The following is a transcript of a Halifax Rainmen press conference, held Wednesday to explain the suspension of star forward Eric Crookshank for the season.

Interviewees are head coach/general manager Rick Lewis, owner Andre Levingston, and Crookshank.

Q: What factored into the decision to suspend Eric Crookshank for the season?

Rick Lewis: We have things that we are doing as an organization, as the Halifax Rainmen. When things take place outside that …we’re not going to go into actual details of the incident, but we will say as it states in the (press release), that the athlete, that their conduct (was) detrimental to the team and the organization (and) that’s what prompted us to take action.

Q: Eric talked to the media after the game on Sunday, saying he wasn’t happy with (Lewis’s) decision to bench him. Was it that, or was there more to it than that?

Rick Lewis: Any player can be unhappy with their playing time, their performance, with losing a game. Playing time is not determined by the individual player. That’s what the coaching staff is there for and that’s their responsibility. So playing time has nothing to do with that decision, no.

Q: But was his complaint about it to the media a factor?

Rick Lewis: The complaint to the media has nothing to do with this decision.

Q: How did you arrive at the decision to suspend him for the whole season?

Rick Lewis: We arrived at that decision because of conduct that was detrimental to the team and to the organization.

Q: But why a full season? Why not five games, 10 games?

Rick Lewis: That was just our decision.

Q: I talked to (Andre Levingston on Tuesday afternoon after practice) and you said you weren’t concerned about the Crookshank situation. I assume something (happened between then and now) to change that?

Andre Levingston: Eric Crookshank is not just a basketball player. He’s a special kid to me and I have a personal relationship with him. I want to continue to have that. He’s done some great things in this ...[next page]