LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Veteran basketball referee Perry Woodward is recovering from serious injuries after being hit outside the Doolittle Community Center. He was sent to the hospital with a cerebral hemorrhage, concussion, fractured teeth and a complete tear in his ankle.
“I show up to do my two-game set and work with a familiar coach,” referee Shawn Rowe said. “I think in the worst case it will be a slight confrontation, but nothing serious. It was anything but.
Rowe participated in a high school recreational league game at the community center on May 17. Rowe said one of the coaches continued to tweet after the game was over. Rowe said it continued even as they tried to leave the gym. He said the recreation center workers made sure to separate the coach from the referee as they knew the coach was still heated.
Rowe’s friend and fellow referee, Perry Woodward, stood by to make sure his colleague got out of the parking lot safely. Woodward wasn’t working the game.
The coach, his wife and his teenage son continued to escalate the dispute, according to the referees.
Then Rowe said the woman rushed towards him.
“As I walk between the Doolittle staff separating us, and she lunges at me, I raise my hand and take a step back,” Rowe said.
Rowe said moments later Woodward then suffered a stroke.
He said the coach and his son both ran up to Woodward and punched him in the face.
“He was two guys swinging at Perry and they connect with him,” Rowe said. “Then I hear a thud against the concrete. It was like everything had stopped. Then I looked at Perry and honestly thought he was dead.
Doctors said Woodward was lucky to be alive. He has yet another operation scheduled for this week to repair his ankle.
“We have constant threats towards us all over the city doing games, but seeing this kind of violence at an official. It’s hard for me to find a story where such a physical injury happened to someone who was here to officiate a game,” said Southern Nevada Officials Association President Vince Kristosik.
Kristosik said violence towards referees is on the rise across the country, at the same time they are finding it harder to recruit new people to work matches.
“I was a high school official for 30 years,” Kristosik said. “These incidents are increasing every year, and unless people realize this, without officials we won’t have games.”
Rowe still struggles to talk about the incident, and even harder to watch his friend suffer. However, officials said it should be a lesson for everyone.
“Officials, coaches, parents and children, we have a responsibility. We have to stop this,” Rowe said.
The father has been arrested and two others, the mother and teenage son, have been cited, according to Las Vegas city officials.
Kristosik said the basketball community, including other coaches, rallied behind Woodward in support.
A GoFundMe was started to raise money for his medical expenses.
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