How rivalry became violent

Comments Comment on this article17

By Jay F. Marks
Published: August 23, 2007

The rancor in the Red River Rivalry apparently doesn't die between football or basketball seasons.

An Oklahoma City man has been charged with aggravated assault and battery, accused of causing extensive damage to another man's scrotum just because he wore a University of Texas shirt into a local bar.

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Allen Michael Beckett, 53, has not been arrested on the felony charge, which was filed Monday in Oklahoma County District Court. It carries up to five years in prison if he is convicted.

Beckett is accused of having launched a verbal attack on Brian Thomas when the other man walked into Henry Hudson's Pub at 3509 NW 58 on June 17, according to court documents.

What happened
Thomas said Beckett, whom he had never met, called him "everything under the sun” for wearing a Longhorns T-shirt into the bar.

He said he and his friend sat at a table in the corner and tried to ignore the other man, but other man — who apparently is a University of Oklahoma fan — kept screaming at him.

Thomas said he decided he'd had enough after about 20 minutes of Beckett's abuse so he went to the bar to pay his tab. When he turned around, he said Beckett grabbed his crotch and refused to let go.

Thomas hit the other man several times before several bar patrons intervened, but Thomas said Beckett didn't let go until Thomas heard his scrotum tear and blood ran down his leg.

Thomas, who grew up a Texas fan, said it took more than 60 stitches to close his wound.

Two months later, he said he still is a lot of pain.The injury also caused Thomas to fall behind on his child support payments because he couldn't work.

Beckett could not be reached for comment Wednesday by The Oklahoman.


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I think Beckett was mad because the long horn wouldn't let him play with his 'horn' so he went for the second best.
Lou, Yukon - Mar 26, 2008 4:42 PM
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only thing i have to say at the Nebraska comment, HAHA you guys havent been able to beat us in a few years so i wouldnt worry over it. We wouldnt do something like that to a husker fan cause there is no need to. They dont pose much of a threat.
Paige, Verden - Aug 27, 2007 4:40 PM
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As a Southern Californian and a USC alumni, I find myself in the unusual position of defending an OU fan. I have lived in the OKC since Nov '06 and proudly wear my 'SC jerseys, tee-shirts and hats all over. Although I have heard many smart remarks and got into heated discussions over who is a better team, it has never gotten anywhere near violence; On the other hand, I was in Dallas over July 4th weekend and had a shirt ripped and was threatened twice. The article in the Oklahoman seemed biased to what the OU fan did and makes the UT fan out as an innocent, on the other hand an article from nbc5i.com form Dallas/FW is much more balanced and indicates there may be another side to the story. Although the Oklahoman article gives me ALLOT of fodder to use against my neighbors I'm certain as this story develops we will discover this wasn't a one-sided attack.
Harold, Edmond - Aug 27, 2007 12:02 PM
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This is sad that Mike Becket is not being heard. There is 2 sides to each story and the only side being heard is Thomas. Thomas went into Hudsons bragging that evenying that he was recently in a fight with a man in his local neighborhood for fishing. He wanted to go fight the man again. Why is that not being published? He threaten Mike Beckett and he defended himself. This is true. I have known Mr.Becket for years and he would not ever try to harm someone unless it was in self-defense. Let the truth be known. Brian is a grown man that live at home with mom and dad and cant pay his child support. Mr.Becket has sent his 2 children to college and is retired military and now still working for the government.
Tiffeney, Oklahoma City - Aug 27, 2007 7:49 AM
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A person from Nebraska calling Oklahomans hillbillies. Now THAT'S funny!!!Pot meet kettle.
Roger, Keller - Aug 26, 2007 12:58 PM
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Wow, I am so saddened at the level of insensitivity shown to our fellow human being in his time of distress. This is a horrible tragedy. Think how much uproar there would have been had the roles been reversed and the man assaulted was a Sooner fan and the assailant a Longhorn. It would not have taken 2 months to make the news and no one would be joking about it. I am truely disgusted.
Amber, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2007 6:08 PM
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Why is this story coming out two months later? I always thought Texas fans and players had no sack but I guess they do.
Kash, Bangor - Aug 24, 2007 9:43 AM
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Boy, you folks down in Oklahoma really know how to class things up - nice fan base! There's a reason that the Sooners have 'the hillbilly reputation' in the Big 12, and this just adds to the ever-growing list of examples that prove it. Please, do everyone a favor and bring back Switzer. Then we can at least get the moonshine running stories back in circulation.
Ray, Lincoln - Aug 24, 2007 9:42 AM
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Court system records indicate that Mr. Beckett was sued by the Regents for OSU back in 93. Did Mr. Marks research the possibility that Beckett was in fact a former student of another Oklahoma school?
Chris, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2007 9:04 AM
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I'm an OSU graduate, it's true. But I work with and am friends with several OU graduates. And I think I can say this fairly. If this Beckett guy did what is reported it doesn't help OU and it doesn't help Oklahoma. Hopefully, this man will be arrested soon, convicted and he will get to spend several years in jail besides whatever the victim can get from him financially. The state of Oklahoma needs to make an example out of this man because he didn't do any of us any favors. ... Beyond this, I don't suppose the moron took any consideration of the number of excellent players OU recruits and needs to recruit from Texas to compete at the level at which they do. What a moron. They need to make an example out of him.
Thor, Del City - Aug 24, 2007 8:03 AM
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This has made it on every major website...embarrasing. Although takes alot of guts to wear a shorthorn shirt
JB, Phoenix - Aug 23, 2007 8:37 PM
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Unbelievable!! I certainly hope people don't think that this mentaly unstable person represents the Sooner Nation at all... My appologies to the victim and God be with you.
Go Sooners!!
Robert, Honolulu - Aug 23, 2007 7:03 PM
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I have one word for the "grabbee".....UNCLE!
Marc, Oklahoma City - Aug 23, 2007 12:21 PM
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I think it would have been more appropriate to say the other man -who apparently is a psychotic lunatic-kept screaming at him.
Margaret, Holdenville - Aug 23, 2007 12:07 PM
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As a huge Sooner fan I enjoy the great rivalry we have with the "greenhorns". I actually rooted for them in the National Championship game against USC, just for the sake of the Big 12. But this kind of behavior only feeds the likes of SoonerHaters, and now that this is on the mainstream media, makes us look like a bunch of scrotum grabbin' rednecks. Great journalism! Hey Jay, you might consider an intern position at the Inquirer, Star, or Weekly World News.
Jay, Dallas - Aug 23, 2007 9:11 AM
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i bet beckett never went to ou,probably missed high school too.
Otis, Woodward - Aug 23, 2007 9:02 AM
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The grabber is obviously a soccer fan, not a football fan
robert, tulsa - Aug 23, 2007 7:34 AM
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