Ken Lucas Talks About Steve Smith Punching His Lights Out, Just Glad He Wasn't Killed

Twelve days ago, Steve Smith punched Ken Lucas in the face. The Panthers subsequently suspended Smith for two games and Lucas got a broken nose -- not to mention the emotional scars -- for his troubles.

Smith eventually apologized, Lucas accepted, and Karma even made an unexpected appearance. And now, almost two weeks after Smith went all "Westbrook", Lucas is finally ready to talk how he was able to forgive the guy who rearranged his face.

The Charlotte Observer's Tom Sorensen spoke with Lucas prior to yesterday's practice and got right to the point:

How do you let it go?

"I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it was easy," says Lucas. "I never thought I could." He adds: "I could have hurt him in a serious way."

Did you think about it?

"I didn't," he says.

But if somebody goes after you, don't you, at some level, want to go after them?

"It takes a strong spiritual person not to," Lucas says. "I was shocked and surprised that I could forgive him."

Lucas told Sorensen that Smith seemed to take an instant disliking to him when he arrived in Charlotte, but says he's thankful that a broken nose and a black eye was the worst of it.

"It could have ended a lot of different ways," says Lucas. "I could have lost my eyesight, I could have lost consciousness, I could have lost my life."

Well, I'm certainly glad Smith didn't kill him. That would've been a craptastic start to the season. Like learning that the team had signed Mittens to be the backup quarterback and then watching in horror as Jake Delhomme went down with an arm injury. Maybe worse.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-13-2008 @ 6:34PM

ray said...

I love The News & Observer. I live here in Raleigh, I'm a big fan of the paper, and I'm happy to see it referenced anywhere. But Tom Sorensen doesn't work for the N&O.

He works for what has recently become their sister paper, The Charlotte Observer.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/story/123962.html

8-13-2008 @ 7:38PM

ryan said...

ray,

Thanks. Fixed. No idea why the N&O ran the story without mentioning that Sorensen wrote for the Charlotte Observer.

8-13-2008 @ 8:51PM

joe wallace said...

Ryan, far be it from me to pick on you, but please remember to put your commas inside the parentheses.

BTW, I have enjoyed your humor recently. Got a girl? LOL.

8-13-2008 @ 10:03PM

Rich said...

While sarcasm and wit have its place, your comment comparing the possibility of Lucas being permanately disabled or killed to Carr as a Quarterback on the Panthers is complete bullshit.

I would like to see what your reaction would be if someone knocked you on your ass and see if you would be so dismissing of the gravity of the situation, it is so called "experts" (dickheads) like you that cause some athletes to despise writers.

I just hope that the strain of influenza of that causes your assholia is curable. Or maybe it was a temporary case rectal-cranial inversion.

Either way you went over the line, oh that's right, what am I saying, it does not matter because you are not a journalist, just some loser living in his parents basement and writing about football because you can not get a real job.

8-13-2008 @ 10:39PM

Booger said...

Rich, it's not "can not" it's "cannot." Call your mom down to the basement to spell check for you next time. GO PANTHERS!

8-14-2008 @ 10:08AM

Thomas said...

Actually, Rich, Id rather see an entire small country die of rubella than see Mittens back in the Panthers huddle...maybe Tonga?

Lighten up dude.

GO PANTHERS!

8-14-2008 @ 10:46AM

soulcitysigma1914 said...

wow rich, tell em why u mad son! i have been assaulted on the job before so i know it's no fun and it's angering when someone makes light of it. BUT, i'm sort of with Ryan on this one. I think the "I could have lost my life" line was a bit over-dramatic on Lucas' part. It is possible for a healthy, strong young man to die from a punch to the face, but it's highly unlikely. So don't blame Ryan for poking fun at that line.

8-14-2008 @ 11:07AM

Rich,

I'm pretty sure Lucas wasn't in any danger of losing his life by taking a punch to the nose. But you're the doctor. Still, great points all around, especially the original quip about mom's basement.

+ infinity for originality.

8-14-2008 @ 8:07PM

rich said...

Look everybody, I think the point here is that while aggression is part of an accepted fact in many sports, especially football, hockey to name but just a few. I take issue with belittling the seriousness of the matter, by comparing it some lame ass quarterback who wore mittens.

Furthermore, why isn't the blogger or anyone else for that matter pissed off that Smith ( one of their best players ) is now lost for two games, and should the team miss the playoffs because they could not generate any offense, that it will comeback to haunt the team.

I may not be a doctor, but have a paramedic for 20 some odd years and have seen many people suffer injuries from assaults in the workplace, they suffer from the Psychological what ifs, I could have blinded etc etc. That's what Lucas was referring to.

Lucas like many NFL players know the risks going getting sucker punched is not one them.

Again the point here was Ryan's post was weak intellectually, and a terrible point to make fun of, lest he get assaulted, of course then it would be a much different story I am sure.

But then for that to happen, he had to leave his mom's basement.

8-15-2008 @ 11:55AM

Brinson said...

Dude, Lucas is hurt but he's not dead, dying, comatose or seriously in danger of losing his life or being paralyzed or blind. It's okay to mock his over dramatization of the event.

At the same time, hell yes Carolina Panthers fans are pissed. But we've covered that 800 times already -- what Smith did was stupid, juvenile and immature. We're glad Lucas is alright and we hope the team bonds together.

And Mittens owns your soul. MisterMittens.org

8-16-2008 @ 1:35AM

George B Vieto said...

Good thing that Steve Smith didn't maim or kill his teammate Ken Lucas. The Panthers don't need negative publicity like a wide receiver who is talented but a nasty person in the fight club arena with his teammates.

8-18-2008 @ 3:32PM

Boone said...

Anyone interested in more Panthers news, and some NFL and SoCon news please visit my new blog at www.blueridgesports.blogspot.com

I hope you enjoy and become a regular visitor!

8-24-2008 @ 6:14PM

basenjidude said...

Umm, maybe Lucas was referring to not being killed by Smith in terms of some other form of violence, like gunfire, stabbing, etc. I don't think he meant he's lucky to be alive after being punched in the face.

9-14-2008 @ 6:06AM

trm1961 said...

Please..gunfire or a stabbing? The last person who posted is way out of the boundaries of what happened. I am a white professional but I am feeling that this person is referring to this type of violence because Smith is black. I may be wrong. But, if not sterotyping anyone in that way is unfair. I don't feel Lucas was referring to guns/stabbing. From what I have heard/read about Steve Smith I would in no way believe that he is a cold hearted killer. He is human like the rest of us. He is hot-headed as he has shown but a person that would shoot his team mate or stab them..I don't think fits the picture. Maybe you need to read up on the Panther's and the mentaility of the players and the thoughts of thier coach on discipline and how they have very litle tolerance for this type of thing. Ya think Dallas would keep TO out of the first two games if he did this? I surely doubt it. I have read how much the players in Carolina miss Smith on and off the field during this 2 week punishment. That speaks volumes to me that his team mates including Lucas are anxious to have him back around as a player and a friend. So..get the real deal before you start making judgements or misreading what is said in the press.