The V Chronicles - Day Two

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Boston Globe

Celtics player arraigned after quarrel with fiancee
By Francie Latour, Globe Staff, 09/21/99

 With a horde of reporters sprinting a full block to surround him with cameras and microphones, 
Boston Celtic Vitaly Potapenko was arraigned yesterday in East Boston District Court on a charge 
of disorderly conduct after quarreling with his fiancee at Logan Airport and allegedly using profanity 
when State Police intervened.

Potapenko, 24, a  center from Ukraine who was traded to the Celtics in March, was arrested about 
12:15 a.m. yesterday  after Massport officials said he and his fiancee were seen quarreling in a 
parking lot outside Terminal A. 

According to Massport officials and a spokesman from the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, Potapenko 
used profanity and became verbally abusive when State Police were called to intervene.

After the troopers took his fiancee into the airport terminal, Potapenko was asked repeatedly to leave. 
When he refused, and later tried to go inside the terminal to talk to his fiancee, police arrested him, 
Massport officials said.

Later yesterday morning, after he was released on personal recognizance, Potapenko went back to Logan 
and tried to board a plane his fiancee was on, but police and airline officials refused him a ticket, 
and he was ordered to leave the terminal.

''He argued with her, she argued with him, and that's about it,'' said Potapenko's lawyer, Harry Manion, 
who walked with the player as a group of reporters followed them down the street to the courthouse.

Manion said the quarrel started after Potapenko was late to meet his fiancee. 

Manion said his client had no prior record, and denied that Potapenko was attempting to flee 
when he tried to board the plane.

Once inside the courtroom, Potapenko's appearance lasted less than 15 minutes after the player 
waived his right to have the details of the incident read in court.

This story ran on page B4 of the Boston Globe on 09/21/99.

Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.

      Boston Herald        

      Celts' Potapenko 'regrets' love spat that led to arrest
      Herald staff 
      Tuesday, September 21, 1999
      A contrite Boston Celtics center Vitaly Potapenko apologized after his 
      East Boston District Court arraignment yesterday on disorderly conduct for 
      sparring with police who broke up an argument between the player and his 
      fiancee.
      The 6-foot 10-inch player became enraged when Logan International Airport 
      security and state police stepped in between the two outside Terminal A 
      just after midnight.
      ``I just regret it happened, you know, and I wish it never happened,'' he 
      said outside the courthouse. ``It's going to be a lesson for me in the 
      future.''
      Potapenko and his girlfriend, identified as Tina Abi-Ezzi by police, spoke 
      prior to the player's court appearance and settled their differences on 
      the phone, he said.
      The 24-year-old player - known as the Ukraine Train - was released on his 
      own recognizance and a pre-trial hearing was set for Oct. 18. He is in the 
      midst of a six-year, $31 million contract and is key to the Celtics hopes.
      His attorney Harry Manion called the entire incident ``an unfortunate 
      misunderstanding.''
      ``He got upset, and she got upset,'' Manion said. ``He was mad at her, but 
      it all got blown out of proportion. He's very sorry.''
      Potapenko's fiancee had arrived at Logan from Cleveland for a visit and 
      became angry when he was late to pick her up, Manion said.
      The spat escalated when Massport and state police responded to the scene.
      Confused as to why police would get involved in a personal argument, 
      Potapenko became more angry and was verbally abusive to the authorities, 
      officials said.
      Police said there was no sign of any physical abuse.
      ``He was extremely loud and using profane language,'' said Sgt. Timothy 
      White, a spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police. ``They asked him to 
      leave the area and he refused to leave.''
      Potapenko returned to the airport early yesterday morning and attempted to 
      buy a ticket on his fiancee's return flight to Cleveland. Police stopped 
      him at the gate.
      Manion discounted early speculation that the Celtics center was attempting 
      to flee the region.
      ``There is no place for Vitaly Potapenko to hide,'' he said. ``Just look 
      at him.''
      Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss would not comment on whether the incident 
      will affect the player's standing on the team.