Rondo wasn't assaulted after all; Josh Smith pushed an innocent bystander?

[Roy H.]

So, remember the reports of Rondo being assaulted in Lowell?  Well, it turns out it might not have happened:

New video obtained by FOX 25 could corroborate the story of a Haverhill man who denies laying hands on Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo and an entourage, including former Celtic Nate Robinson and Josh Smith from the Atlanta Hawks, attended a promotional event at Brian’s Ivy Friday night that lasted until the early hours of Saturday morning.

The three NBA players were exiting the club around 1:30 a.m. Saturday when fists started flying.

As a result of the scuffle, police arrested Valarezo who they claim threw a punch toward the NBA stars and took a “fighting stance.”

However, in the new footage it doesn’t appear that Valarezo and Rondo even got close to each other.

In fact, it appears Valarezo was minding his own business when he was grabbed and pushed by Smith, a six foot ten NBA power forward.

The new video shows the NBA players leaving the club early Saturday when Smith, as identified by witnesses, walks by Valarezo and grabs him from behind nearly pushing him to the floor.

The claim that Valarezo took a swing at Rondo never happens on this tape.

Rondo and his entourage are able to make a quick exit, but Valarezo is the one who gets left behind.

Valarezo claims he didn’t even know Rondo was in the club that night and says he never tried to hurt him.

Link

[Kiorrik]

Goes to show that Rondo never, ever gets calls in his favor.

[Celtics18]

There certainly is the chance that stuff went on that didn't appear on that tape obtained by Fox news. 

Anyway, there seem to be bigger NBA stories right now.

[hpantazo]

Not surprising. I'm originally from Lowell, and word from people who were around say that Rondo and his friends were acting like jerks and instigated a fight and then ran off, and of course, the police blamed the locals.