The Pepsi Sonics stopped one breath short of calling the Georgetown Amateur Basket-ball Association (GABA) a one-man show Tuesday when they released details of an appeal they filed with the association.
Assistant coach and treasurer of the basketball club, Holisworth Casey filed an appeal on Friday, the day after the club was hit with a $5000 fine and the suspension of two of its players after a fight erupted between them and the Ravens at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Casey and the Sonics’ leading guard Ryan Melville and the Ravens’ starting forward Damian Liverpool were involved in the fight.
Casey said at the root of the club’s appeal is that the disciplinary hearing was unconstitutional since “one man”, GABA President Chris Bowman, hosted the hearing and not a disciplinary committee. This, he said, contradicts the GABA constitution which states that in instances where discipline is necessary, a disciplinary committee must be formed comprising a chairman, a players’ representative, a referee and two individuals from the public.
The GABA, the governing body for basketball in Georgetown called the matter “serious” and the likely penalties “severe”. However, after the ruling was handed down the clubs were relieved that the penalties were not too severe. They will each pay $5000 while Liverpool will sit out four games and Casey and Melville one game each.
The Sonics’ appeal against the ruling is largely based on the team’s view that the ruling may not be the general consensus of GABA. “Under GABA rules, when you file an appeal, the GABA executive will either approve or turn it down,” Casey said, adding that that way more persons are involved in the decision-making process.
Under the section “Disciplinary Process” the GABA constitution acknowledges the need for a disciplinary committee, but pardoned the formation of that committee since “executives have direct affiliation with clubs.” These executives include Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Darcel Harris, Treasurer Merle Jordon and Secretary Bruce Haynes. Jordon is currently overseas while Harris and Haynes were excused from the disciplinary process. Bowman and Deputy David Carto are the other executive members.
The formation of the GABA disciplinary committee makes provision for only one executive from the association; the other members are taken from outside of the executive. Therefore, Casey argues in the appeal, Bowman’s explanation for not having the constitutional disciplinary committee is unreasonable. He also questions Bowman’s ruling that the disciplinary process, “for expediency sake; not withstanding the shortcomings of the disciplinary committee”
