Two Memphis players arrested
Calipari creates curfew after disturbance at nightclub
Posted: Monday September 3, 2007 3:59PM; Updated: Monday September 3, 2007 6:42PM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Two Memphis basketball players were charged with misdemeanors after police said they were involved in a disturbance at a Beale Street nightclub, infuriating coach John Calipari.
Sophomore forward Shawn Taggart and freshman guard Jeff Robinson were arrested early Sunday morning and charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot.
Later in the day, Calipari announced a seven-day-a-week team curfew and a no-nightclub policy.
"I'm not happy," he said. "I know they're going to screw up. They're young kids, and they're going to do dumb things, like my own children.
"But how many times have I said, nothing good happens in a club after midnight? We'll deal with this; a lot of it will be in-house. Some of it's not going to be," Calipari said.
Robinson was also charged with misdemeanor assault and had to be subdued before he was taken into custody, according to the police affidavit.
Calipari said he would determine disciplinary action for the players after a police and school investigation was completed.
A Memphis Police Department spokeswoman did not immediately return a phone call to The Associated Press on Monday. A university spokesman confirmed the arrests, but said he had no new information.
Officers responded to a disturbance outside the Plush Club at 3:36 a.m. Taggart was detained by police after club security accused him of starting the disturbance, though police said they found that was not the case.
Taggart, 22, then began yelling obscenities, "causing the large crowd to get further agitated and (they) began closing in on officers, trying to pull (the) defendant away from officers, while yelling obscenities, causing the officers to fear for their safety," according to the report.
Robinson, 19, approached a police officer with his fists balled, acting aggressively, ignoring police commands and yelling obscenities, according to the police account.
Both players were released on bond and were scheduled to appear 9 a.m. Tuesday in Shelby County Criminal Court.
Neither Taggart nor Robinson has played a game yet for Memphis. Taggart sat out last season after transferring from Iowa State. Neither player was available for comment Sunday.
Calipari said he met with the team Sunday to express his anger and explain the new rules, which he said would be in place indefinitely.
"I'm furious, to be honest," Calipari said. "I want the city to know this: They're not to be in any clubs. None. I've asked the players, if anybody here doesn't think they can live with that, I need them to come and see me so we'll help them transfer."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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