Youth Basketball Coach Opens Fire In Southwest Philly Gym AFter Getting Into An Argument With The Opposing Coach

Yahoo Sports-Tavares' team had the lead in the second half, but the CRC team was starting to mount a comeback. At that point, Tavares reportedly started arguing with a fan.

Before long, the CRC coach, whose name was not given, joined in, apparently trying to calm down Tavares. The altercation quickly escalated. According to Philly.com, 

Tavares then began exchanging profanities with the coach, told the spectator to "shut up," and told the coach to go to the other side of the gymnasium, according to police. Tavares began walking backward, police said, reaching into his waistband, pulling out a gun and firing one shot as he moved toward the gym's exit."By the grace of God, no one was struck by the gunfire," Lt. John Walker said.  "When the gun went off, everyone ran from the rec center."


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Let's cool out with the "by the grace of God, no one was struck" talk. Of course no one was struck. He wasn't aiming at anyone. It's the same reason that Yosemite Sam has never stood on trial for murder. If I know anything about the street laws of gunfire in Philadelphia, it's that the first thing you are taught is if you shoot at someone you best not miss. If Maurice Tavares was looking to take a life, a life would have been taken. You can't shoot people over youth basketball, even Maurice knows that. However, if you don't bring a gun to the party then you aren't fully equipped to coach basketball in Southwest Philly. Coaching basketball may keep Maurice off the streets, but the streets is always watching. Got to keep the street cred up. Turning a gym in the middle of the hood into a Lion King-esque stampede scene is enough to make anyone take notice.

What's the best way to get the attention of a building full of people? Why it's fire a stray in shoot into the air, of course. Haven't any of these people seen a fictional bank robbery before? You can't just pound your chest and shoot off some expletives and expect a group full of people in Philly to listen to you. Why do you think Eagles fans throw batteries? Booing simply doesn't get the point across. You have to give people fear of bodily harm. Whoever created the phrase "better they respect you than fear you" is full of shit. Pretty sure Tony Soprano didn't survive 6 seasons of being a mob boss by creating an atmosphere of respect.

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