http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050707.wassaultt0707/BN
Story/Sport s/
Toronto - The man accusing three pro basketball stars of assaulting him
two
years ago changed his story about the severity of his injuries once he
learned his alleged attackers were professional athletes, a lawyer for the
trio told court Thursday.
Adrian Cimpean, 31, was allegedly assaulted in April 2003 by NBA all-stars
Gary Payton and Sam Cassell, as well as teammate Jason Caffey, outside a
Toronto strip club where his girlfriend worked as a dancer.
The three athletes were playing for the Milwaukee Bucks at the time and
were
in town for a game against the Toronto Raptors.
In a videotaped interview conducted just hours after the alleged assault
and
played in court Thursday, Cimpean told police that he suffered only minor
cuts and bruises.
Now, Cimpean - who has said he plans to sue the three athletes - claims
the
assault left him with brain damage, as well as permanent damage to his
memory and his hearing. The male exotic dancer has also said he has been
unable to work since the incident.
"You see these guys as your lottery ticket," said lawyer Eddie Greenspan,
who represents the three players.
Cimpean denied the accusation Thursday, during his second day of
cross-examination on the witness stand. He blamed a lack of sleep and
tough
police questioning as the reason he didn't fully disclose the extent of
his
injuries.
On Wednesday, Cimpean said the incident started after three men in a taxi
repeatedly called his girlfriend a "ho," escalating into a brawl after
Payton allegedly called him a "nigger" and threatened to teach him a
lesson.
When asked by Greenspan on Thursday why he never mentioned the racial
slurs
during his initial interview with police, Cimpean, who is white, said he
"didn't feel comfortable using those words."
Cimpean grew increasingly frustrated during his testimony in front of
Judge
William Bassell and became enraged when Greenspan suggested he may have
been
the one who uttered racial slurs.
"How could I say that?" spat Cimpean. "My wife and kids are black....
Don't
you dare say that to me again."
Bassell instructed Cimpean to calm down before questioning resumed.
Payton and Cassell, who are known for being among the NBA's most notorious
trash talkers, seemed relaxed throughout the proceedings.
At one point, Cassell even appeared to nod off for several seconds while
the
court reviewed Cimpean's police testimony.
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