Michael Beasley is one stupid dude

[Roy Hobbs]

Here's what he tells the media in response to questions about his maturity / character:

"I hear a lot about I have 'character issues,' but I've yet to hear what those 'character issues' are," he said. "Until somebody can tell me what my 'character issues' are, I don't feel the need to change.

"I just turned 19 in January. How mature do you want me to be? I'm still a kid. I'm not legal. I can vote, but that's about it. On the basketball side of things, I'm 30 years old. Off the court ... I'm going to live my life. I'm going to mess up."

Link.

For those unfamiliar with Beasley's "character issues", they include:

Who knew that dead-rat-in-the-teacher's-desk prank was going to come back and bite him this late in the game?

There were more, of course. The graffiti contest with Ty Lawson at Oak Hill Academy was particularly noteworthy, with the piece de resistance being the ''mb-easy'' tag on the headmaster's car that got him booted from the prep school.

How does seven high schools in five states over five short years translate to the NBA?

http://www.miamiherald.com/1261/story/552881.html

More on his high school issues can be found here.

This kid sounds like a complete and utter moron.  I can see why the Heat aren't in love with him.

[2008champs]

To his credit, he has remained mature since leaving high school.  He was a clown in high school, but seems to have left that behind.

Doesn't change the fact that he's a tremendous basketball talent.

[BrickJames]

good, i hope he falls to #30

[Roy Hobbs]

Doesn't change the fact that he's a tremendous basketball talent.

Yes and no.  There are plenty of talented guys who do well despite not being the brightest bulb on the porch.  However, do you really want the building block of your franchise saying "I'm going to screw up", in relation to off-the-court activities?  Or saying he's going to "live his life"?

That shows a tremendous lack of maturity, as well as intelligence.  Those are the things you just don't say, even if you think you're going to continue to behave like an ass.  If I were the Bulls, there's no way I'd take this kid right now.  They already have Ty Thomas on the roster to fulfill their quota of "talented but immature morons".

[Chief]

I'm glad I was not an NBA caliber athlete at 19. They would have crucified me as well as most people posting on this blog for the sins of our youth.

[Who]

I could care less about these supposed character flaws. The guy is ultra-competitive, wants to win and works his socks off to get it done. Anybody who passes on him for character issues is foolish.

[jackson_34]

Has any of this immaturity shown up during a college game? If it had, he wouldn't be considered a top pick.

[celticjames24]

Ok come on now... first off how do you have any right to attack a kid on being stupid. Guess what, I'm 19 yrs old. A college student and I've done some stupid things in my life. Played some pranks, gotten in trouble at home. Yet I never did anything that could get me arrested, in trouble sure... but not that bad of trouble. And all these articles point to harmless pranks and jokes and games. Things kids are expected to do. Beasley has most definitely made the effort to step into a more professional mindset. But he is still a kid. And  everyone is a kid once and everyone does some stupid stuff. Hell even  adults do some pretty stupid things, more so than kids... considering the "heightened" maturity that adults are supposed to have.
Furthermore who cares if he says "Hey I'm going to let you know in advance, but I'm not perfect... I'm probably going to make another mistake in my lifetime" or "I'm going to live life to the fullest." Living life to the fullest is a concept that was long forgotten in our country. People generally do not fulfill their life dreams or goals, jeesh most people aren't even happy with what they are doing. So what if Beasley made some mistakes as a high schooler, get it over it. Who cares if he wants to make the most of life? I most certainly don't and I commend him for having the courage and honesty to stand up and say "I'm young and I'm not perfect"
And if you want to start bashing people... why don't you go after Joakim Noah for drinking in public and smoking pot. Or Josh Howard for admitting he smokes pot. Sure he was honest. But both players have done or are doing things that are ILLEGAL! Attack them for thinking they are above the law. Or attack the system for doing nothing or only giving high profiled people a slap on the wrist. Don't attack a kid admitting what he is... a kid.
Oh yeah and the Celtics had the chance to get him I'm sure everyone would be thrilled on this message board, myself included.

[jackson_34]

Has any of this immaturity shown up during a game? If it had, he wouldn't be considered a top pick. Seems like a top competitor.  

