host Oct. 20, 1995, to Centennial High School, a mostly black team based in Compton, Calif. (south-central Los Angeles), a 1990s hotbed for racial strife. Centennial is coached by Omar Bradley, the mayor of Compton. __Ken Smotrys, a white football official, was punched by Kumasi Simmons, a black Centennial player. Smotrys, 34, suffered swelling and a cut below his left eye. Frankly, if that’s all that happened, the minor assault might not even make the pages of Referee. Assaults on officials are so common they’re usually not even news anymore. In this case, however, there is much more to the story. __Signs unseen. The racial problems that spewed forth that day began long before the officiating crew arrived. Smotrys said that in the first half, linesman Sal Failla was told by a Centennial coach that people were calling Centennial players names as they were getting off the bus. Failla explained to the coach that the officials had no jurisdiction at that time, and any problems were administrative. __Post-incident reports from Beverly Hills High personnel to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section noted that prior to the game, while the players were stretching, Centennial coach Bradley, who is black, was walking the field and saying loudly for all to hear, "Remember, last year they were calling us niggers!" The negative tone was set while the crew was still sliding on their knickers. Beverly Hills coach Carter Paysinger, who is black, denied that anyone from his school made such remarks, adding that many of his players are black, according to The Los Angeles Times. __Signs seen. Smotrys said that in the first half, a Centennial player was screaming, "Get their rich white asses!" Line judge Ernie Hammock and Smotrys told that player to knock it off. Smotrys then had linesman Failla and Hammock go to their sidelines and warn both teams. No penalties were assessed. __Later in the half, Smotrys says he flagged a Centennial player for unsportsmanlike conduct after he was seen "violently jerking" a Beverly Hills player after a play. Smotrys was not concerned about the tone of the game at that time because he thought the warnings and one flag controlled things. __The play. Beverly Hills player Andre Farkas returned the second half kickoff to Centennial’s 30 yardline, where he was tackled by Kumasi Simmons and others. Smotrys said that as he was moving in to cover the play, Simmons pushed Farkas back to the ground as Farkas was trying to get up. "I was screaming at (Simmons) to stop it and to get out of here, away from the pile," said Smotrys. "I very easily could have given him an unsportsmanlike flag." Another Centennial player, Vincent Brooks, was about 10 yards behind the play. As Brooks ran toward his sideline after the play and Smotrys ran toward the pile of players, the two brushed slightly, with Smotrys extending an arm to prevent further contact. Brooks spun around pirouette style — never looking back at Smotrys — and continued toward his sideline. __Smotrys moved into his referee’s position in the Beverly Hills backfield for the next play. Then, he saw Simmons in the Centennial huddle bouncing up and down, similar to a boxer practicing in an imaginary ring. Seconds later, imaginary turned real. __With both teams still in their huddles, Simmons crossed the line of scrimmage then crossed the line of decency. The 6-foot-1 inch, 185-pound, 16-year-old ran after Smotrys, leaped off his feet and landed a blow to Smotrys’ face, knocking him off balance and causing cuts from Smotrys’ broken glasses. Players from both teams intervened and prevented further attack. However, the incident was really just beginning. __The aftermath. The police were called to arrest Simmons. After talking with police, Smotrys forfeited the game to Beverly Hills, which was leading 14-0 at the time. "I didn’t feel I was in any mental state to continue the game," said Smotrys. __Even if Smotrys wanted to continue, he soon learned he couldn’t because he was being arrested. After Brooks — the Centennial player Smotrys brushed on his way to spot the ball — spent several minutes with Coach Bradley, Smotrys said: "The police came over to me and said that Brooks was alleging that I pushed him to the ground and called him a racial name. Brooks wanted me arrested for assaulting him." Smotrys added, "There was so little contact between us; I didn’t even know what they were talking about until I saw the videotape days later." __In a Beverly Hills Police Department report, a copy of which was obtained by Referee, Brooks stated that Smotrys "for no reason, pushed him (Brooks) to the ground and said ‘nigger.’" Brooks stated in the report that that’s why Simmons hit Smotrys. Videotape clearly shows Brooks was not pushed to the ground by Smotrys. __When Simmons was asked by police if he heard Smotrys call Brooks a "nigger," Simmons answered, "No." Simmons, who is Centennial coach Bradley’s nephew, said in the police report he punched Smotrys because Smotrys threatened to penalize him. Simmons later changed his story, saying the police intimidated him at first. __Smotrys, still in uniform, was handcuffed and taken away in a police car. Smotrys told Referee: "The police totally felt that it was retribution for me having Simmons placed" under arrest. But if a citizen wants to pursue an arrest, their hands are really tied in that situation." The charge against Smotrys was later dismissed. Smotrys was suspended by the CIF — Southern Section during its investigation. Dean Crowley, Southern Section commissioner, said it is routine to suspend an official pending an investigation. __On Dec. 7,1995, the Southern Section announced Smotrys was cleared of allegations that he used the racial slur. According to a private investigator hired by the CIF, there was no corroborated testimony found indicating Smotrys used a racial epithet. Smotrys said, "I believe it is his (Simmons) parents, his coach and his attorneys that have raised those allegations." __The simple battery charge against Simmons was sent to the juvenile probation department in Santa Monica, Calif. In that state, battery against an official carries a maximum fine of $2,000 and a year in jail. During the investigation, the Compton Unified School District discovered Simmons did not legally reside in its school district and never lived at the address on his enrollment documents. Simmons was expelled from Centennial High. __Media, lawsuits. The Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other major newspapers covered the story. A Current Affair and Rivera Live broadcast segments nationally. Leo Terrell, an outspoken civil rights attorney representing Brooks and Simmons, touted his clients’ position on Rivera Live and has threatened lawsuits against Smotrys, the Beverly Hills School District and the CIF "Being called a ‘nigger’ is a violation of Brooks’ rights to attend a racially free environment," Terrell said, according to USA Today. Terrell says he has eight witnesses to corroborate Brooks’ account. Smotrys has retained various attorneys, running up substantial legal fees. One of those attorneys, David Heck, said, "When Smotrys does the obvious thing and has the kid arrested, they turn him into Mark Furman." __Moving on. Despite his reinstatement by the CIF and the clearance of his battery charge, Smotrys is still defending himself. His officiating reputation is now punctuated by this incident and the allegations — marks that will not be erased quickly, if at all. The pending lawsuits still loom overhead. The CIF said he can continue to officiate, but will things ever be normal? Is it possible this incident is career ending? "Not by my choice," said Smotrys. __Among the deceit and allegations in this story lies a stunning truth for all sports officials: It could happen to you. |
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