SIAP: Andre Smith Character Issues???
- Thread starter peteswell4
- Start date
You know, there are a lot of angles to a situation like those involving Andre Smith and Antonio Langham.
I have found that the Bama Nation is sort of like a Church, and that when some revered, productive member of the Church does something that does not come up to the level of his overall performance, the Church graciously allows this servant to gracefully resume his career, and wishes him well, without much fanfare.
These are 21 or 22-year olds, who had recently starred at Alabama, and who at the time did not fully realize the impact of what "went down" concerning them. Therefore, how could they respond articulately and comprehensively, from their youthful perspectives?
I for one have not forgotten the ten wins Bama forfeited in 1993 and how that dropped us below Texas, from number three to number four, in the all-time win-column, and how we have never really recovered from that.
But I am also grateful to the Bama Nation for being the gracious lot that they are, because I think that this maturity on the part of the administration and fans is one reason Tuscaloosa is such a special place, where apparently any coach can win ten games in a season -- and a great coach can win more than that.
If I had my druthers, the great ones would all come back for their senior season, like Antoine Caldwell or Shaun Alexander did. And if they chose not to, I would like to hear them stand up and explain in detail why they didn't. But then again, I am part of the Bama Nation, and I should know better.
I have found that the Bama Nation is sort of like a Church, and that when some revered, productive member of the Church does something that does not come up to the level of his overall performance, the Church graciously allows this servant to gracefully resume his career, and wishes him well, without much fanfare.
These are 21 or 22-year olds, who had recently starred at Alabama, and who at the time did not fully realize the impact of what "went down" concerning them. Therefore, how could they respond articulately and comprehensively, from their youthful perspectives?
I for one have not forgotten the ten wins Bama forfeited in 1993 and how that dropped us below Texas, from number three to number four, in the all-time win-column, and how we have never really recovered from that.
But I am also grateful to the Bama Nation for being the gracious lot that they are, because I think that this maturity on the part of the administration and fans is one reason Tuscaloosa is such a special place, where apparently any coach can win ten games in a season -- and a great coach can win more than that.
If I had my druthers, the great ones would all come back for their senior season, like Antoine Caldwell or Shaun Alexander did. And if they chose not to, I would like to hear them stand up and explain in detail why they didn't. But then again, I am part of the Bama Nation, and I should know better.
Well, I'll never blame Langham because, when he sobered up and confessed, the PTB above him decided they could sweep it under the rug because we were "Bama." Also, I'll never blame a poor kid for playing hard his three years and taking his millions. Sorry if that bothers you...
Exactly on Langham. It's not like he ran onto the field out of the stands to play, or tried to hide what he did. He came clean immediately after it happened, and he only played because he was told by the powers that be that he would have no eligibility concerns.
Had we been strict on him, he wouldn't have caused any trouble. He would have just put his name in the NFL Draft, gotten out of the contract with the agent in question, shopped around a good agent, and would have still been a first round pick. He wasn't really doing anything wrong, it was the "agent" that really caused the whole fiasco, and it was our compliance regime that let it get blown way out of proportion.
Big whoop, the kid went out and got drunk on Bourbon Street after winning the national title... good grief, I did the same thing and all I did was watch the game. I don't blame him for any of that.
And for Andre or any other elite prospect, you'd be an idiot to come back as a senior. You can get 20-40 million dollars, guaranteed, just by signing your name on a dotted line. There is no senior season in college football, regardless of how well it may go, that is worth risking that amount of money.
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Getting suspeneded for the Sugar Bowl by Coach Nick Saban does raise some flags to some owners and GMs. Not Al Davis or Jerry Glanville, of course, but to some. It has an air of putting self before your teammates and not doing your job and not performing to your highest level of character. It's like someone once told me, "character is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."
What was the last major headline involving an NBA player getting into trouble? Off the top of my head I can't think of anything. Meanwhile in the NFL the obvious one is Vick, and baseball has the steroids scandal that is now heating back up.
I just think the NBA gets a bum rap sometimes.
I'm glad to see you say that Earle. I've always felt the same but my 'Bama friends didn't! Some still don't.
