Balling in Blue Heaven and Another League Legal Injustice

What’s up Yard?! Its ya boy B-Wood just checking in with you.

It’s been a great week for me so far because I’ve been in Chapel Hill working out working out and playing a lot of ball. Lots of current and past UNC players are in town for Coach Williams’ annual basketball camp. If you’re a Tar Heel fan and could have made it to the Smith Center any night this week, you’d have been in Heaven! Guys like Raymond Felton, Sean May, Jawad Williams, Dante Calabria, Shammond Williams, Danny Green, Jerry Stackhouse and I have all been in the building (not to mention the current UNC players and incoming freshman as well). We’ve been working out and playing in some great pickup games.

It’s been amazing watching Shammond Williams and Raymond Felton go head-to-head all week and battling hard! They’ve both looked great. It seems like Jawad Williams never missed a jump-shot the entire time either. And for all of you Tar Heel fans who want to know how this year’s team will look, let me be the first to tell you that they are very talented and we’re going to be in great shape.

Incoming freshman Dexter Strickland looked great. I loved the way he took command of whatever team was on when we played. Freshman John Henson is really going to be special too. He’s NBA lottery pick material after he finds 20 more pounds. His skill level is phenomenal – he’s going to be a beast!

Sophomore Ed Davis looked very impressive as well as the rest of the current Tar Heels out there. So look out for another banner year Heels fans because these boys are stacked once again!

While I was watching Sports Center with some of the guys, we were all shocked to see the story about NFL player Donte’ Stallworth pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter and being sentenced to 30-days in jail and 1000 hours of community service. For me, this really hits home because my mother and I were hit by a drunk driver earlier this year. So let me get this straight, Michael Vick gets two years in jail for killing dogs and Stallworth gets only 30 days for killing someone? Now they say that justice is blind, but even Stevie Wonder can see that more than 30 days in jail was needed here. I think this was a terrible injustice. This is why so many people look at pro athletes with disgust and disdain. I was thoroughly disappointed.

Get at me Yard and let me know what you’re thinking…

B

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Comments (107)

hockeychick23 said June 17, 2009

Well here's the thing. Vick recieved the maximum sentence for his crime. The judge did not go lightly on him and I commend the judge for doing that. It proves that not every athlete can just get off with anything. I have much more respect for Vick than I do for Stallworth, and I'd be happier having Vick play in the NFL than Stallworth.

Anyone who drinks and drive is a loser and a disgusting human being. I was hit by a drunk driver before and I still have problems with it.

Stallworth's sentence is a joke. A miscarriage of justice. No matter what terms the legal system wants to use, in my eyes he murdered someone. And he only gets 30 days in jail for that. If it was someone else they would recieve 3-15 yrs in prision for something like that. Where's the justice? He killed someone. He took away the life of an innocent man. He took someone's family member away from them. I really have no words to describe how disgusted I am by this whole situation. Where I can forgive Vick for what he did, I don't think I could ever forgive Stallworth for what he did.
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- HeatherR replied June 17, 2009
  
  I agree with you Brendan and HC 100%!!
- BrendanHaywood replied June 17, 2009
  
  Great post hockeychick23! I totally agree!
SMH12289 said June 17, 2009

Vick shoulda ran someone over..He'd be back in the league by now and everyone's good gracious..Hate to say it but most ppl are hypocrites..They feel a animals life is more valuable than a persons unless the person is someone they know..Vick got the raw end of the deal any way you slice it and Stallworth got off easy..Why? Because the backlash wasn't as extreme
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- jbeat385 replied July 01, 2009
  
  this is so true. people truley dont care about anyone else unless its someone they know. stallworth should be in jail for life.
hockeychick23 said June 17, 2009

Ah UNC. Lol. Always wanted to go there when I was a kid. Maybe because I was a huge Jordan fan when I was a younging.
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- HeatherR replied June 17, 2009
  
  Ahhhh...HC you have such great taste in UNC. Always been my #1!! I'm a Carolina Girl 100%!!!
speedwell said June 17, 2009

I got broadsided by some drunk old lady while I was driving home from work last month. Thanks to this old hag barfly, my knee got crunched between the door and the steering wheel and I get to have arthroscopic surgery next month.

I've got no sympathy for drunk drivers, and think this "sentence" is ridiculous. Apparently money, fame and the ability to purchase excellent legal service is all you need to get away with murder (cough...OJ).
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 17, 2009
  
  Speedwell, I hope your surgery goes well and I wish you a speedy recovery
- sambot replied June 18, 2009
  
  make sure to keep the pics from the scope, dude. hope surgery goes well. don't overdo it.
NewYorkVinnie said June 17, 2009

This guy opens up his mouth an awful lot for a player who never made it through an NBA Season with out getting hurt. He's telling Lebron what to do all sorts of frickin stuff. Hey Munecho concentrate on your frickin game as much as you do your blog you'll be a star
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- hockeychick23 replied June 17, 2009
  
  well that's a little harsh. I suppose he's not allowed to have his own opinion. There is more to a person than being an athlete. I'm sure he has a life and his own opinions on topics.
- NewYorkVinnie replied June 17, 2009
  
  sorry pretty lady Vinnie did not mean to offend you
- hockeychick23 replied June 17, 2009
  
