NFL superstar Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is not looking much like an alum of Holy Angels after the mother of his baby got an Arizona judge's signature on an order of protection against the Minneapolis native.
Jr.'s squeaky clean image is taking a hit as a result of TMZ.com breaking news that he "has been ordered to stay away from" Angela Nazario because he allegedly knocked her around a room and pulled her hair out in October.
The Arizona Cardinals' Mark Dalton informed me via e-mail that "Larry did speak to the local media during our open locker room period [Wednesday]." Jr.'s dad, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., hung up the phone when I spoke Big Fitz's given name (as opposed to how I normally address him: Grandpa).
The protective order was added to the paternity court case Nazario filed in 2007 against Jr. to establish the paternity of Devin Nazario Fitzgerald, a boy born in 2008.
Some will be distracted by the parts of the Nazario's court statement, in which she admits to hitting his face when he playfully put up a fist and allegedly said, "Come on, let's fight," while trying to diffuse the rising tensions. A petite former NFL cheerleader, she probably represents quite a threat especially when she "tried to shake him up by hitting his shoulders."
This is not a typical case of he said, she said. Nazario's statement indicates that among those around during the unpleasantness was a friend of hers, Jr.'s assistant and another person who is Jr.'s driver. Nazario's friend My-lihn French's statement on file with the court alleged that she saw Jr. grab "Angie's arms and pushed her on the ground forcefully" and also grab "her head with both hands like a football and forcefully threw her across the room." Sadly, French's statement alleges that Jr. was holding the baby while pushing away his mother.
As I read Nazario's statement, one underlying tension in their relationship is related to her always bringing the baby to Phoenix to see Jr., as opposed to daddy making the effort, on his days off, to drive two hours to Flagstaff to see Devin.
According to information from another source, who does not want to be quoted about a matter that looks headed for a courtroom trial, there is an explanation for the lapse in time between the alleged incident and its coming to the attention of the media. They've reportedly been in negotiations to hash out a visitation schedule for Devin, and no doubt seal the records on this part of the file.