Sullinger Arrested in Domestic Incident

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I'll say it again, you never know if he had to push her or restrain her to keep her from attacking him! Yes, pushing is usually the sign of an abuser but  its also used when someone wants to keep someone away from them... Like if he doesn't want to knock her out he pushes her away!

[BudweiserCeltic]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think there are two different discussions to be had here.

First, there is the discussion of what this means for the Celtics, and Jared's career. 

That is where I think it is much ado about nothing.  I think he will get off with a slap on the wrist, and will get a firm warning from Wyc that this is his one and only second chance.  But, I think this was minor enough (relatively speaking), that it won't derail his career or anything like that.

Then, there is the question of what this says about him as a person.  This part of the discussion, I don't generally participate in, because frankly, I assume every pro athlete is most likely a scumbag, and we just haven't seen them on the frontpage yet.  So, I could care less.  But, I know other people feel differently, and I respect that.  But, just because some of us won't sit here and judge him personally because of his transgressions, doesn't mean we condone domestic violence.

I'm just not going to sit here and condemn a guy over a heightened emotional situation involving a pushing match and a broken phone.

That's not to say that Sullinger is not to blame here, or that the girlfriend shouldn't have called the cops on him, particularly if she felt threatened at the time.

But, it is what it is, two people in an fiercely emotional passionate state and it got a bit out of hand. Until I see something further, a possible pattern or escalation, I'm just not going to sit here and make a big deal over a push on a bed.

[RJ87]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think that's the trend because he was so likeable and important to the team..I don't think we'd be getting the same responses if it were T Will (definitely didn't get the same reaction) or Jordan Crawford.

Exactly.

If this was a player with the "headcase" label, people would be spewing all sorts of venom. We've seen it in play here with guys like Terrence Williams and with Delonte West after his clash with Von Wafer.

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

[nickagneta]

The police report states that Sullinger pushed her to the floor, got on top of her and prevented her from moving. That's not a shoving match to keep a hysterical person away from you, its a offensive assault to prevent someone from leaving against their will.

That's scumbag behavior right there, no matter how you want to spin it. I hope he does well as a Celtic and brings us a ring someday, but it doesn't mean I have to think highly of a scumbag.

[Roy H.]

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I'm sure there is, and why shouldn't there be?  People in general, and professional athletes, should be given more benefit of the doubt when they have a clean record as opposed to a spotty one.

Legally, I think there's about a 0% chance that Sullinger gets any sort of DV / assault / battery conviction based upon what I read in that police report.  That doesn't mean he doesn't own any moral culpability, though.  I don't agree that shoving / pinning somebody down / throwing them off the bed is in any way minor.  At the same time, we don't have any proof that those things happened as written, either.

[BudweiserCeltic]

The police report states that Sullinger pushed her to the floor, got on top of her and prevented her from moving. That's not a shoving much to keep a hysterical person away from you, its a offensive assault to prevent someone from leaving against their will.

that's scumbag behavior right there, no matter how you want to spin it. I hope he does well as a Celtic and brings us a ring someday, but it doesn't mean I have to think highly of a scumbag.

Haven't read the report, but if that's what happened than that's way more than a push on the bed.

[Moranis]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think that's the trend because he was so likeable and important to the team..I don't think we'd be getting the same responses if it were T Will (definitely didn't get the same reaction) or Jordan Crawford.

Exactly.

If this was a player with the "headcase" label, people would be spewing all sorts of venom. We've seen it in play here with guys like Terrence Williams and with Delonte West after his clash with Von Wafer.

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I don't think it is a different set of standards, I just think people are generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Guys like Williams and West had a long history of problems and issues and thus they abused the benefit of the doubt long ago and aren't given it anymore.  If this wasn't the first time Sullinger had issues, the reaction in the thread would be a lot different.  It would also be a lot different he had beaten the crap out of her and she was hospitalized or if he had used a gun or something like that.  Domestic violence is never something to wash away, but this is a seemingly mild case from a guy that has never been in trouble.  In that context, it clearly explains the reaction towards this particular situation.

[sed522002]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think that's the trend because he was so likeable and important to the team..I don't think we'd be getting the same responses if it were T Will (definitely didn't get the same reaction) or Jordan Crawford.

Exactly.

If this was a player with the "headcase" label, people would be spewing all sorts of venom. We've seen it in play here with guys like Terrence Williams and with Delonte West after his clash with Von Wafer.

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I don't think it is a different set of standards, I just think people are generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Guys like Williams and West had a long history of problems and issues and thus they abused the benefit of the doubt long ago and aren't given it anymore.  If this wasn't the first time Sullinger had issues, the reaction in the thread would be a lot different.  It would also be a lot different he had beaten the crap out of her and she was hospitalized or if he had used a gun or something like that.  Domestic violence is never something to wash away, but this is a seemingly mild case from a guy that has never been in trouble.  In that context, it clearly explains the reaction towards this particular situation.

