Greg Oden arrested for assault

[HomerSapien]

I'd still sign him. This doesn't change my opinion of the value he may have on the basketball court. Sounds like he's accepting of the consequences of his actions on this particular matter.

[Beat LA]

Well, so much for this Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline..  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

[Jiri Welsch]

Well, so much for this ****.  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

I think people deserve second chances, depending on the severity of the situation. I don't think Sully or Oden should be written off forever because of their incidents. Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston. Sully seems to have been forgiven as well. I think a big part of it is owning up to the mistake.

Second, I don't think we should add another center. With Bass, Fav, and Anthony in the mix we have enough bodies getting in the way of Sully and Olynyk's minutes. Save the PT for guys we actually want to develop.

[fitzhickey]

Let's not be hypocrite about this because Sully is still on our team and we're still rooting for him.  The difference is the only dumb thing I see here.  Sully was already on a team, Ogden is not.  With his career already in the toilet, he may have flushed it down with this one.  In all honesty, I'd still sign him.

I may not be informed well enough to comment, but didn't Sully just hold her down? whereas Oden full on punched her in the face, leaving cuts and swelling.

[jaketwice]

Well, so much for this ****.  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

I think people deserve second chances, depending on the severity of the situation. I don't think Sully or Oden should be written off forever because of their incidents. Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston. Sully seems to have been forgiven as well. I think a big part of it is owning up to the mistake.

Second, I don't think we should add another center. With Bass, Fav, and Anthony in the mix we have enough bodies getting in the way of Sully and Olynyk's minutes. Save the PT for guys we actually want to develop.

This is right. People do make mistakes. It wasn't so long ago in human history that this literally happened all the time. While no one should excuse punching a woman as justified - to err is human. If he is truly contrite, and doesn't repeat the behavior, he should be allowed to move on with his life. Same with Ray Rice. We have all forgotten about Ray Lewis and the white suit - a much more heinous crime if you consider the allegations - and he is a beloved athlete in Baltimore. Perhaps his version of events is the truth. He was never involved with the law after that. And I don't think we could say that Baltimore would have been better for not having him. But would Ray Lewis have had a career after the "white suit" in 2014? I don't think so.

One thing all of these encounters seem to have in common is alcohol. Maybe this is really a message to us all not to drink so much. Oden always seemed like such a nice, level headed guy. Alcohol makes people do crazy things.

Oden has copped to being an alcoholic. Perhaps this is the "bottom" for him: the moment he realizes he can never taste alcohol again. I hope so. At his size, he could do some major damage.

[Celtics4ever]

There are a few cases I can see a guy pasting a woman.   If she sold his children as sex slaves would be one.   I know a guy in the service who lost it, he was sending money home (another state) to the wife and kids and she was sniffing it away.  He went home and surprised her and his kids were not fed, sitting in excrement  and the bills were not being paid.   I am talking two or three year olds.   He lost it and took matters in his own hands.  It cost him two ranks and his family but I never judged him when I heard the whole story.  I am not saying it is ever right but I viewed things differently.

I almost broke a guys arm once who was roughing up his lady.  I always wondered if his beat her worse after I did that.   I mean he didn't in my presence and I told him not to ever let me hear of such things again or see him mistreating a lady around me.   But I was not there all the time and I wondered if she ever paid for my interference.

[Beat LA]

Well, so much for this ****.  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

I think people deserve second chances, depending on the severity of the situation. I don't think Sully or Oden should be written off forever because of their incidents. Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston. Sully seems to have been forgiven as well. I think a big part of it is owning up to the mistake.

Second, I don't think we should add another center. With Bass, Fav, and Anthony in the mix we have enough bodies getting in the way of Sully and Olynyk's minutes. Save the PT for guys we actually want to develop.

I agree, but like you said, it's on a case by case basis, and this, with Sully's 'incident,' is simply unforgivable to me, I'm sorry.  He would have been a great center to have here if he can even play this year (I'd rather see him on the court than Fav or Anthony), given his age and talent, but I just can't overlook such behavior.  Besides, everyone 'owns up to a mistake' today that it's become quite cliche, and it doesn't mean squat to me, no matter if it's true or not (unless I know the person), because either way, issuing such remarks was probably the first piece of advice he received from his legal counsel.  Is that pessimistic?  Yeah, but it's happened too many times.

In terms of your other examples, I don't like football, but Ray Lewis should have been thrown in jail for everything that he did, I don't know about Ray Rice but something tells me that a 2 game suspension is hardly a sufficient punishment for his actions (more domestic violence, right?  Ugh.), and let's not forget about the repeated violations of Ben Roethlisberger, who should also have been incarcerated.  In fact, if you just type in Roethlisberger on Google, the first result is 'Roethlisberger rape.'  Lovely (sarcasm). 

