Shams: Billups New Head Coach of Blazers

[BudweiserCeltic]

Because the incident with Billups happened so long ago and because nothing was ever proven I don't think it should be held against him now. Plus I think he'll be a good coach. 

While I'm intrigued by how his incident was covered up - with Pitino getting the blame for unloading Billups so soon - legally in this society you are innocent until proven guilty.  I give the Blazers credit for sticking with him and ignoring the noise - none which I'm guessing is coming from their best customers - their season ticket holders and sponsors.

Since he's never been held accountable before, we shouldn't start now.  Is that what you're saying?

I'm saying that in the eyes of the law, the matter is settled.  So it shouldn't be held against Billups because who's to say he's guilty of rape or not?  He hasn't been proven guilty of any crime and there's no way to prosecute him for the incident in question.

No one is talking about prosecuting him criminally.  He already paid off the accuser to end the civil suit which suggests a rape may have occurred.  The nurse's report of the accuser's injuries suggests a rape may have occurred.  There is ample reason not to hire Billups as an NBA head coach who is going to be the face of the org.

A rape may have occured but if it did, who committed it?   Walker? Billups? Mercer? One or more members of Walker's 'posse' at the time? 2 of them? 3 of them?  None of them?

He was there, maybe Toine tried to pin it on the rookie and that's why there was a suit? My point is it's all conjecture and you're going to deny someone gainful employement because of it?

No one was charged with or convicted of any crime.

Regardless of one's opinion of the case, an NBA head coach is not just any job. Any suggestion that could be interpreted to mean that this aspect of public perception shouldn't form part of the equation is just naïve. So yes, all this conjecture is enough to deny him THIS gainful employment.

But that's up to Portland management and ownership to consider, and they made their choice... they'll have to deal with any fallout, if any.

[Rondo9]

Because the incident with Billups happened so long ago and because nothing was ever proven I don't think it should be held against him now. Plus I think he'll be a good coach. 

While I'm intrigued by how his incident was covered up - with Pitino getting the blame for unloading Billups so soon - legally in this society you are innocent until proven guilty.  I give the Blazers credit for sticking with him and ignoring the noise - none which I'm guessing is coming from their best customers - their season ticket holders and sponsors.

Since he's never been held accountable before, we shouldn't start now.  Is that what you're saying?

I'm saying that in the eyes of the law, the matter is settled.  So it shouldn't be held against Billups because who's to say he's guilty of rape or not?  He hasn't been proven guilty of any crime and there's no way to prosecute him for the incident in question.

No one is talking about prosecuting him criminally.  He already paid off the accuser to end the civil suit which suggests a rape may have occurred.  The nurse's report of the accuser's injuries suggests a rape may have occurred.  There is ample reason not to hire Billups as an NBA head coach who is going to be the face of the org.

A rape may have occured but if it did, who committed it?   Walker? Billups? Mercer? One or more members of Walker's 'posse' at the time? 2 of them? 3 of them?  None of them?

He was there, maybe Toine tried to pin it on the rookie and that's why there was a suit?  My point is it's all conjecture and you're going to deny someone gainful employement because of it?

No one was charged with or convicted of any crime.

Gainful employment?  Being an NBA head coach is a position of trust and great importance to the org.  They've already created a PR mess for themselves.  There is nothing to say there aren't more skeletons in Billups' closet.  I would definitely NOT hire him unless he took a lie detector test and passed.  If he's innocent, he shouldn't have problem with doing so.

If everything was the same but Billups was applying to be head janitor rather than head coach,
you can bet your bottom dollar that they wouldn't just take his word and hire him.

I mean I'm sure that Portland did a through investigation before hiring Billups may even interrogated him about the case. Besides it's not like this was a secret, this was known while Billups was a assistant coach and a media figure.

[Kuberski33]

The rape case was known about while Billups became a 5 time all star and 3 time All NBA player. He was one of the most respected players in the league, and that hadn't changed after his retirement. What has changed?

Again, he wasn't convicted of anything. The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently - and they're willing to take the plunge and accept all the heat that comes with it.  And they may lose some business over it.

That's their right.  If I had to guess they viewed it as a last ditch shot to keep Lillard happy. 
Maybe someone should go talk to Antoine Walker or Mercer about what happened.  Walker I believe has even worked for the league counseling players in recent years.