I'm not really familiar with Williams, but did he have a long history of "legal" problems or did he abuse his benefit of the doubt based off of "basketball issues". Because a lot of times, us as fans, skew those line.

We take what happens on the court and run with it as if it's their real life. We take the "headcase" title that's given to them on court and apply it to their everyday living. I'm just wondering.

[Neurotic Guy]

Benefit of the doubt has to do with what we believe about the speculation of what occurred.   There is always bias when it comes to giving benefit of doubt.  We would give more benefit of doubt to a highly regarded brother, child, friend than to others -- that's natural and understandable.  When the evidence comes in, we'll be able to judge what we think about the incident and about the person. 
With a 21 year-old, I think I am prone to judge the incident more than the person. By this I mean that if it was a 'scumbag' thing to do, I'll probably agree that it was a scumbag thing to do.  However, unless it was egregious (standards unclear) or repetitious, I'll probably refrain from declaring him (judging him) a scumbag. 
I doubt there is one of us who would want to be revealed in our worst moment.  Especially those moments of youth when perhaps we responded more physically than our moral convictions would normally abide. 
I can tell you that I have the burning vision of me grabbing my daughter's arms and yelling at her when she was rude to me about 10 years ago (when she was 12). I've never hit my children (ever) but this was a brief anger-infused, out of control moment that I regretted the moment it happened. 

I absolutely do not minimize the import and seriousness of domestic violence but anyone here who has never 'lost it' for a few seconds is a unique individual.   My incident caused no harm (I think) other than to momentarily frighten my daughter, cause me angst and diminish my self-respect.  I am aware that a lot worse has been done in the name of 'discipline' but this was outside of what I consider an acceptable disciplinary action.

Anyway, if Sullinger scared her and held her down, I hope he shocked himself into an awareness of his ugly side and that it will never happen again. I also hope she doesn't allow him the chance (I would certainly advise her to say good-bye). But it will be what he does from now on that will determine whether he is an actual scumbag, . 

Of course, if he did worse than that, my opinion will be different.

[blink]

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I'm sure there is, and why shouldn't there be?  People in general, and professional athletes, should be given more benefit of the doubt when they have a clean record as opposed to a spotty one.

Legally, I think there's about a 0% chance that Sullinger gets any sort of DV / assault / battery conviction based upon what I read in that police report.  That doesn't mean he doesn't own any moral culpability, though.  I don't agree that shoving / pinning somebody down / throwing them off the bed is in any way minor.  At the same time, we don't have any proof that those things happened as written, either.

Agreed.  A police report based on the accuser's account doesn't = proof.

[Moranis]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think that's the trend because he was so likeable and important to the team..I don't think we'd be getting the same responses if it were T Will (definitely didn't get the same reaction) or Jordan Crawford.

Exactly.

If this was a player with the "headcase" label, people would be spewing all sorts of venom. We've seen it in play here with guys like Terrence Williams and with Delonte West after his clash with Von Wafer.

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I don't think it is a different set of standards, I just think people are generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Guys like Williams and West had a long history of problems and issues and thus they abused the benefit of the doubt long ago and aren't given it anymore.  If this wasn't the first time Sullinger had issues, the reaction in the thread would be a lot different.  It would also be a lot different he had beaten the crap out of her and she was hospitalized or if he had used a gun or something like that.  Domestic violence is never something to wash away, but this is a seemingly mild case from a guy that has never been in trouble.  In that context, it clearly explains the reaction towards this particular situation.

I'm not really familiar with Williams, but did he have a long history of "legal" problems or did he abuse his benefit of the doubt based off of "basketball issues". Because a lot of times, us as fans, skew those line.

We take what happens on the court and run with it as if it's their real life. We take the "headcase" title that's given to them on court and apply it to their everyday living. I'm just wondering.

Well he was suspended by the Nets for violating team rules.  I know it isn't the same thing, but it is just a nomad thing either.  He also had a significantly rougher upbringing than Sullinger, which rightly or wrongly affects how he is viewed (both parents spent time in jail, his dad was murdered, grew up very very poor, etc.).  Then there is the fact that his legal issues involved a gun, which is a much more serious offense.  Not saying it is right, but I don't think Williams getting into trouble was a big surprise while Sullinger getting into trouble was.  Again, not saying it is right, but I think that is just human nature.

[Roy H.]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think that's the trend because he was so likeable and important to the team..I don't think we'd be getting the same responses if it were T Will (definitely didn't get the same reaction) or Jordan Crawford.

Exactly.

If this was a player with the "headcase" label, people would be spewing all sorts of venom. We've seen it in play here with guys like Terrence Williams and with Delonte West after his clash with Von Wafer.

