Kentucky Sports Radio


AAU coach arrested for knocking referee unconscious in Paducah

Photo via McCracken County Sheriff’s Office

Things got real at the Paducah Sports Plex Saturday night, where a basketball coach was arrested for knocking a referee unconscious at an AAU event.

It all started when Kenyon Menifield, a 40-year-old AAU coach from Flint, Michigan, got into a disagreement with Kenny Culp, a 60-year-old referee. According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, when Culp turned to walk away, Menifield allegedly punched him, knocking him unconscious. Menifield then fled the area and was taken into custody at a nearby hotel. He was charged with assault of a sports official, a Class A misdemeanor.

According to one of Culp’s friends, Amy Childers Cardwell, Culp made $20 for officiating the game, which he planned to use to help pay his family’s medical bills. Michael Bone, another friend of Culp’s, posted pictures of the injuries on Facebook:

Asking for all to pray for my friend Kenny. He and I officiate basketball together. Kenny was working a AAU game and was…

Posted by Michael Bone on Sunday, April 7, 2019

Nation of Blue shared a Facebook post by Menifield, who has since made his profile private, in which he claimed Culp used a racial slur but apologized for his actions.

How that’s only a misdemeanor is beyond me.

Article written by Mrs. Tyler Thompson


63 responses to “AAU coach arrested for knocking referee unconscious in Paducah”

  1. Ned T.

    Can the charges be upgraded to a felony? I hope so.

  2. Mathlete

    I’m in no position to tell anyone how to react to being called a racial slur, but I’m almost totally sure putting them in the hospital isn’t the right way.

    1. syrin23

      Oh, you actually believe that crap? It’s the go to alibi for any non-white person to justify felonious behavior. Of Obama had a son…

  3. nicky

    Until there’s corroboration re: the racial slur, I’m calling BS and hope the ref has a good attorney to prepare that civil suit

    1. chrislarkey

      Is there proof of the racial slur? Or his way of trying to Justify hitting a 60 yr old man

    2. CatManDo

      Even if there was a racial slur it is not an excuse or justification for sucker punching another person, especially when this kind of damage can be done.
      At no point should someone use racial slurs but you can’t use that as a reason for violence.

  4. cats646

    Fuk that “coach”!! I’d love to kick his ass.

    1. 206Bones

      I’m available.

    2. cats646


  5. Headhurts

    1 year in jail no less, see if that gets his attention, no more coaching ever.

  6. adjtdavis

    Sorry for the old man but he knew what his mouth was getting into.
    You can use the same racial slur in my face and expect he same treatment.
    You know what they say in the military? Lets go out to the wood line and handle this like grown men.
    Well how big a boy are you? We sure will find out.
    There is racism out there but don’t expect everyone to take the abuse the same way it is given.
    I raise my kids not to see color and love everyone but there will always be one person in the crowd who has to mess it up. I am on this page all the time and see you guys feel sorry for a bigot who deserve what his mouth cashed.This drew up this response./ In lieu of the kneeling in the NFL, due to innocent people getting killed, some one needs to stand up for this mistake the coach made.He will have to pay for the hospital bill but don’t pop off not expecting to get popped back.
    BBN fan out

    1. chrislarkey

      So what did the referee say to him

    2. CatManDo

      Let’s not vilify the ref without proof – the coach could be making up the racial part to justify his actions. We have proof of neither so we shouldn’t jump on either side. Remember the Covington Catholic incident.

      We’ll have to disagree on his actions though. If a 60 year old guy calls me a white trash redneck I don’t see putting him in the hospital as giving him what is due. Not saying any form of racism is okay, but someone calling somebody an inappropriate word is no way equivalent to the violence this guy did.

      Peace to all BBN!

    3. KYJelly

      And you would be arrested. Breaking the law and causing physical harm to another person for using the slur is just going to cause more negative terms to be used about you and cast a worse spotlight of the race that you deem yourself “fighting to protect”.

      Think about it man. MLK didn’t fight negative words and actions with violence because it would’ve done nothing but hurt his cause.