  Haha sorry. I just think it's good that he has his own opinion on things that are going on as opposed to some athletes who could care less about anything but themselves.
- hockeychick23 replied June 17, 2009
  
  I meant to say haha i'm sorry. It's all good.
- NewYorkVinnie replied June 17, 2009
  
  You not only are pretty your classy too.
- BrendanHaywood replied June 17, 2009
  
  NewYorkVinnie, I don't understand you man. A guy kills somebody while drunk and your mad at me for saying something about it? A drunk driver almost sent me and my mother over a bridge in Dc so I take this topic very seriously!
- Dewey replied June 17, 2009
  
  It's easy to be a hater when you're sitting behind a computer screen. If he saw you at the mall he'd probably ask for your autograph, Brendan.
Dewey said June 17, 2009

http://fanarchy.yardbarker.com/blog/FANARCHY/Legal_system_about_as_fair_as_MLB_parity/709109

30 days is a joke.
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NewYorkVinnie said June 17, 2009

Yo Brendan,
Man I totally agree with you on this only a fool or an imbecile would not. Any goongatz that drinks and drives should be locked in the slammer life with the key thrown away. Luckily St. Christopher was in the car with your mother that day. I am glad you still have her man. I lost my Moms to the Big C when I was 12. If all the things you talked about was as meaningful as this I never would have opened my yap. You know what my man I don't really even like Lebron but it bothered me when everyone piled on him. And there is a history with your 2 clubs my man. I just thought that was a cheap shot on your part
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 17, 2009
  
  NewYorkVinnie, I have to much respect for lebron to take a cheap shot at him. I know some of his teammates and they all say that he is the coolest superstar ever and is a excellent teammate. I have no beef with him or the cavs, when the game is over it's all love my man but when them lights come on it's on! I just don't want to see him make the same mistake again next year if they don't win it all. Kids watch and mimic his actions so I feel he owe's it to them to be the best role model he can be.
HarryPotter said June 17, 2009

i think stallworths sentence is bullsh*t, i dont think its because hes an athlete, the dui sentences are rediculously mild, also comparing it to vick is apples and oranges, they are both idiots and deserve to do alot of time, also dont forget leonard little, that idiot got away with vehicular murder as well, too many people dont remember that
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 18, 2009
  
  HarryPotter you made a great point, DUI laws are way to mild! The tougher the laws the less this would happen.
- jbeat385 replied July 01, 2009
  
  this is true about dui's. my buddy's older brother was driving drunk, he hit another car and then he drove away speeding, hes only 19 so he went to court for a dui, underage and a hit and run and the judge let him go with just the underage and took his license away for only 6 months and some community service. its complete bullshit
Shanelle626 said June 17, 2009

Great point Harry. DUI laws are ridiculously lenient. A guy here in the Bay Area just maimed a man and killed his 9 year old daughter IN A CROSSWALK! The guy had 6 previous DUI convictions yet was somehow still allowed on the road.

Stallworth was able to avoid any real time because he was cooperative from the beginning and most importantly, the family of the victim wanted to put the matter behind them quickly. Both parties have also already reached a financial settlement (I am not implying that his family simply wanted a payout but they seem to have wanted the nightmare to end sooner rather than be dragged through a trial). Now if the family feels this is adequate "justice" than that's their prerogative.

I'm more concerned about the message it sends to every other Tom, Dick and Harriet leaving the bar or party or club or happy hour at TGIFridays and getting behind the wheel because hey, what's the worst that could happen? Someone dies and you can skate away with a slap on the wrist? Too many people willing to gamble with those odds.
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jasminefaronbi said June 17, 2009

Our society is just so backwards right now, today on the radio I just heard that Chicago had to hold back 60% of it's elementary students. Like is that even possible?
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 18, 2009
  
  Jasminefaronbi, How the hell are they gonna hold all those kids back? That's crazy! That comes from straight bad parenting and it's sad to see.
hockeychick23 said June 18, 2009

Unfortunatly in this country we don't have enough teachers. And the ones we do have in areas like that are over worked and underpaid. Schools in the poverty areas as it's called, does not get enough funding. I volunteered at a school a bad part of Minnieoplis once. Kids had to share tattered, outdated books. I heard of a school in either Brooklyn or the Bronx, where a school literally had no glass or anything to cover windows and walls were missing. How is a child suppose to learn in those conditions.
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NewYorkVinnie said June 18, 2009

Brendan My Man you got a new fan tonight. I respect what you are saying. I always thought you guys had just crappola luck as far as the injuries. Your club has a ton of talent and I remember even with the injuries you guys gave Cleveland a tough time in the playoffs. Caron does not get the propers he deserves even though he makes the all star team. Antawn Zero and You with Caron if you guys could just stay healthy would have gone a lot further. Thanks My Man
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Wheelman said June 18, 2009

Drunks and their lawyers go into court and cry elephant tears about how he(she) needs to drive to get to the job, that without a car he`ll be out of work, the family, blah, blah, blah, etc,ad nauseum. Tragically enough, its an effective argument for some of these local judges who are no doubt `happy hour Harry`s` themselves.
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BenPhranklin said June 18, 2009

I have gained a lot of respect for you today Brandon...... I'm very gad to see you stating your opinion. 30 days is a slap in the face of our laws..
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- Wheelman replied June 18, 2009
  
  When you completely respect him Ben, will you spell his name right?
- BenPhranklin replied June 19, 2009
  
