# Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Josh "Tank" Watts
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [October 30, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299 "2012-10-30T03:55:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/21 "2012-10-30T09:15:38Z")
> [@wedgehed](#):
>
> It seemed the most efficient way to display the story & the resulting comments about the story.
…every google search is different: so the results I get won’t be the same as everyone else. On the google search the first link goes to a blog, the second to this very thread, and the rest look like spam. Did you want us to read the blog?
---
### Author:  [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/22 "2012-10-30T09:36:37Z")
Here’s the story on an actual new website:
[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/25/3620757/marine-amputee-charlotte-restaurant.html#storylink=misearch](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/25/3620757/marine-amputee-charlotte-restaurant.html#storylink=misearch)
> [@](#):
>
> During a verbal altercation that some witnesses said almost came to blows, one patron allegedly told Carnes he was using his wheelchair “as an excuse.”
>
> In an interview with The Observer, however, the fan said Carnes and members of his party were equally abusive. And he denied making a remark about the Marine’s wheelchair.
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Wow. So why did the double-amputee vet get the boot (no pun intended) while “Tank” got to stay? If “Tank” is really the bad guy in this story (and not falsely made out to be one simply because the other guy involved is an amputee), why didn’t HE get kicked out too?
Owner said this:
> [@](#):
>
> Neilsen said he arrived at the restaurant after the group had left and was in the parking lot, talking to police.
>
> “I didn’t want them to leave,” he said of the Carnes-Coburn party, “but I understand why they left. I’m miserable. My heart hurts for them.”
>
> He said the trouble was caused by people who “are not regulars” at the restaurant and added that the fan was not welcome to return.
---
### Author:  [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/23 "2012-10-30T09:38:07Z")
OK for those that give a shit, since the OP apparently doesn’t have the ability to copy and paste a few lines of text much less state his own interpretation of the situation I will summarize:
Some douchenozzle named “tank” ([Exhibit A](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gse1YKBqLac/UImh76d84tI/AAAAAAAAGk0/M-WmVZwLEuo/s1600/Josh+Watts+2.jpg)) harassed and verbally attacked a Marine and his family at a bar for wearing Dallas Cowboys T-shirts. The argument escalated and the bar employees told the Marine and his family to leave, citing a desire to keep the peace. This probably means they were scared of the fat drunken bastard and figured the marine would be more reasonable about being asked to leave.
The entire thing has backfired on them, their Yelp rating has been tanked by the angry public - down to 2 stars from 5 and falling, and they have deleted their Facebook page in shame as the torrent of negative comments overwhelmed them. The owner is making too-late efforts to ‘reach out’ to the marine and make things right, but chances are the bar will never recover from the outrage against them.
The guy, Josh Tank Watts, is under at least 50000 various online death threats. Some newspapers have actually redacted his name from their coverage of the story for fear that they will be sued if something happens to him. Notice [this story](http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Marine-who-lost-legs-is-forced-out-of-Charlotte-eatery--175758151.html#) now refers to him only as “the fan” instead of by his name. It was revealed that he works as a part time security guard for the NC Bobcats and Michael Jordan, an owner, has so far refused to buckle under public outcry to fire him.
So we’ve got a military hero, an assclown part time security guard and local big guy at the bar, a chicken shit bar owner, chicken shit reporters, and an ex ball player/team owner with very poor decision making skills.
The only one to retain any dignity at the end of this fuck story is the Marine.
Discuss.
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/24 "2012-10-30T09:44:06Z")
OK, in the interest of doing the OP’s work for him and getting the thread moving.
Josh “Tank” Watts is a fan of the Carolina Panthers (which is an NFL football team for those who don’t follow American sports). Watts was at a place called the Moosehead Grill in Charlotte, NC on the evening of October 21.
The Panthers played the Dallas Cowboys (in Charlotte) earlier on October 21 and lost to the Cowboys.
Garrett Carnes, a former Marine who lost his legs in Afghanistan, was also at the restaurant with his wife, their parents, and two friends. Some of the group, including Carnes, are apparently Cowboys fans and were wearing Cowboys jackets.
When the Carnes group had finished their meal and were leaving the restaurant, an argument over football started between Watts and Carnes (it’s not clear who started it, what was said, and who else was involved). It apparently was only a verbal argument. The final result was Carnes and his group were asked to leave. Watts was not asked to leave.
eta: ninja’d as I was writing this.
