A surprising bit of drama involving an NFL legend unfolded at the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament held in Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice was confronted by two people who were questioning him while he was walking down the street, and the NFL’s all-time leading receiver ultimately threatened violence. The natural assumption would be that Rice was upset by something he was provoked into doing and responded accordingly. However, a look at the video of the incident makes that seem different.
Rice can be seen telling one of the reporters, “I’m going to kill you.” As security separates Rice from the two men, Rice says, “If you want it, come and get it,” and walks away. Video of the confrontation was released on CNN. Obtained by TMZ Sportsposted the video on social media.
Jerry Rice exploded in anger at two reporters on the golf course at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
The reporters, Chiefs The receiving core was good enough to win a Super Bowl. Rice, 61, said to one player’s face, “I’m… pic.twitter.com/7BIBk2Yq5U— Michael J. Babcock (@mikejbabcock) July 12, 2024
After the incident, a spectator asked a reporter a question.Work at Starcade MediaAccording to TMZ, he spoke about what happened, calling it “the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life” and telling Rice, Kansas City Chiefs‘The receivers were good enough to win another Super Bowl.
The Chiefs finished seventh in the NFL with 4,383 team receiving yards, but that figure includes yards gained by tight ends and running backs as well as receivers. Kansas City They didn’t have a 1,000-yard receiver. Ruthie Rice He led the team’s receivers with 79 catches for 938 yards.Travis Kelce He was the Chiefs’ leading pass-catching player with 93 receptions for 984 yards.
Kansas City acquired two high-profile receivers during the offseason. Free agent Marquise Brown and Drafting Texas Speedster Xavier Worthy and First-round draft pickTeam Re-signing Mecole Hardmanbut lost Marquez Valdes Scanting As a free agent.
We let the video sit for a day because we absolutely did not want any negative publicity for Jerry Rice or the tournament, but with the TMZ article coming to light we feel we need to set the record straight about what happened.
There was no disrespect intended towards Jerry or… pic.twitter.com/EJ7OB6QZY5
— Starcade Media (@StarcadeMediaKC) July 12, 2024
TMZ spotted Rice After the incident, I asked him about itHe said he took the question as an attack on his former team. San Francisco 49erswhom the Chiefs beat in last season’s Super Bowl. Rice said the players had “smirks on their faces,” indicating they were trying to elicit a reaction from him.
While it’s difficult to hear everything that was said on the video, Rice’s account of the confrontation is not contradicted by the reporters’ statements. While addressing the crowd, one of the reporters suggested that Rice may have been intoxicated. Of course, that can’t be proven. So this is a “he said, he said” scenario, with each side having their own version of the incident.
in Statement posted on social mediaStarrcade Media maintains that they had no intention of being disrespectful or trying to provoke Rice, nor did they receive any “smirks” as they allegedly received.
Perhaps Rice’s feelings about the Chiefs receiver will be revisited at a later date.