  ......Wheelman your such a Fn crybaby about everything..... never seen someone who is completely negative to everyone on every thread......next you'll be tellin me I spell Ben Franklin's name incorrect also..... you splitting hairs and missing the point of the conversation.
- Wheelman replied June 20, 2009
  
  I am negative? To who Ben? Your goombah, Spotella? Yep, that`s true. Your best bro, HarryPotter? Right again. Who else, Ben? Your lyin` little buddies LILEAGLE and BIRDNDAHOOD? Absolutely correct Ben. Maybe your almost twin, Cowboykilla520? Ben, you are on a roll. How about meatgoat, was I rude to him? Wow Ben, you are never wrong! No wonder you`re the greatest Yardbarker, you know everything!
- BenPhranklin replied June 20, 2009
  
  .... those are all bloggers that I respect and blog with.........AND OUT OF RESPECT TO YOURSELF I NEVER DEFENDED THEM OR YOU!.............I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO KEEP STABBING AWAY AT EVERYONE YOU'VE MET ON HERE. You're intelligent and most often offer an outside point of view for many conversations and I HAVE ALWAYS enjoyed that part of your blogging. There does come a time though when you need to pull back on the reigns a bit an reconsider your CONSTANT criticism of other bloggers because it is OFTEN unnecessary. Brendan v. brandon is an easy mistake to make...... there are much worse things to do in this world....... such as drunken vehicular manslaughter, the topic of this original conversation. BE BETTER!
BRINKSTER said June 18, 2009

Vick got what he deserved and Stallworth clearly got off easy. People get thirty days in jail for selling an ounce of marijuana... I mean C'mon, is selling pot as bad as killing someone while you're drunk? Our legal system and government is a complete joke!

Plaxico will probqably get more time in jail and he shot himself in the leg... go figure
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sambot said June 18, 2009

take a picture, i'm agreeing with harrypotter.

these two scenarios are completely apples and oranges. and there are more than a few things to consider.

1. 30 days is definitely a slap in the face to the law, but it is a part of the settlement. the dogs? they can't settle. money makes things better for some plaintiffs, but it doesn't make the roads safer on the whole.

2. one of the differences in the way vick's case was handled is this: he's earned the ire of pet owners. pet owners as a demographic are generally more vocal and have better means than the average citizen, because on the whole they need funds to properly care for their animals. you irritate that subgroup and you've got a whole can of worms, because you have ticked off people with money.

3. i don't like that this was settled, but that's unfortunately how the system works. plea deals go through all the time, and not just for athletes. people get away with DUI entirely too much, and it's extremely unfortunate because it leads people to believe that they can drive drunk and get away with it. it's like shanelle said above, people can get away with 6 DUIs and still be on the road. the guy who killed angels pitcher nick adenhart? had a prior DUI charge. it's been speculated that if he were in jail for said DUI, adenhart may still be alive today. that guy's in jail, sure, but he's a poor dude. no one is "sympathizing" with him. it's a total injustice. it happens when a local family has pull or power. one major case happened here in boston a few years ago, with two girls driving drunk home from a club, struck another car and killed a student. someone's papa had money and boom. settled. she's living the high life from what i hear.

i can understand wanting a case to be over and done with, but it is really setting a terrible example for people. it's subduing the consequence of manslaughter, and it's reducing the sense of accountability that people have for their actions. it's not the fact that he's an athlete or high profile, it's simply the power of the dollar. do us all a favor, brendan, and keep telling these knuckleheads to hire a friggin car service. keeps us all safer.
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- upstateking replied June 18, 2009
  
  Thank you !Someone with common sense when it comes down to it Vick was the escape goat for Peta but what every fails to realize is that his case was a federal case.Surry County Police did not want to touch this case with a 20 ft pole so they gave it to the FBI.Thats why he got all that time.Plus he lied and had his boyz snitch on him in court.
  
  Stallworth's case was not a federal case that doesn't justify what he did don't get me wrong if his case was federal,he would be servicing some serious time like Vick.Settlement or no settlement.
DTRIK19 said June 18, 2009

Let me preface my comment by saying that I do not condone drunk driving for a second. There is a level of responsibility associated with being of drinking age and those who choose to put other people's lives in danger have no respect from me. That being said, I'm not outraged over this ruling or even that terribly upset with Stallworth. This idiot would have died anyway, whether Stallworth had a drop of alcohol in his system or not. He chose to dart into traffic to try and catch a bus. He crossed the street illegally as he was not using a crosswalk. Also this happened around 7am or so I believe? Let's not act like Stallworth just left a party. I obviously do not know exactly what Stallworth was up to that morning, but he was barely over the legal limit....something that could happen to any of us after a party the night before. How many times have we "slept it off" only to still feel a little messed up the next morning? But hey, it's the next morning...surely we must be legally sober by then. All signs point to Stallworth being pretty responsible, he didn't pull a Barkley and stumble to his car before getting in and driving like a buffoon. Was he wrong? Absolutely he was...legally. In this case, alcohol had virtually nothing to do with the guy's death...his own stupidity and being in a hurry to get home is what ended his life.
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 18, 2009
  
