Rashan S. Michel is wearing a nice-sized welt under his left eye, courtesy of a vicious right hand delivered by NBA Hall of Famer Dominque Wilkins after he aggressively approached Wilkins alleging monies owed for expensive suits.
Michel, 36, is a former collegiate and NBA referee and current clothing designer who was arrested for attacking Wilkins, a former Atlanta Hawk star and the team’s current VP and television analyst. He claimed that Wilkins owes him at least $15,000 for suits and he went to the game to collect the money.
“It appears the gentleman came down after the game. Mr. Wilkins was giving a live broadcast and he started yelling some things, confronting Mr. Wilkins,” Atlanta Police spokesman Carlos Campos said. “When Mr. Wilkins stepped away to de-escalate the situation, Mr. Michel pursued Mr. Wilkins to the point that he physically attacked him.”
Wilkins, who was not injured, told officers that he didn’t believe he owed Michel for the clothing.
“Apparently, Mr. Wilkins was under the impression it was a gift,” Campos said. The only blows in the altercation were apparently landed by Wilkins, reported the Associated Press. A police booking photo showed Michel with a large welt under his left eye. Campos said Michel was released early Thursday on $1,000 cash bond after being charged with two counts of simple battery.
Wilkins, 51, is perhaps the most famous player in the Hawks history. “The Human Highlight Film” scored nearly 27,000 points in his career and was induced into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Team reps told the press that Wilkins would not comment on the incident. A Twitter page under Michel’s name, which describes him as a former college and NBA official and founder of RM Clothing, had several entries posted about the incident after he was released from jail:
“Pay your debts, poser.”; “His lil entourage had his back.”; “I call what happened at Philips Arena earlier, Operation Repo … next time have my money!”
A tweet directed to Wilkins’ account said, “Watch ur back cuz!”
Wilkins, who was not charged, is left looking suspicious, nonetheless. Was it really a case of “misunderstanding” that Wilkins really believed he was getting designer suits for free? That’s the question right there. Or is Michel not operating in reality? –terry shropshire
