NCAAbbs

Eh, it didn't really become a race issue until certain Blazertalk posters lived up to their undying tendency to label any black man who gets arrested as a "thug."

Smaug Wrote:Let's be careful with the generalizations, please.

My brother is one of Birmingham's Finest, and an honorable man.

I thought a generalization was all inclusive.

One blue bird doesn't make ALL birds blue, neither does corrupt cops mean ALL cops are corrupt. But to assume no cops are corrupt is as wise as saying no birds are blue.

Jaymay, don't try to figure that out, it could be a little confusing.

Can we please stop with all the stupid racist/not racist comments? For the love, we are talking about deeper issues on this thread in terms of what is the right thing to do.

Anyone, including me, that has watched Walter Sharpe practice knows he is by far the best basketball player on the team. He is the difference between a good versus great team. The last thing the coaches want to see happen is to lose a player of his caliber.

That being said, 58-56 makes a very compelling argument. I will also add this to the equation. WS asked XCMA if he could come to UAB and play. What I heard was XCMA took a pass! However, when MD got here, he worked to get him in school and on the team. Initially, I was shocked and thought MD had gotten through to him. This is apparently not the case. They have him on a very tight leash trying to motivate him to walk the path and go to school.

I think the coaches believe that he can change and become a good person and I am sure they really want him to, but I don't think WS wants to or even cares. Aside from the fact that if he would just work hard, study and do what the coaches ask for two years making him a first round draft pick in the NBA making millions of dollars financially taking care of himself for life, he self destructs and keeps making the same mistakes over and over. If you are Mike Davis, then do you give up on this kid and put him back on the street so he can get shot again or end up in prison for selling drugs! Do you take a chance on him, yet again, hoping some day he will mature and wise up to the reality called LIFE? Does WS choose to do the things he does because he doesn't think he can learn or have anything good in his life? I don't get it, but what do you do?

I hope the team will let this be a lesson or two. UAB basketball has been in the press, quite a bit in fact. The expectations of this team have not been this high since 10 seconds before Demario Eddins went down. And before that it was the early 90's with Kennedy, Bearden, Stamp, Wilkerson, Rembert, Ogg, Kramer & Rogers.

This team will have a bullseye on it from all angles. Maybe now they actually realize they have to keep their nose clean.

And we got lucky. This could have been a lot worse.

RBB Wrote:Can we please stop with all the stupid racist/not racist comments? For the love, we are talking about deeper issues on this thread in terms of what is the right thing to do.

Anyone, including me, that has watched Walter Sharpe practice knows he is by far the best basketball player on the team. He is the difference between a good versus great team. The last thing the coaches want to see happen is to lose a player of his caliber.

That being said, 58-56 makes a very compelling argument. I will also add this to the equation. WS asked XCMA if he could come to UAB and play. What I heard was XCMA took a pass! However, when MD got here, he worked to get him in school and on the team. Initially, I was shocked and thought MD had gotten through to him. This is apparently not the case. They have him on a very tight leash trying to motivate him to walk the path and go to school.

I think the coaches believe that he can change and become a good person and I am sure they really want him to, but I don't think WS wants to or even cares. Aside from the fact that if he would just work hard, study and do what the coaches ask for two years making him a first round draft pick in the NBA making millions of dollars financially taking care of himself for life, he self destructs and keeps making the same mistakes over and over. If you are Mike Davis, then do you give up on this kid and put him back on the street so he can get shot again or end up in prison for selling drugs! Do you take a chance on him, yet again, hoping some day he will mature and wise up to the reality called LIFE? Does WS choose to do the things he does because he doesn't think he can learn or have anything good in his life? I don't get it, but what do you do?

You make him know that since he was on an extra short leash to begin with, that he has to do extra to make it up. Same for Vaden. If Paul and Frank were there, they get punished too. You have to expect PD3, Frank & Vaden to be your team leaders. If it were my team I would force Sharpe to lead too.

Memphis Blazer Wrote:

UAB4EVER Wrote:I really find it amazing when someone over the age of 40, don't remember the levels the BPD can sink to. Maybe it's because they agreed with the tactics used by the BPD throughout their history.

Accusing me of agreeing with what the BPD did in the 60's? You do not know me at all and have no right to make such assumptions. You were the one who brought up race. You are now bringing up the argument that maybe the police picked on the players because they were black, and hell that is what the BPD has always done.

It does not matter if you are black or white, you are an A$$hole, and it is attitudes like yours that causes Birmingham to lag behind.

1. I didn't accuse you of anything. If it hit close to home with you then own it.

2. I don't you know and I'm thankful for it. But I do recall your attitude towards issues of race, based in previous discussions.

3.I offered theory just like everyone else her had done but instead of calling them players, thugs, or something to that affect, I called them what they are 5 young black men. You sir, brought up race.

4. I am black and my attitude doesn't keep B'ham down, it's people who wer around when it's reputation was being solidified and did nothing about it. I wasn't there. Were you?

5. I don't live in Birmingham.

6. If it wasn't for a$$holes like me, sh!t like you would continue to stink up the world.

I am all for Walter Sharpe getting a 2nd chance at UAB. They got in trouble as a team and should be punished as a team. Chances are if he gets kicked off the team he will quit school and could get into far worse trouble. I would hate for that to happen. I couldn't care less if the team's punishment is made public or not. I have faith in MD that the situation will be handled.

The details of their punishment don't need to be made public. But, like 58-56 said, this was an extremely public infraction. The public needs to know they are being punished extensively, and appropriately, for their actions.