[hwangjini_1]

There are a few cases I can see a guy pasting a woman.   If she sold his children as sex slaves would be one.   I know a guy in the service who lost it, he was sending money home (another state) to the wife and kids and she was sniffing it away.  He went home and surprised her and his kids were not fed, sitting in excrement  and the bills were not being paid.   I am talking two or three year olds.   He lost it and took matters in his own hands.  It cost him two ranks and his family but I never judged him when I heard the whole story.  I am not saying it is ever right but I viewed things differently.

I almost broke a guys arm once who was roughing up his lady.  I always wondered if his beat her worse after I did that.   I mean he didn't in my presence and I told him not to ever let me hear of such things again or see him mistreating a lady around me.   But I was not there all the time and I wondered if she ever paid for my interference.

sorry, but i am unclear exactly how hitting his wife fed the kids, cleaned her up, paid the bills, or turned her life around. didnt it just add violence to an already god-awful situation?

[Ogaju]

my advice to guys is if a woman ever gets under your skin to the point that you EVEN want to have a verbal altercation with her, just leave that woman alone and run as fast as you can away from that woman. It is just that simple.

[moiso]

Well, so much for this ****.  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

I think people deserve second chances, depending on the severity of the situation. I don't think Sully or Oden should be written off forever because of their incidents. Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston. Sully seems to have been forgiven as well. I think a big part of it is owning up to the mistake.

Second, I don't think we should add another center. With Bass, Fav, and Anthony in the mix we have enough bodies getting in the way of Sully and Olynyk's minutes. Save the PT for guys we actually want to develop.

I agree, but like you said, it's on a case by case basis, and this, with Sully's 'incident,' is simply unforgivable to me, I'm sorry.  He would have been a great center to have here if he can even play this year (I'd rather see him on the court than Fav or Anthony), given his age and talent, but I just can't overlook such behavior.  Besides, everyone 'owns up to a mistake' today that it's become quite cliche, and it doesn't mean squat to me, no matter if it's true or not (unless I know the person), because either way, issuing such remarks was probably the first piece of advice he received from his legal counsel.  Is that pessimistic?  Yeah, but it's happened too many times.

In terms of your other examples, I don't like football, but Ray Lewis should have been thrown in jail for everything that he did, I don't know about Ray Rice but something tells me that a 2 game suspension is hardly a sufficient punishment for his actions (more domestic violence, right?  Ugh.), and let's not forget about the repeated violations of Ben Roethlisberger, who should also have been incarcerated.  In fact, if you just type in Roethlisberger on Google, the first result is 'Roethlisberger rape.'  Lovely (sarcasm).

I don't see why Sully's incident is unforgiveable.  I've been in a situation where a girl started destroying personal property (smashing pictures, sunglasses, tipping over my motorcycle, etc).  Sometimes the best option seems to be grabbing and holding the other person to stop them from doing damage.  If you just go call 911 half of your stuff could be destroyed before help arrives.

[D.o.s.]

Well, so much for this ****.  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

I think people deserve second chances, depending on the severity of the situation. I don't think Sully or Oden should be written off forever because of their incidents. Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston. Sully seems to have been forgiven as well. I think a big part of it is owning up to the mistake.

Second, I don't think we should add another center. With Bass, Fav, and Anthony in the mix we have enough bodies getting in the way of Sully and Olynyk's minutes. Save the PT for guys we actually want to develop.

I agree, but like you said, it's on a case by case basis, and this, with Sully's 'incident,' is simply unforgivable to me, I'm sorry.  He would have been a great center to have here if he can even play this year (I'd rather see him on the court than Fav or Anthony), given his age and talent, but I just can't overlook such behavior.  Besides, everyone 'owns up to a mistake' today that it's become quite cliche, and it doesn't mean squat to me, no matter if it's true or not (unless I know the person), because either way, issuing such remarks was probably the first piece of advice he received from his legal counsel.  Is that pessimistic?  Yeah, but it's happened too many times.

In terms of your other examples, I don't like football, but Ray Lewis should have been thrown in jail for everything that he did, I don't know about Ray Rice but something tells me that a 2 game suspension is hardly a sufficient punishment for his actions (more domestic violence, right?  Ugh.), and let's not forget about the repeated violations of Ben Roethlisberger, who should also have been incarcerated.  In fact, if you just type in Roethlisberger on Google, the first result is 'Roethlisberger rape.'  Lovely (sarcasm). 

Ray Rice, by the way, knocked out his girlfriend in a casino at 2 in the morning and was caught on video dragging her unconscious body into and out of an elevator.

While I understand that the NFL stands to make a lot more money by having Ray Rice on the field for the Ravens than they do someone like Justin Blackmon catching balls for the Jags, the idea that a two game suspension is in anyway sufficient is insane, and proof that the NFL simply is too big to care about its fanbase. We've all known that for years, though.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Some of the threads in here are ridiculous with the lengths they are going to forgive athletes you want to root for. 

