The Lowdown on Lohaus...

(Sudiegirl's note: I'm typing this in gold and black - my alma mater's colors - in honor of Mr. Lohaus, that 7 ft. criminal, girlfriend-smacking wunderkind. This just proves my point...in the end, music geeks truly rule the planet. All jocks do is run bars that smell like Polo cologne into the ground, steal money and beat up women that are several years their junior. I'm feeling rather justified right now about the many "D's" I earned in gym class...they helped make me the upstanding citizen I am today. Snotty comments, as usual...)

Problems keep piling up for ex-NBA player

By Pat Harty

Iowa City Press-Citizen

Former Iowa basketball player and retired NBA veteran Brad Lohaus was arrested and charged with domestic assault early Thursday morning following an incident at the Courtyard Inn in Clive. (You know, I've been to Clive, and I didn't know they even had a Courtyard Inn. Unfortunately, I do know they have - or used to have - an adult motel in Des Moines, but don't ask me the name of it.)

His arrest came three days after he was named in a civil lawsuit claiming he owes more than $22,000 in back rent and repairs made to The Airliner. Lohaus and Iowa City lawyer Randy Larson were co-owners of The Airliner from 1993 to 2001. (Did I mention that place smells like Polo? However, their chicken and pineapple pizza is da bomb...I highly recommend it. It's not the place to go if you are into making fun of sororities and fraternities, though...especially when you're drunk and reciting the names of each group, and then inserting the phrase "f**k you" at the end. I was escorted out by my friends before a fight broke out. I'm digressing again...excuse me...)

In addition, Lohaus faces a felony second-degree theft charge for allegedly stealing just under $2,000 from fraudulent eBay transactions. (I wonder if he was trying to sell another cup that Elvis drank out of? See one of my previous entries for clarification.)

Johnson County District Court records show that there are 12 witnesses in the theft case. (OK, how do you have witnesses on Ebay? I'm not trying to be a smartass...I really want to know how that's possible!)

Police records also show that Lohaus had his driver's license suspended in 2004 for non-payment of traffic tickets. (Whoops...)

As for the assault charge, Lohaus was arrested at 1:47 a.m. Thursday and charged with simple domestic assault upon McKinsey S. Gonder. Under Iowa law, Lohaus meets the requirements for the charge due to he and Gonder having a child together. (OK, each paragraph in this story just makes me like the guy less and less. Thank God I spent my money on beer instead of season tickets for games...)

Lohaus' lawyer Leon Spies issued a statement Thursday afternoon: "This is plainly a very difficult time for Mr. Lohaus and for those who care about him. Although Brad has been a notable public figure in the athletic and business communities, he asks the media to respect his privacy and allow him to devote his energies to dealing with the very personal challenges that face him." (In other words, "We don't know why he's acting like a wackjob, his mother is in tears, and he owes money to a thousand people so he's trying to find his former coach - Lute Olson - and hit him up for bail money and some Taco Bell coupons. In the meantime, messages can be left for him at the local Quick-E-Store.")

Lohaus, 40, appeared in court in handcuffs Thursday morning.

According to police the report, he and Gonder, 23, were in a room at the Courtyard Inn when Gonder called the front desk and asked that 911 be called. (You Go, Girl! I'm proud of you.)

Officers arrived to hear a verbal argument coming from the room. Investigation into the matter revealed that Gonder attempted to leave, but that Lohaus restrained her from doing so. Gonder said the two got into a "wrestling match," according to the police report.

Gonder received minor injuries to her lip and head, but medical treatment was not required. Officers said Lohaus was cooperative during his arrest. (I imagine he was, especially if the two cops were also fathers of daughters. I don't care if you're 7 feet tall...hell hath no fury like a scorned dad, or one that is imagining his daughter in the same scenario. It always worked for MY dad, because almost all the guys I dated were bigger than he was, but Dad had a gun, therefore, he won.)

Larson, meanwhile, also is named as a defendant in the Airliner lawsuit. (Wonder if he wears Polo?)

Larson has refused to comment about Lohaus' situation but he indicated in the spring that he and Lohaus had a falling out after disagreeing about whether to sell the Airliner. Larson said he was confident that selling the Airliner would have produced a profit for he and Lohaus. (OK, he refused to comment, but then he commented anyway. Does that make any sense to you? Not to me...guess that's why I make fun of lawyers so much.)

Larson said he and Lohaus eventually parted ways in 2001, ending an eight-year business relationship and a friendship that stretched over two decades. (Boy, the 'Liner must be a cursed bar if it annihilates friendships like that...that's why I always went to the Deadwood or Dave's Fox Head. Of course, it didn't hurt that Dave's always had "The Stripper" theme and "New York, New York" on the jukebox...another shameful Sudiegirl secret is that I played that selection and formed a Rockettes-style kickline in the middle of Dave's, but fortunately, I never saw any of the other patrons again.)

Lohaus played at Iowa from 1982-87. The 7-footer then spent more than a decade playing in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs before retiring in the late 1990s. (Gee, hope those b-ball skills come in handy in prison!)

Sudiegirl's final word?

I remember when jocks in my high school acted as if they owned the world, and more often than not, the world came crashing down around them once they figured out nobody gave a shit about their athletic prowess anymore. Kind of a poetic justice, don't ya think?

So for nerds everywhere, I remain your out-of-shape, but lovable diva...

Sudiegirl

UPDATE on Brad Lohaus!

As of today's issue of the Iowa City Press-Citizen Mr. Lohaus will be standing trial for 4th degree theft...apparently, he sold someone a fly rod but didn't deliver. Must have been one hell of a fly rod. No further word on the domestic abuse charges.

Proud to be a Hawkeye! (NOT)