As character issues go, Andre probably has fewer than many other people, but don't be naive to believe he has none. Everyone, yes every single human being on Earth, has character issues at some point...no one is perfect. And by the way, from what little I know, I assume Andre's issues are on the manageable end of the spectrum.
Regarding the NFL, I applaud those teams that attempt to understand how a potential player's issues might impact the team. I am also a little surprised at the level of NFL-bashing going on. Football is a violent sport and tends to attract and breed violence...football has never ever been known as a "gentleman's" sport. Furthermore, we urge the talented 20 year olds to take their millions and run. What do you expect to happen when you breed violence and then throw millions at kids who typically have no experience with handling a material amount of money? Given what the NFL has to manage, I think the league does a reasonably good job...in my mind, it's one of the best professional sports out there.
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Regarding the NFL, I applaud those teams that attempt to understand how a potential player's issues might impact the team. I am also a little surprised at the level of NFL-bashing going on. Football is a violent sport and tends to attract and breed violence...football has never ever been known as a "gentleman's" sport. Furthermore, we urge the talented 20 year olds to take their millions and run. What do you expect to happen when you breed violence and then throw millions at kids who typically have no experience with handling a material amount of money? Given what the NFL has to manage, I think the league does a reasonably good job...in my mind, it's one of the best professional sports out there.
I wouldn't call Shaun an idiot. Some think there is more to life than how much how soon.
Kobe Bryant
Ron Artest
Jason (and Jayson) Williams
The "Jail Blazers"
off the top of my head.
There have been many DUIs, marijuana possession (Carmelo's friend put it in his backpack...), and assault/battery ([url]http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2005/07/nba-players-that-get-in-trouble-with_20.html[/URL]).
Also, given the fact that there are significantly fewer players in the NBA than in the NFL, and I think the NBA's reputation is rightly deserved.
They might have fewer "scandals", I don't know, but the percentage of players who get in trouble with the law has to be at least close to equal to other sports.
Actually, I think the NFL has much more problem players than the NBA. Ron Artest might get in fights during a game, but he does not do anything that is illegal. With the NFL you have players with gun stockpiles (Tank Johnson), murder trials (Rae Carruth), dog fighting (Michael VIck), shootings at strip clubs (Pacman). I don't think you have near as much as this in the NBA, just like you hear about college football players getting in more trouble than college basketball players. The Kobe deal was complete crap and Jayson Williams was not convicted either. I am not saying they are choir boys, but far more NFL players get in legal trouble. Honestly, I think people act like the NBA is filled with thugs because you can see their tattoos and can see them argue with one another because they are not wearing helmets.
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LOL I agree with that totally. I know it's supposed to be a league of professionalism, but it's also an arena of entertainment. Fans want to see intensity ... they wants to see arguments ... they want to see emotion. The one thing that fans forget is that they argue ... the argue with the refs, opposing players, and their own fans. Just the nature of the game pretty much.
In competition, there's going to be some type of strife and arguments. And unfortunately, there are going to be people with "character issues". Mainly because one or two people decide to label that person that way.
The person can be argumentave and they are labeled as a person with character issues, they can be opinionated and be labeled with character issues ... at the same time, a different player can sell drugs on the side and be even labeled as a person with character issuses.
Saying all that to say that the term "character issues" is truly subjective.
Someone can turn around and say Tiger Woods has character issues because of his confidence if they spin it right lol
I do not know what happened to get Andre sent home from the Sugar Bowl. IMO he knew what it was as much as anyone in his family. I have no problem with any player taking the money after 3 years, if he can get it. One thing that burns me up is, there were players all across the country playing for other teams that played their bowl games. They knew they were not going to be back next year. They knew they could get hurt. They knew there were millions of dollars involved. They knew they would be drafted. They were not self centered. They did not let their team down. They enjoyed playing and wanted to play.
Andre was a selfish, self centered person after 3 years of a stellar career that is now and (as far as I'm concerned) is tarnished. I do NOT wish him well.
Andre was a selfish, self centered person after 3 years of a stellar career that is now and (as far as I'm concerned) is tarnished. I do NOT wish him well.
Do you have any links to these mock drafts? I don't doubt your word. I would just like to see who it's coming from.
If this is coming from someone reputable that would concern me. These guys don't get paid to get it wrong.
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