May 28, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Kansas guard and former Oklahoma City prep star J.R. Giddens was the primary instigator of the fight outside a bar that led to his stabbing, witnesses told The Kansas City Star in Friday's edition.

Giddens, a 20-year-old sophomore who averaged 10.1 points last season, is expected to be on crutches for at least six weeks after the artery in his right calf was severed during the fight. Coach Bill Self has not said if Giddens will be disciplined by the university, and deferred comment until after the investigation.

So far, no charges have been filed.

The fight happened around 2 a.m. May 19 outside the Moon Bar, about a mile from the campus in Lawrence.

Four witnesses, including two other stabbing victims, said Giddens and at least 10 other men attacked Jeremiah Creswell as he stood outside the bar. Creswell, 24, of Olathe, Kan., admitted being intoxicated and told the Star that Giddens had confronted him inside, asking if he "had a problem," and continued the confrontation outside.

Witnesses said Creswell was beaten with fists, bricks and bottles, and kicked. He used a 4-inch folding knife to stab some of the attackers.

"I was scared I was going to die," Creswell said.

Two witnesses said Giddens' teammate, C.J. Giles, was also part of the group that attacked Creswell, though he has denied involvement. And former Kansas player Bryant Nash told the Star that he punched Creswell.

Giddens denied provoking the fight.

"I know what you've heard, but that's not true," Giddens told the newspaper. "All those people can say what they want to say. I'm sure the story will come out one-sided. That's fine. It still doesn't mean it's true."

Creswell said he went to the bar with a woman who knows owner Ron Ruiz, who was celebrating his birthday with a number of Kansas basketball and football players. Creswell said that around closing time Giddens approached him near a pool table.

Later, Creswell said, he was standing near the front door when he saw Giddens come around a corner. Witness Nicholas Flores, 34, of Topeka, Kan., said Giddens began screaming in Creswell's direction.

Creswell used his cell phone to call his female friend inside the bar, who brought out a knife. He said he tried to avoid eye contact with Giddens, who had other people with him.

Creswell and two witnesses said Giddens then approached and punched Creswell.

"Giddens was the first one in," Flores said. "When he ran by my car, people were yelling, 'Giddens, Giddens, get back, get back.' He ran right at the dude and started hitting him. The next thing I know, five or six other dudes were right on him."

Marcus Knight and Preston Patterson, who had just pulled into the parking lot after playing pool at another bar, said they were caught up in the fight. Knight estimated that at least 10 people were attacking Creswell.

Creswell told the Star he lowered his head, brandished the knife and began swinging it wildly at the attackers. He said he didn't know who he was stabbing.

Knight, 29, of Lawrence, blamed Giddens for the developments.

"It was his fight, and all the rest of us got cut," he said.

Flores agreed that Creswell fought back only after being attacked by the group.

"It was self-defense," Flores said. "There ain't no ifs, ands or buts about it. I had to come forward. What happened to that kid, it wasn't right. He didn't deserve what he got."

Creswell required 12 staples to close a gash on the side of his head. Patterson, 27, of Lawrence, was the most seriously injured. He was hospitalized for seven days with injuries to his small intestines. Knight was hospitalized for three days with a 12-inch cut across his left rib cage and stomach.