"What do you mean it's NEVER okay to hit a woman?  What if Vladamir Putin built a time machine along with Al Qaeda and then brought Hitler to the present?  To disguise him, they give Hitler a sex change until they are ready for their evil plan.  Then, this basketball player that (is/I really, really want) on the Celtics overhears the dastardly plot at a FIBA game and has to fight Hitler or the world will be blown up.  It sounds to me that you're saying it's never okay to punch Hitler you unamerican ****." 

 Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston.

The Boston Celtics fans I know haven't been too kind to domestic violence before and I think that is a tradition we should keep going.

[Beat LA]

Well, so much for this ****.  As probably the biggest advocate for signing him on this blog, I'd like to apologize to everyone.  I'm incredibly disappointed and saddened and want nothing to do with him.  Let's get rid of Sully, too.  Domestic violence is unacceptable.  Period.  We should trade him for McGary.  Why has there suddenly been a rise in this type of behavior around the league?  Any theories?  So, moving forward, who wants Okafor?

I think people deserve second chances, depending on the severity of the situation. I don't think Sully or Oden should be written off forever because of their incidents. Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston. Sully seems to have been forgiven as well. I think a big part of it is owning up to the mistake.

Second, I don't think we should add another center. With Bass, Fav, and Anthony in the mix we have enough bodies getting in the way of Sully and Olynyk's minutes. Save the PT for guys we actually want to develop.

I agree, but like you said, it's on a case by case basis, and this, with Sully's 'incident,' is simply unforgivable to me, I'm sorry.  He would have been a great center to have here if he can even play this year (I'd rather see him on the court than Fav or Anthony), given his age and talent, but I just can't overlook such behavior.  Besides, everyone 'owns up to a mistake' today that it's become quite cliche, and it doesn't mean squat to me, no matter if it's true or not (unless I know the person), because either way, issuing such remarks was probably the first piece of advice he received from his legal counsel.  Is that pessimistic?  Yeah, but it's happened too many times.

In terms of your other examples, I don't like football, but Ray Lewis should have been thrown in jail for everything that he did, I don't know about Ray Rice but something tells me that a 2 game suspension is hardly a sufficient punishment for his actions (more domestic violence, right?  Ugh.), and let's not forget about the repeated violations of Ben Roethlisberger, who should also have been incarcerated.  In fact, if you just type in Roethlisberger on Google, the first result is 'Roethlisberger rape.'  Lovely (sarcasm).

I don't see why Sully's incident is unforgiveable.  I've been in a situation where a girl started destroying personal property (smashing pictures, sunglasses, tipping over my motorcycle, etc).  Sometimes the best option seems to be grabbing and holding the other person to stop them from doing damage.  If you just go call 911 half of your stuff could be destroyed before help arrives.

I'm sorry that that happened to you.  As for Sully, do we know the details of the situation?  Wasn't there something about anger management classes for him as part of the verdict, or am I misremembering?  I think I'm misremembering.

[Beat LA]

Some of the threads in here are ridiculous with the lengths they are going to forgive athletes you want to root for. 

"What do you mean it's NEVER okay to hit a woman?  What if Vladamir Putin built a time machine along with Al Qaeda and then brought Hitler to the present?  To disguise him, they give Hitler a sex change until they are ready for their evil plan.  Then, this basketball player that (is/I really, really want) on the Celtics overhears the dastardly plot at a FIBA game and has to fight Hitler or the world will be blown up.  It sounds to me that you're saying it's never okay to punch Hitler you unamerican ****." 

 Jason Kidd seemed to be given a free pass back in the day besides the chants of "wife-beater" when he visited Boston.

The Boston Celtics fans I know haven't been too kind to domestic violence before and I think that is a tradition we should keep going.

Well said, TP.  It should be a stance that all fans take, but whatever.  I do wonder, though, where does this put Robert Parish in your mind?  I read about that incident in the 1987 finals in a hotel room or something with Sam Vincent seeing it but not reporting it, smh.  I never would have pegged the Chief as a woman beater.  You can say the same about 'coop.'  Michael Cooper was a dirty player imo, always getting away with crap, but it still was shocking to me to discover that he beat women as well.  I mean, yeah, Larry got into a bar fight in 1985 (nice going haha), but it was with a guy, and his 'friend' was a terrible influence.  He didn't beat women, though, right?  I've never read or heard such associated with him, but then again, I wasn't around for most of his career

[Beat LA]

I guess that this doesn't help Oden's cause either, although, to be fair, the headline makes it sound much worse than it looks on video.  I'm sure that it still hurt, though, obviously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFuse0DEacQ

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24602066/video-greg-oden-spikes-a-volleyball-into-a-girls-face&c=sc