[wiley]

The rape case was known about while Billups became a 5 time all star and 3 time All NBA player. He was one of the most respected players in the league, and that hadn't changed after his retirement. What has changed?

Again, he wasn't convicted of anything. The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently - and they're willing to take the plunge and accept all the heat that comes with it.  And they may lose some business over it.

That's their right.  If I had to guess they viewed it as a last ditch shot to keep Lillard happy. 
Maybe someone should go talk to Antoine Walker or Mercer about what happened.  Walker I believe has even worked for the league counseling players in recent years.

well said.  Leave people in peace to deal with their own past....scorching people for the rest of their lives on social media is so low...so wrong imo.

[Roy H.]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

[Celtics2021]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

Apparently the Blazers PR team thinks it does.

[Tr1boy]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

No

Its not like he can go to the victim and question/investigate

I can't say I feel bad for him (yesterday awkward press). Because nobody really knows. But I did feel bad for his wife and daughters.  They had nothing to do with this

[td450]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

I do.

Even giving him 100% benefit of the doubt, what he admitted to was appalling.

I believe in grace, and don't feel he should be destroyed over this, but I wouldn't hire him for any public or leadership job either. It is one thing for him to continue as a basketball player 20+ years ago, but its hard to understand how he became a TV personality much less a head coach.

[Rondo9]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

It shows the Blazers were aware of the incident and wanted to make sure that all stories check out before making the hire.

[tazzmaniac]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

Absolutely.  Let's say the accuser was telling the truth that Billups and Mercer raped her.  Do you honestly think that should be ignored because it was 20+ years ago? 

I don't put much weight in the independent investigation because the Blazers haven't provides any details on what it entailed.  The Blazers should have required Billups to take a lie detector test before giving him the job. 

[Rondo9]

edit

[Celtics2021]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

I do.

Even giving him 100% benefit of the doubt, what he admitted to was appalling.

I believe in grace, and don't feel he should be destroyed over this, but I wouldn't hire him for any public or leadership job either. It is one thing for him to continue as a basketball player 20+ years ago, but its hard to understand how he became a TV personality much less a head coach.

I think what Roy was asking was “Does anyone think that an internal investigation could possibly turn up any new and useful information about an incident that occurred 20 years ago?”

[Rondo9]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

Absolutely.  Let's say the accuser was telling the truth that Billups and Mercer raped her.  Do you honestly think that should be ignored because it was 20+ years ago? 

I don't put much weight in the independent investigation because the Blazers haven't provides any details on what it entailed.  The Blazers should have required Billups to take a lie detector test before giving him the job.

But there isn't much new information that can be gleamed over today except for what happened between Billups and the accuser. I mean no criminal charges were filed and it was settled out of court and the Blazers did their own internal investigation which I'm sure that it was through given how Portland is a state with very progressive views.

[Tr1boy]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

Absolutely.  Let's say the accuser was telling the truth that Billups and Mercer raped her.  Do you honestly think that should be ignored because it was 20+ years ago? 

I don't put much weight in the independent investigation because the Blazers haven't provides any details on what it entailed.  The Blazers should have required Billups to take a lie detector test before giving him the job.

But there isn't much new information that can be gleamed over today except for what happened between Billups and the accuser. I mean no criminal charges were filed and it was settled out of court and the Blazers did their own internal investigation which I'm sure that it was through given how Portland is a state with very progressive views.

Probably the worst place Chauncy could have joined to be a HC, due to city rep

I doubt he will be out of the woods...for a while

[td450]

The Blazers did their own internal investigation - hiring an ex-FBI agent to conduct it apparently

Does anybody think this has any relevance at all after 20+ years?

I do.

Even giving him 100% benefit of the doubt, what he admitted to was appalling.

I believe in grace, and don't feel he should be destroyed over this, but I wouldn't hire him for any public or leadership job either. It is one thing for him to continue as a basketball player 20+ years ago, but its hard to understand how he became a TV personality much less a head coach.

I think what Roy was asking was “Does anyone think that an internal investigation could possibly turn up any new and useful information about an incident that occurred 20 years ago?”

Yes, sorry. I guess my answer would be that this was a public relations exercise.