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Ex-Spur Malik Rose sued by mother's boyfriend

SAN ANTONIO -- Malik Rose, a former player for the San Antonio Spurs, has been sued by his mother's ex-boyfriend, who claims the NBA forward punched him in the face during a fight in May.

Ricardo Eugene McCleary, who served prison time in the 1990s for being part of a cocaine distribution ring, is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit that he filed last month.

An attorney for Rose, who now plays for the New York Knicks, denied the allegation this week and told the San Antonio Express-News that he plans to countersue McCleary.

McCleary, 51, said in his lawsuit that the 6-foot-7 Rose attacked him at the San Antonio home where he then lived with Rose's mother, Janet. McCleary has since moved to Philadelphia.

Michael Rowland, the plaintiff's lawyer, told the newspaper that the fight took place after the two men argued over whether McCleary's son should have been able to accept a car from Rose as a high school graduation gift.

According to San Antonio police reports, officers were called to the residence on that date, but they left when a woman who answered the door said Rose and McCleary weren't there.

No criminal complaint has been filed against Rose, though Rowland said McCleary intends to pursue criminal charges.

McCleary pleaded guilty in 1993 in Philadelphia to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 pounds of cocaine while he was a member of a Los Angeles-based drug ring. He was sentenced to nine years in federal prison.