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DEL.ICIO.USCollege players’ off-field conduct factoring into pro teams’ draft decisions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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While checking out the latest recruiting news, this headline from the July 1 edition of the Memphis Commercial Appeal grabbed our attention:
“Nets officials praise CDR’s character; No shady players on Jersey’s draft list”
Shady players? Color us intrigued. Here’s the gist of the article, spotlighting the Nets’ picks in the recent NBA draft:
“When New Jersey Nets president Rod Thorn introduced the team’s three new draft picks Monday, he praised the trio as much for their reputations off the court as their ability on it.
‘You always look for ability, but you also have to have character,’ Thorn said as he introduced first-round selections Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson and second-round pick Chris Douglas-Roberts. ‘That’s what we like about all three.’
In the past two years, the Nets gambled with first-round picks, taking Marcus Williams in 2006 and Sean Williams last year - players who had shady pasts and run-ins with the law during their college days at Connecticut and Boston College respectively.”
What’s your take? In light of this week’s stories regarding arrests of UGA football players and rape allegations against Tech footballer Jerrard Tarrant (suspended indefinitely from the team), we ask you how important off-the-field conduct should be when pro teams scout college players for drafting. Is it fair for pro teams to judge prospects based on personal conduct rather than playing stats? If you were a pro GM looking to draft, would a player’s character factor into your decisions?
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Comments
By BullDawg Rick
July 2, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
The professional teams are the ones doling out the jack.. They can set standards they wish..
Think of this: Team A drafts (trades for, obtains via FA, etc) a player & a shady player & gives a $15 mil signing bonus. Player goes to court for murder charges.. Comes out smelling like a rose (Ray Lewis)…
So really it’s up to the team…
There are very few “class” organizations in pro sports… You’re pressed to find individuals in the “class” area too… Tim Duncan is at the top of “CLASS”.. Cannot find anyone close to him…
By jc
July 2, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
most hockey plaers have tons of class
By Chris
July 2, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
I don’t go to or watch Pro sports. I pay to go to college sports because the money is spent on many of the players that will be in the business world. Pro sports and Politics are full of overpaid a**holes.
By Chris
July 2, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I don’t go to or watch Pro sports. I pay to go to college sports because the money is spent on many of the players that will be in the business world. Pro sports and Politics are full of overpaid a**holes.
By 82DAWG
July 2, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Should pros factor a player’s character into their decisions? Past performance is an indicator of future results. Do you think these guys who are “shady characters” while in college are suddenly going to be solid citizens with a $15 million dollar signing bonus?
By AJ
July 2, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
I think that there are a few times when a player gets into trouble in college where you can say that he was young and just doing what every college kid does. But when you start hearing about rape and felony convictions that is when you know that the kid might be a big risk.
By Dawg4Life
July 3, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this
You can look to Mike and Marcus Vick on this one… Although there is a huge difference between the Anderson/Sturdivant issue and that of Tarrant. The 2 UGA players, in this case, I believe will get off of their charges. Lemon, on the other hand, is in serious trouble. 82Dawg is right. If these kids have this sort of behavior when they are trying to “make it to the dance”. Especially when you are a preseason favorite to play for a NC. Then what are they going to be like once they have the means to do whatever they want?
By Jordan
July 3, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Three Words: Mic Hael Vick. Authur BLANKed that one!
By trent
July 4, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this
Come on, lets give these guys the benefit of the doubt. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Also, I just want to make a point. How many of you guys out there, have every thought, man, I want to rub that pregnant woman’s stomach, for some kind of gratification. I don’t know how pregnant she was, but my understanding was, in reading the stories, that they could tell, by what they said. If she was pregnant enough to show, I don’t know of any guy who would find it hot to rub a pregnant girls stomach. I don’t know the details, I’m just saying, lets give these guys the benefit of the doubt.
By SouthGARules
July 4, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
2 Words:Odell Thurman
By Paul
July 6, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
I don’t know Sturdivant, but Anderson is a good kid. I guarantee that this will be dropped-I fail to see the “assault” committed in this story.