Wong, James Ply

September 9, 2008

Transcriber, this is Detective Keith Roberts, Louisville Metro Police Homicide Squad. Today's date is September 9, 2008. The approximate time now is 1228 hours. This will be a taped statement from Mr. James Wong. This will be in reference to Case file #08-197.

Roberts

Mr. Wong, are you, uh, aware this conversation is being recorded?

Wong

Yes sir.

Roberts

Does this meet with your approval?

Wong

Yes sir.

Roberts

Okay. For the record, could you please state your name, and spell it for me?

Wong

James J-A-M-E-S Wong W-O-N-G.

Roberts

And what's your home address?

Wong

x

Roberts

Okay. Uh, I'm taking this statement in reference to the events that happened on 08/20/08 that occurred during the PRP football practice. Uh, in your own words, could you please describe the events, uh, of that day, uh

Page 2 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

from the beginning to the end of practice. Wong

Uh, well, practice. practice.

Practice wasn't a great

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

It wasn't really horrible, I wasn't really the best practice effort.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

But the team was really slacking.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

We were walking around, and Coach, Coach doesn't really like that. So we got in trouble because we were really slacking. We were walking in and out of every drill. So when the coach told us… After our water break, he told us to get on the line and run gassers. And, uh, we probably, probably ran about 15, maybe 20 gassers around that area.

Roberts

Okay. And so we understand what a gasser is, you all are on the field running. Is that correct?

Wong

Yeah. On the field running. It's, it's, uh, it's about 50 yards up, 50 yards back; 50 yards up, and back again.

Roberts

Which is one?

Wong

Which is one gasser.

Roberts

And this is going across the field, not the length of the field, right?

Page 3 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Wong

Yeah. It's goin' across the field.

Roberts

Okay. Now, uh, how were the water breaks given? Were they individually, or as a team?

Wong

Uh, it is a team. Like, there, we have like the line backers, and the linemen…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

We, we go individually like after each drill.

Roberts

Okay. How long does each drill last about? Approximately?

Wong

I'd say around… Some drills, mostly the small drills, 10 to 15 minutes.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

Probably, probably 15 the max…

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

…the most. And probably, probably, I'd say around 10, maybe near the (inaudible).

Roberts

Okay. Uh, on that particular day, uh, how many water breaks did you personally take?

Wong

I know, I know there's one, one near the beginning of practice. I know there was another 'cause, uh, after this drill, then I had, had to go back to another drill. So it's three. Uh, from there, uh, the one before we ran the gassers, I had probably four. Four.

Roberts

And after the last water break, uh, what did the

Page 4 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

practice consist of? Wong

Huh. Uh, it was, it was supposed to be like, actually like a real light practice. Because it was, I remember it was on a Wednesday, and it wasn't really that, that big a practice yet because season hasn't really started. So it was probably the drills weren't really that much. My drills were running through bags and, uh, going through agility drills. Nothin' really big. Not yet.

Roberts

So what are you? A running back?

Wong

Uh-uh. I'm a line backer.

Roberts

A line backer. So you would basically, uh, the drills, uh, after the, the water breaks, you all do individual type drills.

Wong

Yes. And then there's… I remember there's this, uh, is, uh, it's like hard base period where we'd learn the plays. Like we'd stand or get on the knee and watch the coaches do 'em. They'll instruct us on plays, and we'd learn… That's probably the, the longest. I'd say it's probably 20 minutes in that time.

Roberts

And who is your position coach?

Wong

Coach Houser.

Roberts

Houser?

Wong

Houser.

Roberts

Okay. Uh, why was the team, uh, running sprints?

Page 5 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Wong

Uh, people got back from the water, and the coaches yelled for like, uh, another drill to be started basically. Like a team drill where we'd go seven-on-seven, basically passing and all that. And the linemen would go into their drill, basically just, uh, usually one-on-one, O line verses D Line, stuff like that. Well, people walked from the water break. They were walking, walking to their drill. And Coach, coaches were yellin' for them to hurry up, and they were still walkin'. And throughout practice, people were really, not really doin' that good. And everything was real slow. People were walking in, being lazy that day.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

That's probably why we got in trouble.

Roberts

Okay. Uh, how many sprints did your group run?

Wong

Uh…

Roberts

Approximately?

