Pilot Pete -
Thanks for making me realize that I hadn't thought it through all the way. My mind in neutral - maybe the same as the event we are talking about.
ADD ground crew mistake to the above list.
However - if I was the tug driver and my ground crew chief gave the Capt. a "clear to taxi" while I was still too close, me and the ground crew boss would have very very serious words. Like maybe wrapping the headset cord around his neck tightly!