Here's what I have on Chris Fox, based on the Michigan Daily and Detroit
News reports, as well as off-the-record comments made to a reporter that I
know by friends of Fox.
 
First, the facts:
He was arrested for Assault with Attempt To Do Great Bodily Harm Less Than
Murder.  He was released on a $25,000 personal bond.  He faces up to 10
years in prison.  He has not been suspended from the Michigan team, and is
expected to play tomorrow night against Bowling Green.
 
Next, the incident:
Over the summer, Fox was playing in a non-checking summer league.  He was a
ringer playing in only the championship game.  A player on the opposing
team checked Fox into the boards, cutting him rather badly - he needed 15
stitches.  From here, there are three variations I've heard.
        First, Fox's official story: After being checked, he saw another player on
the opposing team skate towards him.  He thought the player was going to
attack him, continuing the attack made by player No. 1, so Fox swung his
stick at him in self defense.
        The prosecutors official story:  Fox was unprovocated and swung his stick
in a cowardly baseball-bat fassion at another player.
        The off-the-record story I've heard from my reporter-friend, according to
friends of Fox: After being checked, Fox wanted to retaliate.  The guy that
slashed him was being an asshole (pardon my language) the entire game, and
the check was a culmination of the entire game, not a lone act.  The guy
deserved to get hit, although not necessarily to the face.  Fox went to
take a swing at him, but accidentally, and unknowingly, swung his stick at
the wrong player.
 
Fox definately knocked out one tooth on the other player, and loosened
three others. Apparently (according to the prosecutor), after the incident,
Fox told the other player, "That's hockey."
 
Now, the way I see it, this is a *huge* trial, although I haven't seen this
issue brought up anywhere else.  I have never, ever heard of an athlete
being charged or convicted criminally stemming from fights that took place
on the ice/field/courts.  If you think about it, the implications of a
guilty verdict could be far-reaching.
 
                                        -Josh
 
 
At 09:02 AM 1/8/98 -0500, Bill Fenwick wrote:
>On Jan 7, 18:01, Scott Quakkelaar~ wrote:
>>in the muskegon chronicle today, there was an article about michigan's
>>dave fox.  apparently, he's been arraigned on charges of assault for
>>swinging his stick like a baseball bat last june in a rec hockey game.
>
>It's Chris Fox.  The USCHO message board has a couple threads that have
>voluminous details on the situation to date. If you're interested, check out
>http://uscollegehockey.com/messboard/messages.html .
>
>--
>Disclaimer -- Unless otherwise noted, all opinions expressed above are
>              strictly those of:
>
>Bill Fenwick
>Cornell '86 and '95                                             DJF  5/27/94
>LET'S GO RED!!                                                  JCF  12/2/97
>"A friend of mine became a billionaire by inventing Cliff Notes.  When I
> asked him where he got such a great idea, he said, 'Well, to make a long
> story short...'"
>-- Steven Wright
>
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>
>
_____________________
 
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