    4. loservilletard

      lighten up Frances…you won’t be punching anyone sitting in your mom’s basement talking tuff

    5. StuckinLville

      So u are just going to automatically believe there was a racial slur? That’s pretty reckless. Does this official have a history of that? And can u prove that he did? This man is from Flint, MI so he must be reliable huh? Sounds like to me his temper got the best of him and this is how he’s trying to justify it. Black people are so quick to use racism as a way to justify their actions and idiots like you believe it. And even if he did, he is a coach with kids around. It’s called being a grown adult and not sinking to that level. Dude should never be allowed to coach again and needs to be responsible for his medical bills. And if you dont think black people ever use racial slurs then you’re an idiot. He probably called him a cracker before he hit him but that’s ok in your book huh? Idiot.

    6. StuckinLville

      Also u talk about cops killing innocent people, but not all those people were innocent. Michael Brown attacked an officer through his window. Did you know more white people are killed by cops? And did you know more children are killed by guns than anyone dying at the hands of law enforcement and officers killed combined? All this kneeling bs is a joke especially when some of those kneeling are arrested for domestic violence. Not to mention 90% of blacks killed are killed by blacks. But oh let’s blame whitey.

    7. Irish son

      Than you’re ignorant too

    8. RealCatsFan

      adjtdavis, PLEASE post a link to one single person corroborating Menifield’s claim that a racial slur was used. We are all waiting for this.

    9. CaliparisCats

      Adjtdavis you sir are an idiot!!

    10. twilkjr

      There was no racial slur, this is just an accusation made by savages and democrats to try and defend their psychotic behavior. The only racist involved in this incident is the attacker.

    11. cats646

      Every time a black person gets in trouble they claim it was a race issue. Old news, get the fuk over it. Next time I get called a white boy I guess I’ll wait till they turn and sucker punch whoever said that to me in the back of the head. That’ll show’em lol. They’re just words, lighten up kids.

    12. CATandMONKEY

      Words do not equal violence.
      Grow up.

    13. syrin23

      So you will go to jail because you can’t retrain yourself from name calling. Please, go cheer for Duke.

  7. adjtdavis

    MLK is DEAD because of racism. Suckered punched.
    Spot light, one race killed, butchered, cut their nuts off, hung, raped, beat. demoralized.
    People are being shot by cops who are innocent.
    Poor white redneck trash has never been a slave.

    1. Wade

      My grandparents were slave to the land all day everyday and if crops didn’t grow they starved! We’re all a slave to something.

    2. Ned T.

      Yawn. Did you say something relevant?

    3. CatsDLegit

      Ya realize there were white slaves too, right? And name one innocent person that was shot by police. The cops may have used bad judgment in the heat of the moment but none of the people shot were “innocent.”

    4. RealCatsFan

      The MLK assassination was a sad act of cowardly violence, as was the Crucifiction of Jesus Christ. Neither of these would want further bloodshed to avenge what was done to them. No, they would only want peace and justice.

    5. MrPioneer

      Wow, catsdlegit. Thanks for letting us know that you’re the biggest racist on this site. There have actually been numerous cases of innocent people being shot. It’s not that hard to use the internet to figure that out. A few white slaves does not compare to an entire human race being enslaved and discriminated against for hundreds of years. Read a history book. Although judging by your post, reading might not be your strong suit.

    6. twilkjr

      Have you ever been a slave?

    7. Wade

      Does anyone know a slave? I don’t!

    8. cats646

      Mr. Pioneer, you do realize that racism will end when people like you let it end, right? Quit living in the past, we haven’t had slaves for 100+ years now. Black people now have the same opportunity that anyone else in this country has. We’re equal. And if you think otherwise than guess what, you’re a racist.

    9. 4everUKblue

      adjtdavis 646 is 100% correct. Open your eyes and you will see that everyone excluding the elite are slaves, always have been and always will be.

    10. catsarerunnin

      I’m a love slave.

    11. syrin23

      You gotta wonder why those blacks sold all those other blacks into slavery, and why they still do it today, and no one says anything about it. Hey dude, please, pack up and move to the Zimbabwe. It’s MUCH better there.

  8. adjtdavis

    Folks are getting sick and tired of being sick and tired of being called out of their basement.
    As long as we agree both are ignorant.
    One innocent person is all it takes.

    1. Bluebloodtoo

      Violence is not a tool or a solution. It doesn’t solve anything or prove respect. Some people mistake fear for respect. Violence breeds fear, not respect.

    2. 4everUKblue

      adjtdavis, you are part of the problem not the solution, I do agree you are ignorant and probably the type to sucker punch a senior citizen. You’re assuming the coach is telling the truth, people do lie to cover their ass after making a stupid decision such as this, as if that would justify his actions.