  DTRIK19, Your way off on this one buddy. 1st off stallworth was leaving a party at 7am at least that's what they said in the paper. Im not sure if you hang out in miami much but it is really easy to hang out that late down there because there are so many after hours spots. As far as you claiming that stallworth was barely over the legal limit that too is also false. The legal limit for miami is 0.08, stallworth came in around 0.126! That's almost double the legal limit! And last but not least this guy wasn't darting in and out of traffic, he was simply running across the street trying to catch the bus so he could get home to his family. He was not in the cross walk, but how many of us are guilty of that crime? Bottom line is if stallworth hadn't been so buzzed than maybe his reaction time might have been quicker and we wouldn't even be talking about this.
- DTRIK19 replied June 18, 2009
  
  Actually I'm pretty on point with this one B. All stories I read, including the one I just reread on ESPN.com states itwas after a night out at a "swank South Beath nightspot." .126, though illegal is a number where any of us who have had a couple drinks before know its right on the border of us thinking we're ok to drive or we are not. Legally is wrong, but hell, the limit was .10 not too long ago and I think still is in some states. .12 for me is drinking 3 beers in an hour...I can do that without feeling buzzed but I still know it would be illegal for me to get behind the wheel of a car. I never said he was darting in and out of traffic either...I said he darted into traffic which is 100% true. What kind of idiot darts across the MacArthur Causeway like that? He was commiting a crime himself and put his life in jeopardy. I guarantee you he'd still be dead if Donte never touched a drink. The skid marks in this case indicate he reacted as quickly as possible, .126 or not, and that it wouldn't have made a difference. This evidence was presented by experts and thats why he only got 30 days. He knows he did wrong he'd take it back if he could...but .126, .25, or 0.0000, dude's dead.
- hockeychick23 replied June 18, 2009
  
  IMO, If this man wasn't killed by Stallworth, someone else may have been. All because Donte Stallworth decided to drive drunk. My life was almost ended because of someone driving drunk. He said he was ok to drive and that the amount of alcohol he drank didn't effect him as much as it would someone else. Well guess what, he still hit me and I was still in the hopsital for a long time.
- BrendanHaywood replied June 19, 2009
  
  DTRIK19 you are cold blooded! Your talking real ill of the dead! Im staying as far away from your comments as possible. I believe in karma.
scavage said June 18, 2009

real good conversation going on here amongst everyone. intersting insight from all perspectives. this post and subsequent comments are why this site is my homepage. keep up the good work, brendan.
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herr_mask said June 18, 2009

30 days, but also 1000 hours of community service. That is not a light punishment. On the other hand, DUI is a serious danger to basically anyone and it isn't that far-fetched to compare it with attempted manslaughter. Those are always the risks.
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- jaymz77 replied June 18, 2009
  
  his community service will end up being something like reading to kids at a school or something like that, I'm not sure it will be hard labor or him picking up trash on the freeway
mcnabballday said June 18, 2009

don't worry about stall it messed up in both situation if the family is content wit the verdict then what does your voice or mine worry about how the wizards look like the nationals
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PamalaPalma said June 18, 2009

IMO My family is worth more then a million dollars I would of made sure he spent more time in jail. But he will live with the thoughts of killing someone for the rest of his life. But it was the family that took the deal and let him walk. I don't think he sat there that night and ever though he would of killed someone. What people don't get is even one drink starts to impair your reaction time, your thinking, your vison....and when you have the money to have someone drive you when you are going out it just dosen't make sense. I do believe the man would of been hit regardless but with out the drinking maybe he would of had a better chance to react quicker. As far as Vick goes they were tried in differnt courts and he had no family to pay off to make a deal and everyone always leaves out that he, himself had a hand in torchering these dogs on more then one occasion. That why what he did bothers me so much. But both of these men have made there beds ya know. Vick has did his time and Stallworth the family of the man let him walk. They both will live with this forever and they will always be known for what they did. People as you can see will never give them a chance to live a normal life again.I pray for the family of this man and I pray the Lord forgives them... thats the only forgivness that matters and I hope they use there freedom and there fame to make a difference in both cases.
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- PamalaPalma replied June 18, 2009
  
  sorry for any type-o's
hockeygoddess said June 18, 2009

All life is precious, and Stallworth should have received a harsher punishment. Thank you Mr. Hayword for expressing your thoughts and not taking his side because he is a fellow athlete. I do not wish any harm to Stallworth, but iIf the tables were turned and Stallworth was the pedestrian and the other man was the driver, I am sure the sentence would have been much longer.
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UNC23Tarheels said June 18, 2009

Donte Stallworth's sentence is a sign of where Society is heading,Michael Vick spent 2yrs in prison for cruelty to animals (BTW I Do Not Condone) But I am a Forgiving Person ..While Mr.Stallworth took a life,A Human Life!! Something that can't be replaced..Life is to Precious wether your a human or an animal,Yet Our so call Judicial System chose to give Mr.Stallworth 1000hrs of community service and a Loss of his license for life and 24days in prison,actually and the Family will be compensated for their loss,And He'll be allowed to continue playing Professionally,Now I commend him for takingResponsibility and Co-operating with the Authorities..All fine and good,But the Fact of the Matter is a life has been taking away from a family...And No amount of Cash can bring that loved one back Trust Me I know,personally having buried my Younger Brother nearly 2yrs ago...
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htkrocks said June 18, 2009

