Larry Sanders...Why I quit Basketball

[saltlover]

you walk around inherently suspicious of your fellow human beings?

Absolutely.  Trust nobody!!

Depression/anxiety is a convenient excuse for not putting in work. 

But seriously, I haven't really researched Sanders situation.  I know there's some history of players who couldn't play basketball because of depression (Delonte) and anxiety (Royce White)... Maybe Sanders is genuine.   I'm inherently skeptical, though.   

"Depression"/"anxiety" is the go-to excuse for getting medical marijuana.  Sanders found a way to get paid 22 million dollars to do nothing.  Shame we can't do that with our own jobs.  "Can't work, boss... I don't want to be defined by my work... i'm an artist, a family man, a lover...  Please pay my next two years salary for doing no work.  Thanks"

He reportedly entered a treatment facility months ago.  He alluded to this in his video.  Presumably if this was true the Bucks would have had such information.  Presumably, he also received such diagnosis from licensed professionals.  It wouldn't even shock me if the Bucks got to choose the clinicians he saw.

That the Bucks chose to negotiate a buyout, given that they probably have more information than any of us, should indicate that at least their lawyers believed the diagnosis to be unassailable.

Also, regardless of your (strong) opinions on Sanders, understand that a lot of people have been touched personally by severe anxiety and/or depression disorders, and using language that universalizes your opinions about Sanders to all of those dealing with such conditions should provoke backlash.

Fwiw, the Celtics continued to pay Vin Baker despite the fact he was a proven alcoholic and continuously broke his contract by showing up to work drunk.  Vin received millions of dollars in buy-out money even after the Celtics let him go.  Guaranteed contracts in the NBA are nuts.

I don't have strong opinions about Larry Sanders.  I admit I haven't researched his situation.  I'm just highly skeptical.  Dude is getting paid 22 million to sit at home.  Depression or no depression, sure feels like a scam to me.

I mentioned earlier in this thread that an arbitrator had ruled that a team couldn't take adverse action against a player with depression -- Vin Baker was indeed that case.  I just didn't want to sidetrack this thread because of Vin Baker.

[Gainesville Celtic]

you walk around inherently suspicious of your fellow human beings?

Absolutely.  Trust nobody!!

Depression/anxiety is a convenient excuse for not putting in work. 

But seriously, I haven't really researched Sanders situation.  I know there's some history of players who couldn't play basketball because of depression (Delonte) and anxiety (Royce White)... Maybe Sanders is genuine.   I'm inherently skeptical, though.   

"Depression"/"anxiety" is the go-to excuse for getting medical marijuana.  Sanders found a way to get paid 22 million dollars to do nothing.  Shame we can't do that with our own jobs.  "Can't work, boss... I don't want to be defined by my work... i'm an artist, a family man, a lover...  Please pay my next two years salary for doing no work.  Thanks"

He reportedly entered a treatment facility months ago.  He alluded to this in his video.  Presumably if this was true the Bucks would have had such information.  Presumably, he also received such diagnosis from licensed professionals.  It wouldn't even shock me if the Bucks got to choose the clinicians he saw.

That the Bucks chose to negotiate a buyout, given that they probably have more information than any of us, should indicate that at least their lawyers believed the diagnosis to be unassailable.

Also, regardless of your (strong) opinions on Sanders, understand that a lot of people have been touched personally by severe anxiety and/or depression disorders, and using language that universalizes your opinions about Sanders to all of those dealing with such conditions should provoke backlash.

C'mon @Saltlover... there is absolutely NO WAY that Sanders and his employer* know more about his situation than a bunch of internet commenters in another town. NO WAY. 

</sarcasm>



* If only the poor-cash-strapped Bucks had some spare money to hire a team of, say, lawyers and medical professionals to try and protect themselves from scam artists like Sanders.

[kozlodoev]

C'mon @Saltlover... there is absolutely NO WAY that Sanders and his employer* know more about his situation than a bunch of internet commenters in another town. NO WAY. 

</sarcasm>



* If only the poor-cash-strapped Bucks had some spare money to hire a team of, say, lawyers and medical professionals to try and protect themselves from scam artists like Sanders.

Again, that's all fine and dandy. I just don't  care about that whole "I'm a person". He's getting compensated for doing nothing, courtesy of the salary cap and NBPA, which (a) makes his decision pretty easy, and (b) eliminates a lot of the incentive to fight through adversity. Hope he gets better, but he's got no moral high ground here.

[Fred Roberts]

Sounds like this boils down to a guy who underwent emotional and behavioral distress, and needs help and time to simmer. Hope he can gather himself and come to the Celts on a low money deal. Perfect piece once he's gotten a hold of what ails him.

[D.o.s.]

It also helps to consider the source: The Players' Tribune is a PR vessel for athletes.

[LarBrd33]

you walk around inherently suspicious of your fellow human beings?

Absolutely.  Trust nobody!!

Depression/anxiety is a convenient excuse for not putting in work. 

But seriously, I haven't really researched Sanders situation.  I know there's some history of players who couldn't play basketball because of depression (Delonte) and anxiety (Royce White)... Maybe Sanders is genuine.   I'm inherently skeptical, though.   

"Depression"/"anxiety" is the go-to excuse for getting medical marijuana.  Sanders found a way to get paid 22 million dollars to do nothing.  Shame we can't do that with our own jobs.  "Can't work, boss... I don't want to be defined by my work... i'm an artist, a family man, a lover...  Please pay my next two years salary for doing no work.  Thanks"

He reportedly entered a treatment facility months ago.  He alluded to this in his video.  Presumably if this was true the Bucks would have had such information.  Presumably, he also received such diagnosis from licensed professionals.  It wouldn't even shock me if the Bucks got to choose the clinicians he saw.

