Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, formerly part of the Phoenix Suns and the US gold medal winning Olympic team, was charged with domestic violence in 2001. Kidd was accused of striking his wife Joumana in the face during an argument in their home. Police said Kidd confessed to striking her and he was arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse.

Kidd had a run-in with police while a college student in California and had, after a turbulent early career with the Dallas Mavericks, had an outstanding career and been an upstanding public citizen. Police say that Kidd struck his wife in front of their then 2 year old son. She then ran upstairs and locked herself in the couple’s bedroom. Kidd kicked the door in and his wife locked herself in the bathroom and called 911. Kidd reached an agreement with the court that included counseling and anger management. Kidd filed divorce from Joumana this year citing “extreme cruelty” toward him and their three children.

Jason Kidd: History of Assault Ends in Divorce Court

Jason Kidd is a point guard and captain for the New Jersey Nets.  Kidd has been surrounded by rumors of abusive behavior toward his wife for years, but the rumors all came to a head in a volatile court case stemming from their divorce.  The courts still haven’t finished sorting through the fallout.

In January of 2007, Kidd filed for divorce, alleging that he was the victim of his wife’s abuse.  In February his wife counter sued, alleging that in fact she was the victim in the relationship.  So which of the injured parties is truly the victim here?

What we know for sure is that Kidd had been arrested once before for abusing his wife.  In his claim against her he accuses her of being manipulative and controlling, and of kicking, hitting and punching him in fights.  He also claimed that she tried to follow him by putting tracking devices on his car, stealing his cell phone for his locker, and other things.

Why was Kidd arrested for domestic abuse before? Because during an argument about stealing food from his son’s plate that started over a French fry, he punched his wife in the mouth.  He settled out of court by plea bargaining with the prosecutor and was sentenced to anger management classes.

Once Kidd filed for divorce, alleging abuse by his wife Joumana, the gloves were off.    She fired charges right back at him, outing years of abusive behavior. Not only did Joumana charge Kidd with physical abuse and verbal abuse, she added in charges of adultery as well. She claims he cheated on her with fans, team employees, cheerleaders and strippers in nearly every state he’s ever played an away game.

Not only is Joumana charging him with abuse and adultery, she is adding in substance abuse and gambling for good measure.  Who is the biggest loser in this long and angry court battle? The couple three children are definitely getting the worst end of this raw deal.  Even with the courts redacting the kid’s names from the court papers, their faces are still being plastered all over the country in news reports of this nasty divorce.

Kidd is still under contract to the New Jersey Nets, in year number 6 of a $99 million dollar contract.  Joumana has been taunting Kidd from ther sidelines for months, and the couple’s fights have escalated.  None of Kidd’s team mates seem surprised that the divorce finally proceeded, or that it has become an angry duel between two strong personalities.  No conclusion has been reached in the divorce battle yet.