GoUABBlazers Wrote:I am all for Walter Sharpe getting a 2nd chance at UAB. They got in trouble as a team and should be punished as a team. Chances are if he gets kicked off the team he will quit school and could get into far worse trouble. I would hate for that to happen. I couldn't care less if the team's punishment is made public or not. I have faith in MD that the situation will be handled.

How many second chances does a person get. He was given a second chance when he was given a scholarship. I have heard that he was told he would be on a tight leash. Then, it has been reported earlier that he was kept out of practice for a period of time as punishment for not going to class. Now this.

At one point does Davis say "No more second and third chances" His talent level is not at issue here. If that was important, then nothing should be done at all.

I'm not saying he should be kicked off the team, because it is not my decision to make. But his talent level should not be a factor in the decision.

UAB4EVER Wrote:

Smaug Wrote:Let's be careful with the generalizations, please.

My brother is one of Birmingham's Finest, and an honorable man.

I thought a generalization was all inclusive.

One blue bird doesn't make ALL birds blue, neither does corrupt cops mean ALL cops are corrupt. But to assume no cops are corrupt is as wise as saying no birds are blue.

I refer you, sir, to comments of yours in another thread on this very subject:

Quote:As for the birmingham finest comment, please, give me freaking break. Look at the history of that department and if it's the finest, I hate to see the worst.

6. If it wasn't for a$$holes like me, sh!t like you would continue to stink up the world.
[/quote]

Good Grief!

Well, to make things even, Memphis basketball players Jeff Robinson and Shawn Taggart were arrested last night for disorderly conduct and inciting a riot.

Since Toney is not eligible until the Kentucky game, does that mean he will probably miss it?

Smaug Wrote:

UAB4EVER Wrote:

Smaug Wrote:Let's be careful with the generalizations, please.

My brother is one of Birmingham's Finest, and an honorable man.

I thought a generalization was all inclusive.

One blue bird doesn't make ALL birds blue, neither does corrupt cops mean ALL cops are corrupt. But to assume no cops are corrupt is as wise as saying no birds are blue.

I refer you, sir, to comments of yours in another thread on this very subject:

Quote:As for the birmingham finest comment, please, give me freaking break. Look at the history of that department and if it's the finest, I hate to see the worst.

Are you serious? You can't tell this is not general statement about individuals but rather a collective critisism of a police department. Dude, you're grasping for straws.

You guys are entitled to your opinions and I am entitled to mine.

Simply put, I root for UAB and don't want anything but the best for the entire University.

But, I root for people more and don't want anything but the for us as humans.

1. The immediate reaction of most on this board was a negative attitude towards the kids. Forgetting that they are indeed kids.

2. If there is a such thing as a UAB family, then why are we so eagered to throw them under the bus. Sure they got involved in a stupid situation but that doesn't automatically condem them to a life of thuggary.

3. If you truly want to send a message to them, show them how to own up to there mistakes and overcome. But to do that sometimes requires more compassion, empathy, and sympothy than we are willing to give. Judge the way you want to be judged and give what you want to be given in same situation. Most of us, if someone heard something negative about you, you would want people to reserve judgement until they hear your side.

4. I may have been a little stern in my replies to my original post but I will always pray for the positive before submitting to the negative. I will always defend my position. I will always look for the good in others even when I've seen the bad. I will always use the past to see how it affects the present. Just because we don't know history, or choose to forget it, doesn't minimize it's affect on current events.

With all my soul, mind, body and strenth.
Neighbor as myself.
Family
God bless the USA!
GO BLAZERS!

READ THIS PUBLIC WARNING

I am one click away from locking this thread and moving it to the graveyard. DROP THE RACE ISSUE NOW! If you want to slam on people, go to the smack forum, keep it out of here. Do not respond to other posters in this thread. Yes, we do tend to stray from time to time and I am just as guilty but this is out of hand. I don't want to come in here to read about the arrests and see references to the Birmingham Police of two generations ago.

We have received a complaint about this thread already and if it doesn't get back on track soon, it will be locked.

BTR Wrote:READ THIS PUBLIC WARNING

I am one click away from locking this thread and moving it to the graveyard. DROP THE RACE ISSUE NOW! If you want to slam on people, go to the smack forum, keep it out of here. Do not respond to other posters in this thread. Yes, we do tend to stray from time to time and I am just as guilty but this is out of hand. I don't want to come in here to read about the arrests and see references to the Birmingham Police of two generations ago.

We have received a complaint about this thread already and if it doesn't get back on track soon, it will be locked.

+100

BTR Wrote:READ THIS PUBLIC WARNING

I am one click away from locking this thread and moving it to the graveyard. DROP THE RACE ISSUE NOW! If you want to slam on people, go to the smack forum, keep it out of here. Do not respond to other posters in this thread. Yes, we do tend to stray from time to time and I am just as guilty but this is out of hand. I don't want to come in here to read about the arrests and see references to the Birmingham Police of two generations ago.

We have received a complaint about this thread already and if it doesn't get back on track soon, it will be locked.

1. Should have been locked once the character the players were attacked. Where was your moral standard then?

2. Can't talk arrest without discussing the cops involved.

3. The ones who complained are more than likely the ones who twisted the conversation in the first place.

4. Opps, I challenged authority, should not have done that. I should have stayed in my place huh.

Before I get banned- I just like to say I resign from this board. I can't associate with such hypocracy.

They good enough to entertain you, just as long as they behave themselves. They get nothing in return but cheers when they do good on the field of play and jeered as soon as they make a mistake. Celebrated when they sign,crucified if they go astray, exchanged once they are used up. Seems similar to another institution.

UAB4EVER Wrote:Before I get banned- I just like to say I resign from this board. I can't associate with such hypocracy.

Best UAB news all weekend.

Well I am sick of it and I am locking it and sending it to the graveyard to die.......