That the Bucks chose to negotiate a buyout, given that they probably have more information than any of us, should indicate that at least their lawyers believed the diagnosis to be unassailable.

Also, regardless of your (strong) opinions on Sanders, understand that a lot of people have been touched personally by severe anxiety and/or depression disorders, and using language that universalizes your opinions about Sanders to all of those dealing with such conditions should provoke backlash.

Fwiw, the Celtics continued to pay Vin Baker despite the fact he was a proven alcoholic and continuously broke his contract by showing up to work drunk.  Vin received millions of dollars in buy-out money even after the Celtics let him go.  Guaranteed contracts in the NBA are nuts.

I don't have strong opinions about Larry Sanders.  I admit I haven't researched his situation.  I'm just highly skeptical.  Dude is getting paid 22 million to sit at home.  Depression or no depression, sure feels like a scam to me.

I mentioned earlier in this thread that an arbitrator had ruled that a team couldn't take adverse action against a player with depression -- Vin Baker was indeed that case.  I just didn't want to sidetrack this thread because of Vin Baker.

So then what you're telling me is that there's a history of players breaking contracts/getting paid on account of "depression".  That just lends more fuel to my skepticism. 

But sure...  I acknowledge that I don't know much about Sanders situation... and perhaps he is a broken butterfly as described.   It's not unthinkable that dedicating his life to playing basketball, when he already had millions in the bank, bummed him out and made him anxious.    I hope his art, family and millions of dollars in free money help him heal. 

[Jonny CC]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken. 

[kozlodoev]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken.

You sure assume to know a lot about people's "everyday problems", don't you?

[Celtics4ever]

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.

A lot of depressed people collect SSI and SSDI checks BTW.   

Some schools of counseling think depression is a choice that people make.   A counselor is not likely to tell you this directly even they believe it.    But several therapies directly deal with dealing with the faulty thinking that leads people to be depressed.   I do not know if I subscribe to that, but in some cases, I think this is the case.   It becomes a vicious self repeating circle and an excuse not to live.   Not in all cases, mind you, but this is true in some cases.  Others find it to be an illness, who knows what side it right because their is no biological marker that they can test for presently.  Some people laud meds and other think they are worthless in this regard.  I have met people who were using it for little more to draw a government check.

Everyone is different and see things from their subjective view.  I think it is harder for people to be sympathetic for a millionaire in this case who freely admits using lots of marijuana.  Some will call that self medication but that is enabling talk freely to give him an excuse.  His quitting was a choice he made.  Not everyone can handle what they put into their body and I one of those who think weed is safer than alcohol but I have seen people loose motivation when they smoke a lot of it.  He chose not to get help before it came to this head.

[littleteapot]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken.

No he's saying that being able to just stop showing up to work to fix your life up is a luxury you only have if you have millions of dollars.

[Nerf DPOY]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken.

But then again, you don't know anything about Shaqattack outside of these posts or the true mental state of Larry Sanders. Perhaps you and the rest of Sanders' white knights should cool it with the life lessons you're teaching the posters skeptical of Sanders ailments in this thread.

[Jonny CC]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken.

You sure assume to know a lot about people's "everyday problems", don't you?

You sure assume to know a lot about people's depression, dont you?

[Jonny CC]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken.

But then again, you don't know anything about Shaqattack outside of these posts or the true mental state of Larry Sanders. Perhaps you and the rest of Sanders' white knights should cool it with the life lessons you're teaching the posters skeptical of Sanders ailments in this thread.

Are you Shaqattack's lawyer?  I never claimed to know Shaqattack personally...it's irrelevant.  He posted an opinion and I posted an opinion...nothing more, nothing less.  And I don't care if you or anyone else agrees with it.  It's a conversation.  I'm not defending Sanders specifically because I don't know his mental state, but I think a lot of people are being naive about depression. 

[Jonny CC]

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.

A lot of depressed people collect SSI and SSDI checks BTW.   

Some schools of counseling think depression is a choice that people make.   A counselor is not likely to tell you this directly even they believe it.    But several therapies directly deal with dealing with the faulty thinking that leads people to be depressed.   I do not know if I subscribe to that, but in some cases, I think this is the case.   It becomes a vicious self repeating circle and an excuse not to live.   Not in all cases, mind you, but this is true in some cases.  Others find it to be an illness, who knows what side it right because their is no biological marker that they can test for presently.  Some people laud meds and other think they are worthless in this regard.  I have met people who were using it for little more to draw a government check.

Everyone is different and see things from their subjective view.  I think it is harder for people to be sympathetic for a millionaire in this case who freely admits using lots of marijuana.  Some will call that self medication but that is enabling talk freely to give him an excuse.  His quitting was a choice he made.  Not everyone can handle what they put into their body and I one of those who think weed is safer than alcohol but I have seen people loose motivation when they smoke a lot of it.  He chose not to get help before it came to this head.

I agree that there are a lot of shady people that take advantage of the system whether its depression, faking an injury, or calling in sick to have a day off. 

[kozlodoev]

He can afford to be crazy and FIND HIMSElf. Or what ever hippy trip he needs to deal with....he can go hide ....meditate .....do off the wall stuff

The rest of us have to carry our problems on our shoulders .......

March on every day to do our jobs and collect our checks

I don't feel sorry for him. In the least .

Count your blessings that you don't suffer from depression and are able to carry your problems on your shoulders, do your job and collect your check.
 
The part that you don't understand is that not everybody is like you.  If you think that dealing with everyday problems in life is the same as dealing with depression, then you are sadly mistaken.

You sure assume to know a lot about people's "everyday problems", don't you?

You sure assume to know a lot about people's depression, dont you?

I sure know there are folks dealing with depression who don't have the luxury of quitting their jobs and receiving millions of dollars in guaranteed payments from their employers while trying to "figure it out".