Mr Haywood!! Glad to hear the Tarheels are set to have another great season!! The issue with Stallworth is unfair and he should've got a harsher sentence. Unfortunately, you can't compare his situation to Vicks. Vick lied his way to a federal indictment and only made an admission when it was obvious would no longer stick. Stallworth quickly made a plea agreement and settled with the victims family.....
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- upstateking replied June 18, 2009
  
  Exactly !Vicks case was a FEDERAL case brendan not local.Surry County Police did not want to touch this case at all so they handed the case to the FBI.My Uncle is a Surry County Cop.Plus he got caught lying on a FEDERAL indictment and his boys snitched on him in court to save there tails. When you have the word FEDERAL in front of your case ,your going to do time.Stallworth's case was local and he didn't lie don't get me wrong it doesn't justify what he did but what we r also failing to realize is that the family took the money very quickly like they didn't get along with the person that was killed if they weren't satisfied ,this case would be on Court TV!!
mitressehc said June 18, 2009

Those two situations are apples and oranges. You can't compare the two.
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 20, 2009
  
  mitressehc, I can compare the two. The cases have some similarities. Two high profile athletes committing a crime, both found guilty, and both cases ended in death. thought I would connect the dots for you.
- mitressehc replied June 22, 2009
  
  No Brendan thos eare all common denomenators but the two are still uncomparable. Vick's case was not about the slaughter of the dogs but for the trafficking of it. Vick Damn sure didn't call the cops on himself he was ratted out. Twice! Stallworth at least had enough human decency to call 911 after he hit the man. He didn't deny wrong doing, he accepted his actions. Vick lied until there was no choice but tell the truth. Again, he lied to the FEDS! Yeah...you're going to loose everything when you do sh!t like that. Even after he was caught his actions continued to remain deplorable until he had no choice, unlike Stallworth who was trying to do the right thing, (even though he did the wrong thing by driving intoxicted), but he admitted guilt and was not forced too or snitched on, he was a man about it. Other than what you stated, as far as the similarities go, those are about it, given the way you described it, that could be every NFL off-season's legal issues.
changinator said June 18, 2009

truly an injustice...if you remember the death of angels rookie pitcher nick adenhart just a couple months ago too at the beginning of baseball season, he was killed by a drunk driver...the man who killed adenhart and the people in his car is being charged with not only 1 but 3 counts of 2nd degree murder. here's the story: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11834301 so stallworth is in the same situation but he only gets 30 days?
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jahwarrior said June 18, 2009

I thought for sure Donte would be done for life. I hope the NFL, throws out a couple season or a ban for life, this is a joke. Vick should be reinstated. As much money as these guys make, I would have someone drive me, when I choose to drink.

I don't think I have ever seen a player reply to his blog. I have new respect for you Haywood
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DraftNation said June 18, 2009

While, yes, obviously the Vick and Stallworth situations are different from a strictly legal perspective, in that Vick dug himself a bigger and bigger hole through dishonesty and irresponsibility, the common sense aspect of it is not, and Mr. Haywood hits the nail on the head.

In legal terms, Vick's sentence makes sense. But remove the nuances of the law and put the two acts next to each other. Vick killed a few dogs and went to prison for 23 months. Stallworth killed a person and gets 30 days in jail. There's something wrong with that. Mike Vick has been vilified (and perhaps with good reason) but a human life and the life of an animal are just not equivalent.
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brownwarriors said June 18, 2009

I agree, the society we live in has damaged the moral rights of many people. A man kills a human and receives less punishment, than one who kills animals.
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mitressehc said June 18, 2009

He didn't get his time from actually killing the dogs it was for trafficking and taking his gambling and his dog show on the road. Now the rap he is getting from our animal lover media and probably a whole lot of pet owners i feel is just because of the way he killed those animals that lost and survived was just a tad bit psychotic, what happened to Stallworth could have happened to any of us and the man seems very remorseful for his actions. More than I could actually say for you guy's hero Mr. Vick. I do not condone drinking and driving and do agree that Stallworth should have gotten a stiffer sentence but lets not paint Vick as a man who is innocent of being a monster. He is still just that.
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 20, 2009
  
  mitressehc, nobody said vick wasn't wrong for his crimes. He was dead wrong and he was punished for it. He lost everything! and did two years in jail! I think stallworth's crime was more serious to me though. Quick question, what is a bigger problem in our society dog fighting or drunk driving? The answer is drunk driving! This is the reason stallworth deserved a stiffer penalty. 6054 DUI deaths already! and were still in june
w333man said June 18, 2009

Michael Vick is not behind bars for just killing those innocent dogs. He was charged with gambling, tax evasion, trafficking, racketeering, etc. Vick did get off lightly for his crimes as well as Donte Stallworth. What troubles me is that the law can never be consistent. The difference between them two is that Vick knew he was doing and kept doing it. When Stallworth hit that man, he stopped and tried to help. He cooperated with the authorities. Also, Stallworth made a settlement with the victim's family. The 4 guys (might have been 3) ratted on Vick's operation and got a lesser charge.

