A high school girls’ basketball coach says he was injured when two West Virginia State Troopers providing protection for Gov. Jim Justice shoved the coach during an altercation at a girl’s basketball game.
Justice has raised eyebrows as he continues to serve as Greenbrier East head girls’ basketball coach while being the state’s chief executive. It’s a unique situation, to say the least.
Beckley Woodrow Wilson Assistant Girls’ basketball coach Gene Nabors filed his complaint earlier this month in federal court against Senior Trooper Jordan Lee Tincher and Sergeant D.P. White.
“The force used on Gene Nabors by the West Virginia State Police is excessive, inexcusable, malicious, and actionable under the law,” Charleston attorney L. Dante diTrapano told The West Virginia Record, a Charleston newspaper that focuses on the state’s legal community.
“All one has to do is watch the video to witness the sickening behavior by these troopers,” diTrapano continued. He is representing Nabors.
“Their subsequent lying in the official report and the commentary by Jim Justice paints an ugly picture of police misconduct and racial discrimination that won’t be tolerated.”
According to the complaint, Nabors was injured during a February 11, 2020, girls basketball game between Greenbrier East High School and Woodrow Wilson High School. Nabors is an assistant coach for Woodrow Wilson, and Justice is the head coach for Greenbrier East.
As Justice critics have pointed out, this is the same game that drew national media attention when the Governor referred to the Woodrow girls as a “bunch of thugs.”
While it’s safe to say the two teams do not enjoy a respectful rivalry, the result underscores why many had cautioned against the sitting governor continuing to coach high school basketball.
While Justice is apparently dedicated to the Greenbrier East team, many question where that dedication ends and the governor’s job begins.
Years ago, iconic Republican Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. told me, “one thing a lot of these fellows (governors) don’t get is that you’re Governor 24/7. You don’t just don’t flip a switch and become Governor. You don’t button your jacket and suddenly become Governor for the day. You were governor while you were still sleeping. And West Virginians know you are. They expect you to behave appropriately.”
Some have wondered how Justice, the top man, can expect equal treatment from state troopers who, theoretically at least, report to him (admittedly through a chain of command).
The vast majority of law enforcement officials are impeccably honest; I would never say a single one intentionally favors Justjce over other coaches. But did the Governor get the same treatment at that game that all other coaches would have received? There will always be legitimate doubt in some minds.
And plenty of groundless criticism.
So why does Justice open himself to such criticism?
I’ve told some I still think he behaves like someone running for office in 2024.
While he is constitutionally banned from a third term as Governor, he can run for something else.
Maybe U.S. Senator? Maybe Greenbrier County Board of Education?
He could get himself elected to the Board, then hire himself as both boys and girls coach.
No conflict there. At least not in Jim Justice’s world of conflict definition.
Nevertheless, Justice clings to the coaching job like some senior citizens cling to pets. Maybe he should purchase a dog to keep him company. There’s an idea.
He could tell stars like Bette Miller to kiss the dog’s rump and really add to the state’s positive image.
But I digress.
Actually I digressed when I started this column.
The real issue is that we (readers and pundit) had not had the opportunity to discuss the newest lawsuit with everything else swirling around the Governor.
As has become obvious, it apparently doesn’t bother this Governor to be sued and it surely doesn’t concern him to agree to court settlements and then renege.
I know one thing: I wouldn’t want to be the official calling a technical foul on Justice. How about being forced to toss him from a game for his conduct?
When one gets right down to it, is it okay for a high school coach to call student/athletes “thugs”?
Maybe not.
The progress of this suit will be interesting. As we’ve mentioned in the past, the state’s insurer often settles cases without consulting with the state employee/client. Might they settle this one against the Governor?
We’ll see ….