Nigeria Ousts 3 ‘Born-Again’ U.S. Athletes : Tennis Player ‘Saw Jesus,’ Leaps From Hotel

Three American tennis players were put on a plane out of Nigeria after one of them jumped out of a second-floor hotel room window shouting that he could see Jesus, the U.S. Embassy in Lagos reported today.

An official at the embassy said the three players, described as professionals who rank in the 300s in world standings, were reading the Bible in the Ikoyi Hotel in Lagos when the incident occurred.

The official identified the man who jumped out the window as Jimmy Gurfein, 24, of New York. Gurfein suffered cuts and bruises.

The three tennis players, who described themselves as “born-again” Christians, told embassy officials that they all saw God during an intense Bible-reading session that ended with their destroying their passports, cash and possessions before Gurfein jumped.

The other men were identified as Morris (Skip) Strode, 26, of San Diego and Bud Cox, 26, of Atlanta.

The three men met with the U.S. Embassy doctor, who advised them to seek medical help on their return to the United States. They then were put on a plane bound for London.