What is sad about all these situations is that Donte (this year's Leonard Little) will play football and make millions, Vick (like it or not) will get another opportunity to play football again whether be in the NFL or the small football organizations. Money does not buy everything, but it does pay for second chances. Hopefully, these athletes don't pull a Pacman Jones and become good role models.
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GETMONEY said June 18, 2009

yoooooooooo brendan............dirty..i feel u.. and to be honest .i think u really say something about it... im a huge vick fan..and from the south..what he did was wrong true.. 2..i dont felt like he should have got..but personal opinon.. but 30 in jail...tthats some bs....... and the funny thing ( not so funny) but stallsworth.. killed somebody and got 30 days.............plaxico shot him self and getting 2 years........................lmao..
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hockeygoddess said June 18, 2009

I do feel bad for Stallworth - he has to live with the guilt for the rest of his life and honestly, I cannot say that I have never driven over the legal limit - I've never been totally blitzed and driving but I have driven after a few drinks. I do think he should have had a harsher punishment - he took someone's life.
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SmackBack said June 18, 2009

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SmackBack said June 18, 2009

I'm glad I heard about you're blog Brendan!! Both situations are sad and ridiculous at the same time but they do parallel our society. Money is the root of all evil, especially in the hands of the wrong people. It makes you feel like you can buy your way in and out of everything. It also impairs logical decisions just as much as alcohol or drugs. Donte definitely should've received more time and more than likely would have except for the family felt that 1 million dollars would make everything go away. We'll hear from them again when the money is gone and Donte is doing celebration dances in the end zone or ESPN shows how much he has made since being freed. As far as Vick goes, even though its wrong, illegal and immoral fighting dogs was part of the culture he grew-up in. In the real dirty of the south its fighting dogs, moonshine, and a lot of other nationally illegal things done for fun. It doesn't make it right but you have to be part of a culture to even get close to getting such as the one he was in to understand. A lot of countries allow this same activity and its not illegal (No society or country allows or tolerates DUI's). Vick did lie his way into jail and he had help from some of his so-called homies in getting there. We know and he knew it was illegal just as all people who do illegal things know. What he didn't know was that PETA will not cease until they get there wayand even after the dust has clear and your free PETA becomes your shadow . You don't mess with PETA!!!!! Once they were aboard i knew it was over. What we as a society should be concentrating on is getting equal law across each state for all crimes on the local, county, state and federal level. This way every man is held to an equal standard no matter the lawyer or amount of monies can sway a verdict. Both gentlemen I'm sure are nice guys but they both knew what they were doing was against the law. I don't hope jail on anyone except the deserving and they both deserve what they have gotten and maybe more.
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25smooth said June 18, 2009

I'm glad I heard about you're blog Brendan!! Both situations are sad and ridiculous at the same time but they do parallel our society. Money is the root of all evil, especially in the hands of the wrong people. It makes you feel like you can buy your way in and out of everything. It also impairs logical decisions just as much as alcohol or drugs. Donte definitely should've received more time and more than likely would have except for the family felt that 1 million dollars would make everything go away. We'll hear from them again when the money is gone and Donte is doing celebration dances in the end zone or ESPN shows how much he has made since being freed. As far as Vick goes, even though its wrong, illegal and immoral fighting dogs was part of the culture he grew-up in. In the real dirty of the south its fighting dogs, moonshine, and a lot of other nationally illegal things done for fun. It doesn't make it right but you have to be part of a culture to even get close to getting such as the one he was in to understand. A lot of countries allow this same activity and its not illegal (No society or country allows or tolerates DUI's). Vick did lie his way into jail and he had help from some of his so-called homies in getting there. We know and he knew it was illegal just as all people who do illegal things know. What he didn't know was that PETA will not cease until they get there wayand even after the dust has clear and your free PETA becomes your shadow . You don't mess with PETA!!!!! Once they were aboard i knew it was over. What we as a society should be concentrating on is getting equal law across each state for all crimes on the local, county, state and federal level. This way every man is held to an equal standard no matter the lawyer or amount of monies can sway a verdict. Both gentlemen I'm sure are nice guys but they both knew what they were doing was against the law. I don't hope jail on anyone except the deserving and they both deserve what they have gotten and maybe more.
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RocketsFan said June 18, 2009

B-Wood, don't let idiots like NewYorkVinnie get to ya. I was broadsided by a drunk driver 6 years ago and my sister-in-law's sister was killed by a drunk driver in California. I mean seriously. Call a freakin' cab! I commend you Brendan for having the courage and audacity to criticize an athlete. I know athletes are a fraternity of brotherhood, but what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. Stallworth should have done much harder time than he was sentenced. No monetary compensation is enough to bring back a HUMAN life.
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bobapower said June 18, 2009

Hey Brendan, good post. It is refreshing to see an athlete give his honest opinion on not side with other pros just because of your common professions.
I agree with you and others that I thought the penalty is lite. I hope the victim family is compensated heavily financially. I also hope that Stallworth has to pays/donates big bucks towards education and prevention of drinking and driving.
Yes, we've all been guilty of some DUI at one point, but let's hope everyone has learned their lessons and smarten up.

