Servicemen express disappointment with XU & UC basketball players through a song posted on Youtube

CINCINNATI - The big fight between Xavier and University of Cincinnati basketball players Saturday during the Crosstown Shootout is not only grabbing headlines across the nation, it's inspired two military members to write a song called "UC vs. Xavier Fight."

The song asks players to consider the big picture that the game is just that a game.

WCPO became aware of the song after one of our Facebook friends, Tonya Wallace, posted a comment and a link to the song.

Wallace wrote, "My 23 year old nephew didn't sign an intent to play college ball, instead (he) signed to serve our country and left one month after graduation! He is serving overseas. After hearing of the basketball brawl, he put his thoughts in a song! Please check it out. YouTube.com. UC vs Xavier fight " song"! Take the time to listen! It's real life."

The song was uploaded by her nephew, 23-year-old Jason Smith of Norwood, Sunday with the following comment. It has since been removed from YouTube, but WCPO obtained a copy of it.

"This is a song myself, Chris Thiel, and Lee Bible wrote. Recorded by Matt Gray. It's about kids starting fights for no reason when their peers the same age are over in the war fighting when most of them don't want to but do it because they have courage. Starting fights for no reason on a basketball court is pointless."

Here is one verse of the song, "They don't realize kids their age are somewhere in a dangerous place. It's time for them to grow up. We've got boys and girls serving overseas fighting so we can be free."

UC graduate, Ernest Heyward, who ran track while in college, says he understands the competitive nature of a sport.

However, Heyward and other students agree with Smith that the players need to keep it all in perspective.

"They have no choice but to fight. If they don't fight, they'll get killed. Here if they fought, they have a choice to fight or not fight on that basketball court. If somebody hit you, you can turn away," Heyward said.

Heyward and UC student, Michelle Crowley, both say they believe the players should not face any charges, but they do hope they've learned a lesson.

"It's silly that we get in a fight on a court but really the other ones that's out there, they're putting their lives in danger and my heart goes out to them," Crowley said.