I know I haven't posted in a while. Been overwhelmed with work and underwhelmed with most of the stories in sports.
As most of you know by now, BYU has suspended their top player for the rest of the season and the tournament. It surfaced today that it is because he broke the honor code, but having "relations" with his girlfriend.
http://http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6175090
At first glance, I was outraged that in this day and age a player could be punished for boning his girlfriend. I mean, this isn't "The Scarlet Letter" and Hester Prynne doesn't play small forward.
But, then I started thinking about the whole situation and started to reconsider. While I think its a fair bet to say my moral compass is at odds with BYU on a number of issues, and I would never attend that school, this Brandon Davies chose to go there. In attending that school and playing basketball, he knew what he was getting into. He knew this school was tough on these types of moral issues and had to know the consequences when he chose to attend.
Now, I'm not naive, freshmen ball players at other schools drink, which is a violation. That is true. However, I think BYU is different and Davies knew that. I'm still not even 100% convinced that is the right opinion either.
All in all, I think this is a VERY interesting story, and raises issues that really make you think.
Also, it is somewhat refreshing to hear about a player "getting in trouble" for this, and not for stealing a car, assaulting a woman, getting into a drunken fight, or even accepting gifts from boosters. Actually, refreshing isn't the right word, but its good to know there are some college athletes where even on their worst day, they aren't committing the criminal acts listed above.
I would be interested to hear what the rest of you think. In the words of Ned Flanders, "As melon-scratchers go, this one's a honey doodle."
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4 comments:
"Hester Prynne doesn't play small forward."
I understand that she originally went to BYU to play football, but was booted off the team when the coaches realized she was totally unfit to play Tight End.
Anyway, I have no problem with Davies' removal from the team. As you noted, Davies chose to attend this particular school and was well aware of the rules. According to the link below, he also considered going to other D-1 schools - some or all of which, I suspect, didn't have this rule.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/61285/brandon-davies
Or, put differently: see the video below, starting at the 9 second mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bs7EqlLiSs
Here's what I want to know: who ratted him out? How did the school find out that he violated the honor code by smashing out his girlfriend?
As far as the argument that he chose the school and knew what he was getting into, sure, I suppose that's true. But I still think it's a pretty harsh penalty.
From what I understand he told the team and basically confessed. Which I find quite interesting to see that he felt it on his conscious that he had to admit improper activities.
If he confessed then he's got no one to blame but himself.
Also, he's an idiot.
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