Lastly, it is so true that Americans value animals over human beings. We see this all the time. So many people donate or volunteer to animal charities, but not to orgs that help the poor people around the world.
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

stop deleting my comments........whats the point of this site if you do that?
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

they deleted all my comments......i take that as a compliment
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- BenPhranklin replied June 20, 2009
  
  I feel your pain monster
SoCalFan said June 18, 2009

II don't follow the Wizards (Lakers fan), so I'm not familiar with you, but I heard you on the Dan Patrick Show this a.m. I was impressed by how well-spoken you are. Not only did I agree with your ideas about pro athletes, but I was taken by how well you expressed yourself. Frankly, it was a breath of fresh air, because so many pros are unable to communicate effectively. Keep up the good work.
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 19, 2009
  
  SoCalFan, thanks for the kind words
- uncgrad08 replied June 22, 2009
  
  That's because he's a UNC grad. Gotta give credit where credit's due...GO HEELS! So glad to see you're back in Chapel Hill big man - I can't get enough of the Tar Heel family!
MONSTER said June 18, 2009

gone again? lol
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

wow my comments got deleted already lol..........i take that as a compliment
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

if i was jobless and broke as hell i can still think of better ways to go about making money than dog fighting............now answer this.........you are the highest paid qb in the nfl........now why would you risk all that to illegally make straight up chump change dog fighting like you have no job? answer: cause he's a retard....................but as far as the whole stallworth case, good thing he isnt a white dude or this would be the biggest story ever............everyone would say ohhhhhhh pooooor vick he gets all this time for killing "just dogs" while this white athlete gets 30 days for killing a man.........that would have been annoying..........but that whole mike vick argument about him getting all that time cause he was black sure stopped being talked about when everyone heard about stallworth......why is that?
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 20, 2009
  
  Monster you may have a point, I do think the race card was unfairly played in the vick case. He earned his way into jail!
MONSTER said June 18, 2009

he didnt hit another driver he hit a man who didnt have enough sense to look both ways before crossing an 8 lane higheway..........and one more time the family took the MONEY and called it a wrap..........but this has nothing to do with vick being a douche....even if you think stallworth is now the worst person on the planet it doesnt make vick less of a douche........brendan are you related to vick or something, cause you sure try to subliminally back him up any chance you get........what are peoples obsession with vick?
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- SmackBack replied June 18, 2009
  
  Come on Monster...before Brendan rips you a new one I willor should I say heres another compliment!!! I see why they're were getting deleted....its a sports obsession just like all sports fans have for their favorite athlete or team. What is your obsession with non-thought out comments, not just one but all of them are simple minded. The money Vick was betting was far from chump change, and race has nothing to do with DUI's (stupid blacks, whites, browns and every other color have done it), and if anything common sense should tell you and everybody else out there it doesn't matter if you look both ways cause running across any highway can get you killed. Tell me what is your submlinal message?
- BrendanHaywood replied June 20, 2009
  
  nah monster im not related to vick, im just a man with a opinion. I never defended vick, I said he deserves a 2nd chance at football and life and I said his punishment seemed kinda harsh compared to stallworths. That's not exactly defending the man. Make sure you read the blog carefully before you comment!
2StepsAway said June 18, 2009

In all honesty, the sentence did not shock me. I say it time & time again.... WE do not place a high value on human life at all...

I am sure that judge has been hearing it since he handed the sentence down... that was some crap & sadly, WHEN it happens again, I do not expect the result to be any different.

You do not need to be a huge fan or relative of Michael Vick to draw the comparisons - two NFL players that committed crimes... one bankrolled a dog fighting ring - dogs died. Two years. One drinks & makes the decision to get behind the wheel. A human life is lost. 30 days. There is no excuse for the disparity in the sentences. Wait - is 30 days even a sentence? Barkley got 3 days for hsi DUI.

It makes no sense & again, there is no excuse. If you or I make the same decision & a life is lost, please believe that my mother & father would be making monthly trips to visit.....
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MONSTER said June 18, 2009

this site blows.......now my comments pop back up hours later
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MONSTER said June 19, 2009

and like you said you can get hit crossing the highway even if you look both ways .........exactly why the dude was dumb..........and my point on bringing up race was before this stallworth stuff ALOT of people were trying to act like vick got all that time because he is black.....but when another black man gets only 30 days for his crime then the whole race argument goes out the window
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whipjacka said June 19, 2009

VICK DIDN'T GET SUCH A HARSH PENALTY FOR KILLING DOGS!! IT WAS THE INTERSTATE GAMBLING, MAKING IT A FELONY.
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RickInAtlanta said June 19, 2009

Brendan, heard you on the Dan Patrick show and as a guy who did 20 years in TV news, I just have to say you have a fantastic broadcasting career awaiting you after hoops if you want that kind of future. You're already more intelligent, articulate and (this is the important one) courageous in expressing your opinions than 95% of the professionals talkers out there. I hope you'll seriously consider it--although you'll have to learn to put up with a lot of dolts who can't understand a bit of nuance. Like, for example, the nuance in your position on the Vick/Stallworth thing.
In the meantime, I hope you have a long and satisfying athletic career before you have to even think about what's next.
By the way, as an Atlanta resident and a guy who used to root for Vick, I agree 100% that he has paid his debt and should be allowed to resume his career. Only not here. I can't ever cheer for this guy again, although I wouldn't like to see him punished further (2 years' hard time in Leavenworth is enough).
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- BrendanHaywood replied June 20, 2009
  
  Thanks RicklnAtlanta, your comments mean a lot
harrill7 said June 20, 2009

It is refreshing to hear someone in a high profile situation speak out against what happened with Stallworth. That case set back the court system 50 years.
I am glad to see you praise Strickland and the rest of the current UBC BB team. I think this group is special, and could defend the title . Just wondering if Stackhouse will really retire, or after what happened last season go out as an active player and play next season. Dallas certainly did him no favors. Good luck next year-hope it will be your best.
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MONSTER said June 20, 2009

i read the blog correctly i just wanted to break your balls.........but atleast you are with me on the race card.........its funny how it gets pulled when vick gets two years but when another black man does something that some people feel is worse than vick's crime and only gets 30 days his race never gets brought up........like i said if this was a white man who only got 30 days it would have been 20 times bigger of a story........and then you really would have been hearing.........."awwww poor vick,thats not right,its cause he's black"
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OhioYardman said June 21, 2009

Brendan: As both a HEELS fan and a Cleveland BROWNS fan, let me share the prevailing opinion from the Browns' boards: We hope management releases him. It's crude to say "he killed as many people as he caught TD passes last year", but it's the truth.

