At the end of the basketball game between these two schools, a New Mexico State player fired the ball at close range, striking a Utah State player. As that ever-lovable former prosecutor Nancy Grace would likely say -- with malice and aforethought. The perpetrator of such a heinous crime should be locked away in a prison for a very long time. Of course, sometimes Nancy's logic is about as straight as her nose, and grace doesn't seem to be her forte, to say the least. Perhaps that's why she's a FORMER prosecutor.
Regardless, a player throwing the ball at an opposing player at the college level is inexcusable. Even kids in grade school know that is a no-no. Still, it's mind-boggling sometimes just how childish college, and even professional players can act at times. It's like they think they can get away with anything because they happen to be very good at whatever sport they play. From being careless with guns, to stomps, to driving drunk and wrecking cars, to various drug issues, to other various assaulting behavior, and much more -- many star athletes consider themselves above it all. For their whole young lives, they've been given special treatment because of the physical talents they possess. It's highly likely many of them couldn't pass a fairly administered 8th grade equivalency exam given multiple tries -- but somehow they not only got high school diplomas, but were given scholarships at universities. Well gee. I wonder how that could happen.
Nevertheless, after the game between NMS and US, the head coach of the guy that originally threw the ball went into damage control mode. While saying he would come down hard on his own player responsible for instigating an incident that spiraled out of control, he also said the guy that actually got hit by the thrown basketball was known to be somewhat "chippy" himself. Though he was just standing there minding his own business at the time -- maybe it was somehow his fault. This coach has evidently missed his life's calling. He shouldn't be in basketball. He should be a congressman or the President. Only they could say such things with a straight face.
So what happened? The guy that started the whole brawl got suspended for two games. In other words, he's likely out of action for about a week. Remember Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State assaulting a fan about a week ago? He's back in action now while the fan -- the actual victim -- can't go to any more games this year. How incredibly backwards is that?
The same will likely happen to the loose cannon from New Mexico State. He'll be back in a week, and everybody will quickly forget about what he did. Even now, the attention is directed at a few fans that came on the court following the game, and how they may have interacted "inappropriately" with the athletes. Never mind they were just celebrating a victory. And also never mind that -- believe it or not -- when a fan is assaulted by an athlete, he/she has every right to fight back. Yet before all is said and done, it's likely those fans will find themselves in an interrogation room somewhere at the cop shop being grilled over what happened. They might even face some trumped up charges and be forced to hire an attorney to defend them. A "star" that started the whole mess will skate, but any commoner that dared to defend themselves in the process will find themselves caught up in the so-called wheels of justice. And that's just wrong.
For what that player did, and the ensuing brawl he caused, a two game suspension is a joke. No, I wouldn't wish the old shrewish blond with the crooked nose could send him off to be water boarded and otherwise tortured for his crimes against humanity.
But such actions merit a response that might just get the attention of others, if they ever consider pulling such a stunt.
Stop with the paddy-cakes and wrist slaps. Even little kids can see through that. and it hardly serves as a deterrent to future misbehavior. Like children, athletes will push until they are made to realize there are lines, that when crossed, will result in painful consequences.
In the above case, a one calendar year suspension from basketball would definitely send a message. The player can still go to school in the meantime to further his education -- which he obviously needs -- but no more hoops until next March.
Do that just one time to such an offender, and I'll guarantee you the media would be all over it, and other players coast to coast would sit up and take notice.
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