(Reuters) A Bay Area TV reporter covering the Golden State Warriors was caught on camera stealing a jacket from a member of the team’s security staff last week and was sent home from San Antonio, according to multiple reports yesterday.
The Athletic’s Steve Berman reported that Mike Shumann, a former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who now works for KGO-TV in San Francisco, was seen on tape stealing the jacket of director of team security Ralph Walker as Shumann left the AT&T Center in San Antonio following practice late last week. Walker is also Stephen Curry’s personal security guard, according to Berman.
ESPN’s Chris Haynes later confirmed the report.
The station reportedly sent Shumann home after the incident and yesterday released the following statement to The Athletic:
“We are taking these allegations very seriously and conducting a full investigation. As a matter of policy, we do not comment about personnel matters.”
According to ESPN, “several Warriors players were upset over the way the team handled the incident,” noting that Shumann is white and a longtime reporter in the city, and that some players “fear he received special treatment.”
The team and station have an agreement which gives KGO exclusive player interviews, often with Shumann. According to The Athletic, players are now refusing to do those interviews with Shumann, who has reportedly apologized to players.
