Miami Heat Fan Refuses To High-Five Phoenix Suns Gorilla, Punches Him In The Face Instead

These are proving to be dangerous times for NBA mascots. Two weeks ago, Moondog of the Cleveland Cavaliers briefly went to the hospital after getting clocked in the eye by the Pacers' David West. And this week, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla found himself on the receiving end of some unwanted physical violence. It happened Tuesday at an event at a Dave & Buster's in Tempe, Ariz. Here's the Arizona Republic on how it all went down:

It started just before 6:30p.m., police said. The Suns Gorilla at the event, Robert Woolf, who is not the same Suns Gorilla who performs at games, was at Dave & Buster's with other Suns employees, police said. Woolf attempted to high-five Timothy Austin, who refused to participate because he is a Miami Heat fan, police said.

The gorilla, acting in a way he described as "playful," kicked Austin. Austin then threw the punch, and police were called, officials said.

The gorilla wound up with a bloody nose. Neither Austin nor the gorilla decided to press charges.

Photo via Getty. [ Arizona Republic, via Larry Brown Sports]