UPDATE: Former Baraboo Basketball Star Hurt in Bar Fight
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UPDATE: Former Baraboo Basketball Star Hurt in Bar Fight
UPDATE: A man accused of punching a former University of Wisconsin basketball player in the head, critically injuring him, has been ordered to stand trial.
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UPDATED Tuesday, November 8, 2009 --- 3:17 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A man accused of punching a former University of Wisconsin basketball player in the head, critically injuring him, has been ordered to stand trial.

Twenty-four-year-old Sean Longabaugh of Lake Villa, Ill., faces a felony charge of aggravated battery. He's accused of punching Darin Schubring in the head on Halloween at the Main Depot.

A witness testified Tuesday that Longabaugh blindsided Schubring with a blow to the left temple, then punched him again as he lie motionless.

Longabaugh did not testify. His attorneys called no witnesses.

The complaint says that as of Nov. 3, the 42-year-old Schubring was unable to breathe on his own. On Nov. 17, he was in good condition at UW Hospital. No further information was available Tuesday.

Schubring is a Baraboo native. He played basketball at Wisconsin from 1986 to 1989 and played professionally in Europe.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 4:00 p.m.

The man who police say sucker punched a former UW basketball player sending him to the hospital, has been release on a signature bond.

"I still can't believe it happened," said Rob Andringa. "To be here kind of helps me move forward with it."

Andringa came to court Thursday morning to support his friend and co-worker Darin Schubring.

"I've known Darin for over 20 years."

But his friend wasn't even there. In fact, he hasn't left the hospital for the past two weeks.

The incident happened on Halloween night at the Main Depot. And according to the criminal complaint witnesses said the suspect was acting very drunk. And the victim was handling it very well.

"The gentleman had been in here earlier in the night acting like a total moron basically."

Amanda Seeberger was at the bar that night. After confronting the suspect about his rude behavior, she went downstairs to change a keg. When she came back up the 42-year-old Schubring was on the ground and a crowd had formed around him.

"He was laid flat out and he had blood coming out of his mouth," said Seeberger.

According to the complaint 24-year-old Sean Longabaugh of Illinois sucker punched Schubring in the head as he sat at the bar. Witnesses say Schubring was calm trying to deal with a supposedly drunk Longabaugh when he was attacked.

"I couldn't believe it," added Seeberger. "I was completely shocked. Darin is a very nice guy. He's not a fighter basically. He's a laid back guy. For this guy to basically blind side him is very frustrating."

And what is also frustrating to Amanda, and many others we spoke with, is that the suspect, received a signature bond, and is currently walking the streets.

Stated Seeberger, "That is ridiculous, cause he's thinking he got off a lot easier. He should of had a bond and he should have sat in jail."

"We're just hopeful he recovers and we can kind of put this behind us and the person who did this is taken to justice," said Andringa.

A doctor at the UW that examined Schubring said he suffered two large brain contusions from the punch.

Andringa said Schubring is doing much better than when he first went to the hospital. But, the road to recovery will be a long one.
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UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 11:37 a.m.

A man charged with punching a former UW Basketball player appeared in Dane County Court this morning.

Sean Longabaugh of Illinois allegedly hit Darin Schubring in a Madison bar on Halloween. Schubring was in critical condition but has since improved.

Longabaugh was given a signature bond today and ordered not to contact the victim, victim's family or any witnesses. He cannot consume any alcohol and cannot return to the scene of the incident. A preliminary hearing will be set within the next 20 days.

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Posted Tuesday, November 10, 2009 --- 4:33 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A former Baraboo High School basketball star remains in critical condition after being punched in a Madison bar on Halloween by a man dressed as a flying monkey.

A spokeswoman for the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison says Tuesday that 42-year-old Darin Schubring is critical but stable condition. She had no other details.

Schubring's father, John Schubring of Baraboo, says his son was trying to calm the man in the Wizard of Oz costume before he was struck on the temple, fell and hit his head.

A police spokesman says the detective on the case expects to make an arrest.

The 6-foot-10 Darin Schubring led the Thunderbirds to a 22-0 record and their first state tournament appearance in 33 years during his junior year. He went on to play at the University of Wisconsin and professionally in Europe.

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Information from: Baraboo News Republic, http://www.wiscnews.com/bnr

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


Latest Comments

Posted by: Beth Location: Madison on Nov 20, 2009 at 02:53 PM

Can someone explain to me what the significance is of this person being a former High School basketball star..and also a former UW basketball player I mean would it be less of a story if he weren't??? I think it would be awful not matter WHO the person was
Posted by: lucy Location: monroe on Nov 20, 2009 at 11:35 AM

This Sean had just been arrested 2 weeks before this incident for disorderly conduct (check out WI court system records). Sounds like a real fine citizen.. He has an address that makes you think money isn't an object - fines most likely won't stop him from this behavior again..
Posted by: Devin Location: Dane County on Nov 20, 2009 at 07:50 AM

First of all Sam and P you two have to go to OZ to find a brain. I'm in awe the courts have released someone on signature bond, from another state, for an intentional act of harmful negligence. He should be sitting in jail on a charge of wrongful or criminal harmdoing.
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