    3. catsarerunnin

      You come to my basement I’ll bust you up.

    4. syrin23

      No, I’m not going to agree the ref was ignorant. There is no proof whatsoever. We have proff the ref is a thug who should be in jail.

  9. Wade

    What happened to sticks and stones can break bones but words will never hurt me. Cmon man hit an old dude and run why not stay there so you can get your mental evaluation done and go to jail. This guys working with kids wtf.

  10. yoshukai

    Racial slurs are the go to card every time a minority gets in trouble. I’m not buying it .

    1. Wade

      You guys are a bunch of crackers lol who wants to hit me! I live in Jax fl and in my high school there was actually a pop a cracker day where black people singles out white kids to punch! Is that racist?

    2. cats646

      No because black people cant be racist. Lol

  11. Glock

    That is felony assault and battery , no question.

  12. RealCatsFan

    Aside from the facebook post that the perpetrator put up to justify his actions, I have seen absolutely NO reports that a racial slur was used. In contrast, I have seen a lot of people saying that the referee was a very nice person who did not deserve this. And even if the referee said the most vile thing imaginable, that does not come close to justify putting him in the hospital with potentially life threatening or life altering injuries. And the ref had his back turned on the guy when he hit him – to me that shows what a coward Mr. Menifield is. I sincerely hope he gets jail time for this.

  13. Batsell

    Yes, the charges can be upgraded. And this is not a civil case, it is by law most certainly criminal.

  14. Crisp

    It makes no difference at all if a “racial slur” was said by anyone. Most of you say the assault was wrong b/c there’s no proof of a “slur”. EVEN if there WAS it does not matter. You people are defending a criminal. By the way, you think the assailant has never done this before? Let’s have a look at his record. Regardless he won’t do a day of jail time b/c of “slavery”, “oppression”, or just pick your own catch-phrase. This is your diversity bringing its chickens home to roost. And it will get much, much worse.

    1. chrislarkey

      What happened to TOLERANCE. Guess its preached but not followed.

  15. cats646

    I dislike this adjtdavis guy.

  16. Thetruthshallsetbennyfree

    If this was the UCF’s or any one who played an ACC team in the tournament really coach at the end of the game (and without the slur) I would have wanted to buy him a drink.

    About this situation though I don’t believe it would have happened in any era but this one, if we were to start slugging people of different races/religions/voting parties basically anything everytime they said something that came off prejudice or offensive we would be in a never ending slugfest. It takes an weak idiot to say these things in all seriousness (joking doesn’t make it ok though) but it also takes a weak idiot to allow that person to take their power away and give in to it.

  17. tgoff

    And you haven’t been a slave either adjtdavis.

    1. cats646

      But his great great great gran daddy’s uncle was a slave so he knows what it’s like. Lol

    2. Thetruthshallsetbennyfree

      He only gets paid what he works so he feels like a slave.

  18. yoshukai

    I know some white people that are racists. Every black person I’ve ever known is racist to some extent. Somehow they get a pass because of something that happened centuries ago .

    1. JusSayin

      Every black person you’ve ever known hates white people? And you know this for fact?

      That sounds like something a SJW would say only in reverse.

    2. yoshukai

      You don’t have to hate someone to be considered a racist these days .

  19. Glock

    There are low lifes of every color as well as great people of every color. At the end of the day only ourselves are responsible for our choices…good or bad

  20. eyebleedblue

    He sucker punched him then ran to a hotel then alleged a slur then apologized.

    Yeah, this guy is sane.

  21. chrislarkey

    Not every black person is racist and not every black person would act like this guy

    He probably lost his cool, or tried to show off in front of players to save face and sucker punched ref, realized why he did and ran and made up a quick excuse for what he did.

  22. Wildcat homer

    This scumbag should do some serious jail time and be banned from AAU basketball

  23. believeblue

    The first place I have seen anything about a racial slur was in the comments section here. I have known Kenny for a long time and have reffed many games with him, I find it very hard to believe a racial slur came out of his mouth. He is always been a calm level headed official. I hope this sparks some conversation about legislation to better protect sports officials. Verbal assault is one thing but physical assault no matter the severity should carry severe penalties. No place in society for this kind of garbage.