Gonzaga has suspended John Stockton’s basketball season tickets after the Hall of Fame point guard refused to comply with the university’s mask mandate.
Stockton, one of Gonzaga’s most prominent alums, confirmed the move in a Saturday interview with The Spokesman-Review. “Basically, it came down to, they were asking me to wear a mask to the games and being a public figure, someone a little bit more visible, I stuck out in the crowd a little bit,” Stockton said. “And therefore they received complaints and felt like from whatever the higher-ups — those weren’t discussed, but from whatever it was higher up — they were going to have to either ask me to wear a mask or they were going to suspend my tickets.”
Stockton has come out against COVID-19 vaccines, mask mandates and other protective measures. Last June, he participated in a documentary titled “COVID and the Vaccine: Truth, Lies and Misconceptions Revealed.”
In the interview with the Spokane newspaper, Stockton claimed without evidence that more than 100 professional athletes have died after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
In relation to that, the Gonzaga men’s basketball team has suspended freshman point guard Josh Perkins’ season tickets as a result of him wearing a mask during Saturday’s game against San Diego.
Perkins’ father, Scott, told the Spokesman-Review on Wednesday that his son had worn the mask because he broke his nose in practice and was fitted for it Thursday by school doctors. He said the mask helps protect Josh’s face and according to athletic director Mike Roth it also meets NCAA requirements.
Roth said players cannot wear any non-pliable material that could pose a danger or increase an injury risk, adding that head coach Mark Few agreed with suspending Perkins’ tickets as long as he is barred from wearing the mask in games. Per the article: ‘Coach wanted to have the same penalty for everyone, Roth said. ‘I agreed with him.’
Gonzaga never has allowed masks or other non-pliable material in competition, according to Roth. He also said the school put Perkins’ medical information into its computer system so opposing teams would see it.
Coach wanted to have the same penalty for everyone, Roth said. I agreed with him. Gonzaga never has allowed masks or other non-pliable material in competition, according to Roth. He also said the school put Perkins’ medical information into its computer system so opposing teams would see it.”