[Pawtucket Pat]

Are you serious, Roy? That's pretty weak for 'character issues'. I'm with Beasley 100%. The infractions you cite are very, very minor shenanigans, typical of a kid that age. Give the kid a break.

[Roy Hobbs]

Ok come on now... first off how do you have any right to attack a kid on being stupid. Guess what, I'm 19 yrs old. A college student and I've done some stupid things in my life. Played some pranks, gotten in trouble at home. Yet I never did anything that could get me arrested, in trouble sure... but not that bad of trouble. And all these articles point to harmless pranks and jokes and games. Things kids are expected to do.

What I find most stupid is his complete and utter failure to show any remorse or admit any culpability.  Also, he's very clear that he's not changing. 

This is the biggest job interview of his life, and he treats it like Ben Affleck's interview in Good Will Hunting.  "I'm still a kid"?  "I'm going to live my life"?  "I'm going to mess up"?  Anybody who says those things to a potential employer is mentally deficient.

The other stuff...  read the article.  When the best prep basketball school puts you on final-strike probation, you don't go out and tag the headmaster's car with graffiti two days later.  It would be one thing to chalk that up to a youthful mistake, but Beasley is pretty much promising that there's going to be more to come.

Living life to the fullest is a concept that was long forgotten in our country. People generally do not fulfill their life dreams or goals, jeesh most people aren't even happy with what they are doing. So what if Beasley made some mistakes as a high schooler, get it over it. Who cares if he wants to make the most of life? I most certainly don't and I commend him for having the courage and honesty to stand up and say "I'm young and I'm not perfect"

"Living life to the fullest"?  That's fine if you're some 19 year old college student, but when you have a guaranteed multi-million contract riding on your behavior, you'd think you'd be intelligent enough to show a little discretion, at least until you're drafted.

And if you want to start bashing people... why don't you go after Joakim Noah for drinking in public and smoking pot. Or Josh Howard for admitting he smokes pot. Sure he was honest. But both players have done or are doing things that are ILLEGAL! Attack them for thinking they are above the law. Or attack the system for doing nothing or only giving high profiled people a slap on the wrist. Don't attack a kid admitting what he is... a kid.

First, what Beasley did is illegal, as well.  Second, because I don't call out every player in the league who screws up, I can't call any of them out?  That's some pretty weak logic.

Beasley has a millionaire's talent and a pauper's brain, apparently.  I can't think of too many players who have taken that combination and turned it into superstardom.

Has any of this immaturity shown up during a college game? If it had, he wouldn't be considered a top pick.

Beasley will be a top-three pick because he's tremendously talented, and teams can't afford to pass on that type of talent.  Plenty of guys with poor intelligence and/or character are top picks; they just rarely become superstars.

Hopefully, Beasley finds some strong advisers who get through to him, and teach him he needs to develop not only his game, but his maturity.  If he doesn't, there's a strong chance that he never reaches his full potential.

[PerkinsERA43]

Ok come on now... first off how do you have any right to attack a kid on being stupid. Guess what, I'm 19 yrs old. A college student and I've done some stupid things in my life. Played some pranks, gotten in trouble at home. Yet I never did anything that could get me arrested, in trouble sure... but not that bad of trouble. And all these articles point to harmless pranks and jokes and games. Things kids are expected to do.

What I find most stupid is his complete and utter failure to show any remorse or admit any culpability.  Also, he's very clear that he's not changing. 

This is the biggest job interview of his life, and he treats it like Ben Affleck's interview in Good Will Hunting.  "I'm still a kid"?  "I'm going to live my life"?  "I'm going to mess up"?  Anybody who says those things to a potential employer is mentally deficient.

The other stuff...  read the article.  When the best prep basketball school puts you on final-strike probation, you don't go out and tag the headmaster's car with graffiti two days later.  It would be one thing to chalk that up to a youthful mistake, but Beasley is pretty much promising that there's going to be more to come.