As far as the victim's family is conerned: they were probably offered more money than the deceased would earn in twenty years. I wan't born rich, so I can somewhat understand where they're coming from. It's clearly up to the NFL to impose the heavy sentence Stallworth so richly deserves.
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satchmore said June 22, 2009

Ok Brendan, enough of the small-talk: who should the Wizards pick in the draft? Antawn says he'd take Derozan - says he reminds him of Vince. I'm high on Curry. Who would you choose at #5? (Assuming Blake, Thabeet, Rubio, and Harden are gone)
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Bullets230 said June 23, 2009

Hey Brendan, I was wondering why doesn't the NBA use the D-League more often to get players? If there isn't any good options in free agency or the draft why not turn to the D-League?
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satchmore said June 23, 2009

Let me revise that earlier question. Brendan, what are your impressions of Randy Foye?
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JustSayin said June 24, 2009

Let's get a few details right. First off, Donte Stallworth did not get 30 days and 1000 hours of community service. You're forgetting the 2 years of house arrest and 10 years of probation as well. Secondly, Michael Vick's acts were on-going and the killing of the dogs was intentional. Stallworth, while making a very bad decision to drive while intoxicated, did not INTEND to kill Mr.Reyes and did not make an effort to avoid culpability and conceal his crime from the police, as Vick did.

Finally, and most importantly, there is a lot of uncertainty as to whether the prosecution would have been able to get a conviction against Donte Stallworth. A very reasonable case could be made that the accident was caused by Mr. Reyes' decision to run across 4 lanes of high speed traffic rather than Stallworth's drinking. I'm not excusing what Donte Stallworth did--he was wrong to drive drunk, but there is an argument, perhaps even a strong one, that could be made that even a sober Donte Stallworth driving at the speed limit would have been unable to avoid the accident. If that's the case, DUI Manslaughter would have been impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. I know it's impolitic to suggest the victim bears some of the blame, but if you read the details of what happened, that's the reality with which we are faced.

That being said, a DUI manslaughter case would have been very difficult if not impossible to prove. Hence the plea agreement. Remember, while you say he got off lightly (and he did for a DUI Manslaughter charge), the flip side is that if Stallworth's lawyers could convince the jury that Mr. Reyes' actions caused the accident, Donte Stallworth would not be guilty of DUI Manslaughter and only of a first offense DUI. 30 days in jail, 2 years of house arrest, 10 years of probation, 1000 hours of community service, and a lifetime suspension of his driving privileges is a VERY steep punishment for a first offense DUI.
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deephouser said June 26, 2009

Don't discount the role that the victim's family played in the sentence of Stallworth. Remember that a large financial settlement was reached with them. I'm willing to bet that as a part of the settlement Stallworth had the victim's family requested leniancy for Stallworth.

Drunk driving is horrible and here's a case where millions of dollars gets a guy out of it. The judge neglected his responsibility to the public, to those that elected him, and to ever victim of drunk driving. His criminal punishment should be not correlated, at all, to any financial settlements made on the civil side of the house. Unfortunately I think that's exactly what happened.
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navstar said June 29, 2009

Totally agree and was shocked at Stallworth punishment. It was not the judge, however, it was the Miami DA accepting the plea deal. On Mike Vick I think the sentence was as much for the illegal gambling operation he was funding and heading up than the horrible treatment of the dogs. Brendan, why don't you come join Lebron and Shaq with the Cavs this year. I absolutely love your game and the way that you bring it, even though I am a Cavs fan! Respect from CLE
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HeelYes said June 30, 2009

Brendan: I know this blog and the reader comments have been dominated by your comments regarding DUI enforcement and the need for our society to properly control alcohol consumption and well, any activity. After all, driving is not the only way drinking creates victims. The amount of physical and psychological abuse of spouses and children by people under the influence is a serious issue as well. But I hope you don't mind if I return to more the pleasant and less important issues of Carolina basketball. You see, I'm a passionate fan and believe the program to be the classiest, and most deserved of admiration, in sports.

Can you tell us a little more about the pickup games at the Smith Center this summer? Inquiring minds want to know (about how Ginyard's recovery has come, about the talents of the freshmen, about how you and Ed Davis battle for defensive dominance, etc.).

By the way, I live in DC and truly look forward to seeing you enjoy a full season with the Wizards. The moves recently made by Cleveland (with Shaq - and you are one of the only players that's held his own against him) and Orlando (Vince nust be happy to be back home in FL) means the East is going to be real tough to win. But, with Gilbert, Antawn, Caron, you and the rest of a very balanced set of perimeter players I don't think anyone should look past the Wizards. Get after it! From Worst to First is a real possibility for a club returning from so many injuries!
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