Ron Behagen

infobox NBA Player
name = Ron Behagen
nickname =


position = Forward–Center
height_ft = 6
height_in = 9
weight_lbs = 185
nationality = American
birth_date = Birth date and age|1951|1|14|mf=y
birth_place = New York City, New York
college = Minnesota
draft = 7th overall
draft_year = 1973
draft_team = Kansas City-Omaha Kings
career_start = 1973
career_end = 1980
former_teams = Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1973–1975)
New Orleans Jazz (1975–9177)
Atlanta Hawks (1977)
Houston Rockets (1977)
Indiana Pacers (1977–1978)
Detroit Pistons (1978)
New York Knicks (1978)
Kansas City Kings (1978–1979)
Washington Bullets (1979)
Antonini Siena (1979–1980)
awards =

Ronald Michael Behagen (born January 14, 1951 in New York, New York) is a retired American basketball player.

A 6'9" center from DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City, Behagen played basketball at the University of Minnesota during the early 1970s. One of his teammates was future Baseball Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield. After his college career ended in 1973, Behagen played seven seasons of professional basketball in the NBA as a member of the Kansas City Kings, New Orleans Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Washington Bullets and in Italy for Antonini Siena [ [http://195.56.77.208/player/?id=BEH-RON&year=1979&team=145 Lega A Basket ] ] . He received NBA All-Rookie Team honors in 1974. In his NBA career, he averaged 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/behagro01.html Career statistics] . Retrieved 2007-11-17.]

Brawl with Ohio State

On January 25 1972, Behagen was involved in one of the most serious on-court incidents in college basketball history when he and several teammates attacked Ohio State University's Luke Witte. In the midst of an already physical game, Minnesota's Clyde Turner flagrantly fouled Witte during a layup attempt, knocking Witte to the ground. Corky Taylor of Minnesota reached down as if to help Witte up, but then kneed Witte in the groin. A melee between the two teams ensued, and Behagen came off the bench to stomp Witte in the head, leaving him unconscious. Ohio State coach Fred Taylor described it as "the sorriest thing [he] ever saw in intercollegiate athletics." [ [http://www.buckeyextra.com/?story=dispatch/2007/01/25/20070125-C1-02.html Brawl of thirty-five years ago serves as a warning today] . Retrieved 2007-11-17.] Behagen and Corky Taylor were suspended for the rest of that season, [Ray Christensen. "Gopher Tales". Sports Publishing LLC, 2002. p. 67.] though Witte did not press charges against either. [ [http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/18/20070218-E5-00.html Forgiveness helps Witte after 1972 brawl] . Retrieved 2007-11-17.]

Notes