Wong

My, uh, I know I ran, ran more than the linemen. I know that. Uh, uh, probably, I think I ran maybe 18 or 19, maybe. I'm not sure, but…

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

Max of probably 20, 20 gassers…

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

…for me.

Page 6 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Roberts

And, and what group were you in?

Wong

Uh, usually there is like the linemen group that would run.

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

And that would be the little guys, like the backers.

Roberts

Gotcha…

Wong

The smaller guys.

Roberts

Alright. Uh, and the smaller guys, you believe, ran more than the linemen?

Wong

Yeah. If I remember.

Roberts

Was it because the linemen is, was too tired or

Wong

No. It's because…

Roberts

They, it's okay…

Wong

It's because how the gassers started off. Like it'd be little guys, then big guys. Little guys, and big guys. So I think I ran… We ran more, like once, one more, than them.

Roberts

Okay. And how many sprints do you remember running, uh, before you were able to start taking off any of your, your gear?

Wong

I think probably around, around, uh, eight or ten.

Roberts

Okay.

Page 7 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Wong

That's usually, we run eight or ten on, on a daily basis.

Roberts

And how many sprints did you run after you took your gear off?

Wong

Hum. First we took our helmets off. I remember, I think we ran three or four gassers. And from there, Coach told us to take our, uh, shoulder pads off. Then, we ran, uh, probably three or four after that.

Roberts

So anywhere from like six to ten after all the gear was off?

Wong

Yeah.

Roberts

And from a time prospective, how long do you think you all were running the sprints?

Wong

Hum. I really can't answer that. I really don't know.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

I really try not to keep track of that time 'cause I just wanta…

Roberts

Okay. I mean, does it feel like it was more than 10 minutes long before everybody finished?

Wong

I don't know. To me, every, every gas, every time we can run, it feels like we're out there for an eternity.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

So I really don't know. I mean, it might just

Page 8 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

probably been like 30 or 40 minutes, but to me, it always feels like seven hours. Roberts

Okay. Alright. Uh, during the time you all were running, uh, your sprints, uh, did anybody ask for water?

Wong

Uh, I really don't remember 'cause usually it's, we're all on a side line on the field, and I'm on the, probably the far side with probably lesser people.

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

So I really, I really don't know if anybody asked for water, but I couldn't hear 'em because I was on the side where nobody really wasn't There running' with me.

Roberts

Okay. Did any, any, uh, did you or any of your teammates become ill during the running of the sprints?

Wong

Uh, what do you mean by ill?

Roberts

Did you, uh, get sick? Did you throw up? Did you feel dizzy? Did anybody feel like, you know, I'm just gonna sit down because I don't feel good?

Wong

I could tell you people were tired, but when Coach, Coach saw some like, one of my friends, Antonio…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

He was wheezing real bad, and he was really pushin' it real hard to his, probably his, his max because I, I know him and he had, he had run

Page 9 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

his hardest, and he was breathing real hard. And he said he, he kept on goin'. Coach, Coach said, uh, took him out. Roberts

What's, what's, do you know Antonio's last name?

Wong

Uh, Antonio Calloway.

Roberts

And you said he was just wheezing? Just…

Wong

Yeah.

Roberts

…did he have asthma or somethin'…

Wong

Uh…

Roberts

…that you know of?

Wong

I don't think he has asthma, but like I heard from him… We've, we've known that he had like a heart murmur, but I don't think it really has anything to do with that because he's been checked by two doctors before…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

And he's cleared, he was cleared to come back. It was probably a long time ago.

Roberts

When, when Calloway, uh, kind of like got, got, looked a little bad, uh, was this uh, before you were able to take any pads off or afterwards or during the whole thing?

Wong

This was probably after the pads were off. Where everything was off.

Page 10 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Roberts

Okay. Anybody else you remember?

Wong

No. I only remember Antonio and Max. That's who?

Roberts

Max? Is that his first name or last name?

Wong

Max. Max Gilpin.

Roberts

Gilbin? Oh. Okay.

Wong

My friend.

Roberts

And, and, was this was he, did he uh, fall before or after doin' the sprints?

Wong

This was after. On the last one.

Roberts

The last sprint?

Wong

Yeah. He was, uh, I didn't personally see him 'cause he was on the other side, but…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

But I heard he was, he was really actually fine before. Like during the gassers, he wasn't breathing real hard…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

…Uh, he wasn't, like, ill or anything. He was just almost the last one that… But I heard that on the last one, that's when he fell.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

So… I heard he was fine throughout all of them.