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I don't think it is a different set of standards, I just think people are generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Guys like Williams and West had a long history of problems and issues and thus they abused the benefit of the doubt long ago and aren't given it anymore.  If this wasn't the first time Sullinger had issues, the reaction in the thread would be a lot different.  It would also be a lot different he had beaten the crap out of her and she was hospitalized or if he had used a gun or something like that.  Domestic violence is never something to wash away, but this is a seemingly mild case from a guy that has never been in trouble.  In that context, it clearly explains the reaction towards this particular situation.

I'm not really familiar with Williams, but did he have a long history of "legal" problems or did he abuse his benefit of the doubt based off of "basketball issues". Because a lot of times, us as fans, skew those line.

We take what happens on the court and run with it as if it's their real life. We take the "headcase" title that's given to them on court and apply it to their everyday living. I'm just wondering.

Well he was suspended by the Nets for violating team rules.  I know it isn't the same thing, but it is just a nomad thing either.  He also had a significantly rougher upbringing than Sullinger, which rightly or wrongly affects how he is viewed (both parents spent time in jail, his dad was murdered, grew up very very poor, etc.).  Then there is the fact that his legal issues involved a gun, which is a much more serious offense.  Not saying it is right, but I don't think Williams getting into trouble was a big surprise while Sullinger getting into trouble was.  Again, not saying it is right, but I think that is just human nature.

Additionally, the think about Williams that bothered me the most was that he admitted to stepping out of the car with the gun (instead of driving away) in the presence of his young son.

People have a right to be as stupid as they want, but when they start traumatizing kids, it crosses a line for me.

[sed522002]

From what I'm seeing, much ado about nothing.

I'm a bit appalled that seems to be the attitude going around this thread. Domestic violence often starts off as a push or grab here and there and escalates to more intense violence. This shouldn't be written off as much ado about nothing.

My younger cousin dated a childhood friend of mines - he was the sweetest kid growing up. You would never think him capable of doing anything violent. After awhile, he would shove her or grab her when he had too much to drink. Then when he was sober. Soon after, he started beating her. She always stayed with him. In 2010, he murdered her in front of their kids and then turned the gun on himself.

I'm not saying this will happen with Jared, but all of this "but he's a good kid, this is minor" is stupid.

I think that's the trend because he was so likeable and important to the team..I don't think we'd be getting the same responses if it were T Will (definitely didn't get the same reaction) or Jordan Crawford.

Exactly.

If this was a player with the "headcase" label, people would be spewing all sorts of venom. We've seen it in play here with guys like Terrence Williams and with Delonte West after his clash with Von Wafer.

It just seems like there's a different set of standards for supposed "high character" guys.

I don't think it is a different set of standards, I just think people are generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Guys like Williams and West had a long history of problems and issues and thus they abused the benefit of the doubt long ago and aren't given it anymore.  If this wasn't the first time Sullinger had issues, the reaction in the thread would be a lot different.  It would also be a lot different he had beaten the crap out of her and she was hospitalized or if he had used a gun or something like that.  Domestic violence is never something to wash away, but this is a seemingly mild case from a guy that has never been in trouble.  In that context, it clearly explains the reaction towards this particular situation.

I'm not really familiar with Williams, but did he have a long history of "legal" problems or did he abuse his benefit of the doubt based off of "basketball issues". Because a lot of times, us as fans, skew those line.

We take what happens on the court and run with it as if it's their real life. We take the "headcase" title that's given to them on court and apply it to their everyday living. I'm just wondering.

Well he was suspended by the Nets for violating team rules.  I know it isn't the same thing, but it is just a nomad thing either.  He also had a significantly rougher upbringing than Sullinger, which rightly or wrongly affects how he is viewed (both parents spent time in jail, his dad was murdered, grew up very very poor, etc.).  Then there is the fact that his legal issues involved a gun, which is a much more serious offense.  Not saying it is right, but I don't think Williams getting into trouble was a big surprise while Sullinger getting into trouble was.  Again, not saying it is right, but I think that is just human nature.

Yeah, you're right I think we all can be guilty of that at times. With both cases (T Will and Sully) I hold my judgement, but I can say I was VERY shocked about Sully and was hoping none of it was true at all.

[EJPLAYA]

I am surprised that anyone is actually "Surprised" about something like this anymore... I for one am tired of it. I am so sick of turning on the tv or internet and reading that some punk kid who is bringing in huge money to play a game, can't behave themselves. The lowest of the low are the ones who abuse children or women. Say what you want about waiting to get all the info, but what is already out there is enough. If you think you are entitled to physically intimidate a woman you are no man at all.

This should go to show you that we all might THINK that we know these guys, but we know nothing about them at all.

[merkins]

Unless these charges get dropped altogether, the clock should be ticking on him to go.  Too bad.  Didnt the Red Sox sign a guy a few years back with a history of DV and he was probably the most hated local athlete at the time?  To its credit, the city doesnt tolerate scumbag behavior from its sports stars very well.  Bad timing for this with the Hernandez stuff not too far behind either.