"Off the Court Trouble"

[Voodoo Child]

The older I get, the more I disagree with the media jumping all over the player for going 70 mph in a 65 mph zone. The way that fans seem to jump all over players with minor legal trouble is ridiculous.

So I ask, have we gone to far as a society, to the point where we can't let these athletes live in peace?

I remember a few days ago Joakim Noah (who I really don't care for as a person nor a player) was arrested for an open container of alcohol and a tiny amount of bud, then he was booked on speeding, and both incidents caused conversation about "character," etc. on this board. Then tonight I'm browsing the net and somehow stumble on Mateen Cleaves' wikipedia page, where they have a section for "off-court trouble" that includes having an open container of alcohol and speeding 15 mph over the speeding limit. Is that really "off-court trouble"?

It just seems to me that we villianize these athletes too much. Maybe it's a racial thing, or maybe it's the type of thing where we like to idealize these players; we like to believe they're special and in a class above ours. Over the years though, growing up playing major HS and AAU ball, and having played with several high profile NBA, future NBA, NCAA, and well-known HS players, I know that everyone who plays basketball is just as human as you or me and even if they don't like to drink, smoke, and party (which most of them do), they still often fall victim to the minutia of U.S. law, like speeding tickets, disorderly conduct, etc.

It just makes me sick that as the sports-watching sector of America, we have drifted into treating our athletes just like America treats their celebrities these days. Let's just not overreact at minor, human activities and mistakes. Anyone agree it's getting a little out of hand?

 

[Chutney]

Oh, there's no doubt. I think what annoys me more than the intense spotlight we place on athletes is the higher standard we feel they should live up to. Noah gets a minor speeding ticket and suddenly he's a bad character, as if none of us have ever gotten a speeding ticket in our lives. Villify the athletes who commit truly terrible crimes (eg: Leonard Little), not the ones who make the same dumbass mistakes we all do.

 

[Lavalamp]

A lot of it is also the way the media makes a big deal of it in itself, and the franchise has to publicly react to it and to say we do not condone such and such an action, he will be fined x$, because they want to say we don't want our players out their with unlicensed guns or being drunk and watching porn and masterbating and driving without a license and crashing into an SUV.

The league just wants to have a certain image and feels that it can make the most money with it"s players staying out of trouble, so the league will fine players to try to have them think twice about doing it. I do not really care if a player goes over the speed limit by 5 mph, or if he got drunk on the weekend, or if he underfeeds his dog.

But if the player is say driving drunk, or is taking Steroids, or beating his wife or children, then I might change the way I look at the player.

 

[cpawfan]

I don't want to hear about speeding tickets or open container tickets. However, I expect possession of illegal drugs to be vilified. The players make too much money not to have a designated fall guy hang around with them to carry their weed.

Side note: who knew Voodoo spent his time searching for Mateen Cleaves porn?

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 5 2008, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oh, there's no doubt. I think what annoys me more than the intense spotlight we place on athletes is the higher standard we feel they should live up to. Noah gets a minor speeding ticket and suddenly he's a bad character, as if none of us have ever gotten a speeding ticket in our lives. Villify the athletes who commit truly terrible crimes (eg: Leonard Little), not the ones who make the same dumbass mistakes we all do.</div>
Not BG7. He stays at home and reads the bible.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 5 2008, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oh, there's no doubt. I think what annoys me more than the intense spotlight we place on athletes is the higher standard we feel they should live up to. Noah gets a minor speeding ticket and suddenly he's a bad character, as if none of us have ever gotten a speeding ticket in our lives. Villify the athletes who commit truly terrible crimes (eg: Leonard Little), not the ones who make the same dumbass mistakes we all do.</div>

58 in a 30! And damn proud of myself

What's not smart, though, is when a player gets in trouble for something (such as a DUI, MELO) and then goes and gets a ticket for speeding soon after. You'd think people would know well enough to chill out after getting in trouble for something, right?

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Voodoo Child @ Jun 5 2008, 08:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I remember a few days ago Joakim Noah (who I really don't care for as a person nor a player) was arrested for an open container of alcohol and a tiny amount of bud, then he was booked on speeding, and both incidents caused conversation about "character," etc. on this board. Then tonight I'm browsing the net and somehow stumble on Mateen Cleaves' wikipedia page, where they have a section for "off-court trouble" that includes having an open container of alcohol and speeding 15 mph over the speeding limit. Is that really "off-court trouble".</div>

It is off the court trouble. That's not the only thing that was in the section.

per wiki.
"As a Spartan, Cleaves faced misdemeanor charges stemming from an apparent shoplifting incident. Arrest warrants were issued naming Cleaves and teammate Antonio Smith in connection with the theft of a 40-ounce bottle of beer from a convenience store by East Lansing Police. Cleaves and Smith where charged with larceny of under $200. They were eventually cited and released. [1]

In February 1998, Cleaves was arrested by East Lansing police following a victory over Michigan. Cleaves spent the rest of the night in jail for refusing to take a breathalyser test and on suspicion of kicking a door at the apartment of a female acquaintance. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of having an open container of alcohol, and was placed in a six-month program for first-time offenders that allowed him to clear his record upon its completion. He was placed on probation for a year by team coach Tom Izzo.^[1]

As a NBA rookie, Cleaves was ticketed for speeding and driving with a suspended license. The player was driving 85 mph in a 70 mph zone Sunday morning on an interstate, and a routine check showed his license was suspended. The suspension was dropped once Cleaves paid the fines.^[2]"

You make it sound like it was the only thing included, but it's not.