What happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas.
TMZ reports that the Clark County district attorney has charged Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin with a count of battery. The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $1,000. The Christian athlete, generally regarded as a model citizen in the NBA, possesses no criminal record.
The Clippers forward averages 24 points and 7 rebounds a game this season. The 2010-2011 Rookie of the Year has been named an All-Star in each of his first four seasons in the NBA. The first pick in the 2009 NBA draft missed what would have been his rookie season with a knee injury.
The battery charge stems from an incident last month at the Tao Nightclub–they host “Worship Thursdays: Where the Vegas Industry Prays” tonight–at a party-with Chris Paul event on October 18. In the early hours of the 19th, Blake allegedly grabbed the camera and neck of a 39-year-old man who took flashing shots in the athlete’s face.
Blake Griffin should have stayed on the casino and out of the club. They like cameras even less than he does.