Living life to the fullest is a concept that was long forgotten in our country. People generally do not fulfill their life dreams or goals, jeesh most people aren't even happy with what they are doing. So what if Beasley made some mistakes as a high schooler, get it over it. Who cares if he wants to make the most of life? I most certainly don't and I commend him for having the courage and honesty to stand up and say "I'm young and I'm not perfect"

"Living life to the fullest"?  That's fine if you're some 19 year old college student, but when you have a guaranteed multi-million contract riding on your behavior, you'd think you'd be intelligent enough to show a little discretion, at least until you're drafted.

And if you want to start bashing people... why don't you go after Joakim Noah for drinking in public and smoking pot. Or Josh Howard for admitting he smokes pot. Sure he was honest. But both players have done or are doing things that are ILLEGAL! Attack them for thinking they are above the law. Or attack the system for doing nothing or only giving high profiled people a slap on the wrist. Don't attack a kid admitting what he is... a kid.

First, what Beasley did is illegal, as well.  Second, because I don't call out every player in the league who screws up, I can't call any of them out?  That's some pretty weak logic.

Beasley has a millionaire's talent and a pauper's brain, apparently.  I can't think of too many players who have taken that combination and turned it into superstardom.

Has any of this immaturity shown up during a college game? If it had, he wouldn't be considered a top pick.

Beasley will be a top-three pick because he's tremendously talented, and teams can't afford to pass on that type of talent.  Plenty of guys with poor intelligence and/or character are top picks; they just rarely become superstars.

Hopefully, Beasley finds some strong advisers who get through to him, and teach him he needs to develop not only his game, but his maturity.  If he doesn't, there's a strong chance that he never reaches his full potential.

there is a difference between smoking weed and tagging a car. They are both technically illegal, but heck, graffiti won't even get you suspended from some schools. Some infractions are far more serious than others, and I feel as though as if you are not recognizing that.

I don't believe Beasley's honesty is a sign of stupidity, either. I severely doubt that he will drop past 2, regardless of what he says or does in the upcoming weeks (barring something really major). He is not hurting his draft stock very much, or even at all, and he is simply acknowledging that he is human. Nothing wrong with that.

[Roy Hobbs]

there is a difference between smoking weed and tagging a car. They are both technically illegal, but heck, graffiti won't even get you suspended from some schools. Some infractions are far more serious than others, and I feel as though as if you are not recognizing that.

While I won't get into the politics of it, one is seen as a "victimless crime", while the other creates thousands of dollars worth of property damage for others to pay for. 

I don't believe Beasley's honesty is a sign of stupidity, either. I severely doubt that he will drop past 2, regardless of what he says or does in the upcoming weeks (barring something really major). He is not hurting his draft stock very much, or even at all, and he is simply acknowledging that he is human. Nothing wrong with that.

The kid is irresponsible and immature, at the very least.  Of course his honesty is a sign of stupidity, because he's potentially costing himself millions of dollars, even if the drop is only from #1 to #2.

Interviewer: "We love you, but we're a little concerned about some of the past youthful shenanigans you displayed in high school.  Any reason we should be concerned?"

Interviewee: "Absolutely you should be concerned.  I'm going to live my life, and that means making more mistakes.  And plus, those things you thought were a character flaw?  I don't know what you're talking about.  Nothing wrong with what I did at all".

Everybody seems to think that I'm getting hung up on the character issues.  Those aren't the things I'm labeling as stupid, though.  It's the whole "I didn't do anything wrong, and I'm probably going to do it again" attitude that concerns me, and makes me question him.  Maybe you guys don't consider that a big deal, but it absolutely is a sign that this kid isn't the most mature or intelligent individual on the planet.

[2008champs]

We can't deny that he's done dumb immature things in the past.  But we can't turn our backs on the attempts he's made to show he's maturing either.  That's what I want to see--improvements and what he's doing now.

[Bahku]

His behavior and attitude remind me very much of Ron Artest, and that alone is enough for me to want to stay clear of this kid. Sorry, but the positives just don't outweigh the questions .... not right now, anyway. He's done and said very little of late to demonstrate that his attitude and immaturity have improved to an acceptable level. Just my opinion, but this kid makes me nervous, and this kind of player, that needs to be nursed and handled with kid gloves, is the wrong kind of energy to add to any successful franchise.