Page 11 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Roberts

Okay. During any of the practices this year, have you personally seen or heard of any of your teammates being injured or quitting the team?

Wong

Uh, personally, I've like, I've had I've been havin' hamstring problems since last season.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

So usually when I run, I'll run, but when, when I have when my hamstrings can't really take it, which it like once in like a blue moon…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

…uh, I will tell Coach, but, uh, I'll always try my best, try to like see if I can keep on goin' like.

Roberts

Play through the pain a little bit?

Wong

Just a little bit. But when it really starts…

END OF TAPE 1, SIDE A BEGINNING OF TAPE 1, SIDE B Roberts

Transcriber, this is the continuation of a statement with Mr. Wong. Okay. Go on and talk about your hamstring.

Wong

Right. The hamstring. Like when it really gets hurting really bad, after I've played through, after I've ran through a little bit of it, I'll tell Coach. 'Cause sometimes… Well, they know about my hamstring injury. I just, I wouldn't

Page 12 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

really just straight up tell 'em but I'll run, I'll run through it and when it's, when it's hurting pretty bad… 'Cause I wouldn't say hurt, but when it's tightening up… Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

…real bad and my leg's really can't lift up, I'll tell Coach and they understand.

Roberts

Okay. And did anybody, uh, you know of any of your teammates to quit?

Wong

I really don't, don't remember anybody quitting.

Roberts

Okay.

Wong

Like quitting the team or…

Roberts

Right.

Wong

I really don't remember that.

Roberts

Okay. And as far as your injury, it wasn't anything that's, uh, like you had a broken ankle…

Wong

Nothin like…

Roberts

…or (inaudible). Everything is semi-minor.

Wong

Yeah.

Roberts

It's stuff that you might be able to play through from time to time?

Wong

Yeah.

Page 13 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Roberts

Okay. Uh, has anyone influenced you in any way to withhold information or change any of the facts that actually occurred during the practice?

Wong

No

Roberts

Is this statement truthful?

Wong

Yeah.

Roberts

And do you have anything else you wanta add? Somethin' I didn't ask you or you think might be important to what we're goin' through here?

Wong

Uh, usually, we run gassers like after every practice. I mean, this is normal that we're running probably, probably ten, probably ten gassers…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

Usually, we're, we're being timed for gassers. We run four of 'em.

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

The little guys, we're supposed to make 'em, uh, within' 45 seconds or less. And if we don't make 'em, we, we run eight. So every time it's being timed, so if we make all four of 'em, we don't have to run anymore. But on a usual day, we don't make 'em; it'll be eight or ten. I mean, that's real normal.

Roberts

So…

Wong

Just…

Page 14 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

Roberts

…if anybody…

Wong

…if anybody doesn't make it… Like, let's say I'm the only person that makes it and everybody doesn't, we still have to run eight. And if everybody makes it besides just one person, we still have to run eight.

Roberts

And everybody would have to do it?

Wong

Uh…

Roberts

I mean, you said you made yours, you know, would you have to run, run 'em again because….

Wong

Yeah.

Roberts

…you, you were the only one that made…

Wong

Yeah.

Roberts

…within 45 seconds?

Wong

Yeah. But it, but if the little guys… Let's say the little guys…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

If we didn't make it, but the O line make all four of there's…

Roberts

Uh-huh.

Wong

They're probably finished, but that hasn't really happened yet.

Roberts

Okay. But that day, did you all run an inordinate amount of time, or more than

Page 15 of 15 Statement: James Wong / Case #08197(E) Date: September 9, 2008

normal? Wong

It was, it was a border normal.

Roberts

Border normal. And it was… And it was …

Wong

Because…

Roberts

…because people were lazy?

Wong

Yeah. Slack. It was… We weren't even really… The team was just not into it. We weren't even hitting each other right. WE were just probably goin' up to each other and huggin' each other. That's it. We didn't even… That's what probably did it.

Roberts

Goin' through the motions a little bit?

Wong

Yeah. Goin' through the motions. basically what we did.

Roberts

Okay. Okay. Uh, well, with that, we will, uh, end the taped statement. The approximate time is 1246 hours.

END OF STATEMENT File #08137Eroberts-jj

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