Whupped by a Panthers Cheerleader: Melissa Holden files suit against Panthers cheerleader over assault

Melissa Holden of Tampa filed the lawsuit against a Panthers cheerleader Friday. It said Victoria Renee Thomas "intentionally, willfully and maliciously assaulted and battered" her.

"I've been humiliated," said Holden, a 26-year-old University of South Florida student and nurse. "People assume I have a boyfriend or a husband who beat me up."

After the alleged punch, poor victim Holden grabbed bad cheerleader Thomas and asked someone to get security. Holden was quoted as saying, "the whole time I've got her against the wall she is screaming I'm a panther cheerleader. I'm not going to get into trouble let me go, I'm a panther cheerleader you can’t restrain me.”

The incident happened at Banana Joe's, which is still receiving a lot of publicity due to this incident. The management decided to have fun, by promoting dress as a cheerleader night.

Entertainment in the Endzone

The league has fined Chad Johnson $5,000 for his antics in last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens, when he grabbed an end zone pylon and used it to "putt" the football several yards after scoring on a 54-yard touchdown pass. The league has a policy against prolonged, excessive and premeditated displays.

However, the policy hasn’t stopped Johnson in the past. In fact, Johnson has been fined on multiple occasions in past NFL seasons. In 2003, it’s estimated he accumulated about $60,000 in fines levied by the league. In December of 2003, after having been fined several times already, Johnson displayed a hidden placard that read, "Dear NFL, please don't fine me anymore," after a touchdown catch.
Stay tuned for more Johnson fun, or should we rename him to ‘Johnzone’? Johnson suggested this week that, if he scores on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a key AFC North matchup, his choreographed celebration will be his best ever. Right on.

Fear of Flying

As I gear up to do some traveling, I logged on to see the current TSA list to see if I can pack my little scissors in my nail care kit. I carefully checked the TSA (The Transportation Security Administration) list and then reconsidered flying altogether, and here’s why:

As of Dec. 3, 2005, it’s still not OK to bring scissors on board – even little itty ones. However, it is OK to pack ammunition, BB guns, compressed air guns, firearms, flare guns, gun lighters, gunpowder, parts of guns and firearms, pellet guns, realistic replicas of firearms, starter pistols, Blasting caps, dynamite, fireworks, flares (in any form), hand grenades, plastic explosives, and realistic replicas of explosives in your CHECKED luggage.

Is it me, or does the possibility of a hand grenade in the belly of a plane make anyone else just a TAD NERVOUS?

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Payton O'Brien, www.gambling911.com

December 3, 2005 4:49 pm EST