---
### Author:  [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/25 "2012-10-30T09:50:58Z")
This is the least interesting non story ever. Sorry.
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### Author:  [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/26 "2012-10-30T09:53:33Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#):
>
> This is the least interesting non story ever. Sorry.
As far as RO stories go it’s got it all. Go fuck a paper towel tube.
---
### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/27 "2012-10-30T09:56:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> eta: ninja’d as I was writing this.
Ya’ see OP? Ya’ see what you went and did?
You got **Little Nemo** ninja’d!!
Curse you!
/levity
---
### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/28 "2012-10-30T11:59:07Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#):
>
> their Yelp rating has been tanked by the angry public
I see what you did there.
---
### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/29 "2012-10-30T12:14:44Z")
> [@wedgehed](#):
>
> I thought this was the smart message board.
>
> Take your fucking index finger out of your nose (or ass) & click on the top few links.
Great, yet another October… hmm. 2009. Odd.
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### Author:  [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/30 "2012-10-30T12:19:04Z")
Ignoring the whole wheelchair/veteran angle:
> [@](#):
>
> “Moosehead is a Panthers’ bar,” he said. “When they came, wearing the Cowboys’ jerseys, I started up on them. I asked them if they were Cowboys fans who lived in North Carolina.”
>
> “I’m not going to fight someone in a wheelchair,” the fan said. “I said to him, ‘I’m not fighting you. Get four of your boys, and I’ll fight them.’ “
What the fuck is wrong with some people? I don’t understand this “team loyalty=must physically assault those different from me” type mentality.
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### Author:  [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/31 "2012-10-30T13:23:45Z")
> [@stpauler](#):
>
> Ignoring the whole wheelchair/veteran angle:
If only everyone would, as both are completely irrelevant.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/32 "2012-10-30T13:38:09Z")
His girlfriend’s pretty hot.
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### Author:  [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/33 "2012-10-30T15:15:34Z")
> [@stpauler](#):
>
> Ignoring the whole wheelchair/veteran angle:
>
> What the fuck is wrong with some people? I don’t understand this “team loyalty=must physically assault those different from me” type mentality.
That’s because your probably a wussie Vikings fan.
Yes folks, that’s sarcasm.
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/34 "2012-10-30T16:02:01Z")
> [@wedgehed](#):
>
> Take your fucking index finger out of your nose (or ass)
If it weren’t in the latter, I wouldn’t need to do the former.
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### Author:  [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/35 "2012-10-30T16:55:08Z")
So a vet trolled a bunch of drunken lunkheads. Got it.
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/36 "2012-10-30T17:51:09Z")
Okay, to begin with, I object to being characterized as a drunken lunkhead. Also, is it really valid to call someone a “vet” when they’ve only been a Doper for three years?
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### Author:  [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/37 "2012-10-30T18:06:42Z")
Sports fans acting like stupid louts? Say it isn’t so!
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/38 "2012-10-30T18:18:37Z")
I’m not much of a football fan, but if I was I’d be a Patriots fan. Last year I was in a bar in Jets country. A game was on with Jets versus Pats. It was a very important game. No effin way I was going to self-identify as a Pats fan or even a New Englander. I could definitely imagine the crowd there getting violent.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/39 "2012-10-30T18:29:37Z")
> [@tdn](#):
>
> I’m not much of a football fan, but if I was I’d be a Patriots fan. Last year I was in a bar in Jets country. A game was on with Jets versus Pats. It was a very important game. No effin way I was going to self-identify as a Pats fan or even a New Englander. I could definitely imagine the crowd there getting violent.
I can top that one. I went to a playoff game at Rich Stadium with a friend of mine. It was the Bills playing the Chiefs. Most people in the stadium were wearing Bills coats and hats. Some had traveled in and were wearing Chiefs coats and hats (the stadium had wisely created a visitors section).
My friend was wearing his Dallas Cowboys coat. When I questioned him about his choice of attire, he said it was a cold day and he picked that coat because it was warm. I told him he’d be even warmer if somebody set him on fire at half-time.
Fortunately for him, Buffalo won the game so the fans were in a mostly good mood and confined themselves to verbal taunts and throwing snowballs at my friend.
---
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-be-josh-tank-watts/639299/40 "2012-10-30T18:42:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> His girlfriend’s pretty hot.
She should be - she cost enough.
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