We’d say this story is just a first-amendment issue, but it’s as much one of authorities figures being amazingly, amazingly stupid. You remember this picture:

That’s Josh Tucker of Louisville wearing his “Bring Back Bobby” shirt to Wednesday’s 68-66 Indiana loss to Wisconsin. You probably remember a security guard asked Josh to take off the shirt. What we didn’t know was how it played out,and when we talked to Josh today, well, we were a bit stunned.

Josh told us he wore one shirt to the game and had a second similar one with. When Kelvin Sampson and IU entered the court out of the Assembly Hall tunnel, Josh was right there, wearing his shirt and waving the second one. He says he might have made eye contact with Sampson, but someone important saw him, because two minutes into the game a security guard approached, asking him to put away both shirts.  Josh initially didn’t back down:

“He said it was offensive. I asked to who, and he said ‘I’m asking remove the shirt or you’ll be arrested’.”

We couldn’t make this stuff up if we tried: Arrested for a white IU shirt that’s only offense was crudely-marked words. Josh was sitting in some pretty good seats (if you know Assembly Hall, they’re the section right above the floor-level bleachers) so likely some high-ranking official saw the shirt and got his/her panties in a wad. Wanting to see the rest of the game and not be in jail with real criminals, Josh obliged.

Temporarily.

After the jump, what Josh did next, how IU folks still don’t get it, Josh’s legal options and what he is planning on for tomorrow’s visit from ESPN gameday.

At halftime, folks talking with Josh convinced him that, yes, there’s no way they can arrest you for such garbage. So in half two, Josh wore one shirt, his friend the other. And only five minutes later, guess who came back? Yep, Kelvin’s security

“He wasn’t a happy camper. I asked him several times why he wanted me to remove the shirt and he said ‘It was offensive’. I asked who it was offensive to and he never would answer me”

Tip to those of you visiting Assembly Hall or Bloomington: IU authorities don’t speak English well, and apparently Josh dealt with general Tanto here: “SHIRT BAD! SAMPSON GOOD!”.

Josh decided, again, to remove the shirt. And he kept the shirt off the rest of the night.

“It made me angry, kind of ruined my whole night. There was nothing offensive about the shirt. It’s my right as an American to express my free speech”

However, the story doesn’t end there

Josh has contacted a number of attorneys, and today chose one to take his case. He says the lawyer has contacted IU and will explore all his options if the University doens’t cooperate (Josh said he didn’t know yet, though, what, if anything, he was hoping to get out of this).

Also, a company is making more shirts for tomorrow’s Michigan State game (a game where ESPN Gameday will be present), ones he’ll hand out so they can be seen far and wide. The shirts will say “Bring Back Integrity” on one side, and “Bring Back Coach Knight” on the other.

“I love Indiana University. I’ve been a fan all of my life, but it’s been real disheartening what’s happened to the program. My job is trying to bring integrity back to IU, since no one else is trying to do it”

This begs the question: If Josh hands out a few dozen shirts, is IU really gonna threaten to arrest all these people? The Bloomington folk aren’t historically too smart in PR, but this is a disaster in waiting.

Here’s TMC’s advice: Leave them all alone and deal with your bigger problem. You’ll thank us later.