NBA rookie throws girlfriend down stairs

Jared Lash · #1 08-16-2010, 03:28 PM

So Lance Stephenson, who dropped in the NBA draft due to a checkered past and red flags about his character seemingly proved those doubts to have merit.

After an argument with his girlfriend (who is the mother of his child) he allegedly assaulted her, threw her down the stairs and then slammed her head on the bottom step. Shades of NFL scumbag Lawrence Phillips.

He faces up to 12 years in jail and may forfeit the million dollar contract he recently signed. What is wrong with people?

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hi...for_assau.html

MJ5150 · #2 08-16-2010, 03:32 PM

The guy probably figured a few years ago that all these kinds of problems would be behind him once he got to the NBA and made the big money.

-Mike

Phil Smith · #3 08-16-2010, 03:59 PM

A not ready for prime time player.

Smokin' Toaster · #4 08-16-2010, 04:08 PM

And how many kids do you think want to be just like him?

"Yeah, I'll be a basketball star and throw my b&%#h down the stairs and kick her head too!!"

The authorities should make an example out of him so kids say "I don't want to be like HIM!!!"

But they wont.

Sorry... end of rant.

Jared Lash · #5 08-16-2010, 04:16 PM

I don't know about that. He faces up to 12 years in jail. And if he's only convicted on the most serious count it carries a seven year sentence.

Obviously it's absolutely atrocious that ANYONE beat a woman and throw her down stairs, let alone the mother of their child, but Stephenson is also forfeiting a chance a millions of dollars.

If he is indeed guilty of the charges I hope he goes away for quite a few years.

elgecko · #6 08-16-2010, 04:19 PM

My guess is that he was the "star athlete" in high school who got away with more than he should have and he never quite figured out how to be a "normal" person.

Jared Lash · #7 08-16-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

My guess is that he was the "star athlete" in high school who got away with more than he should have and he never quite figured out how to be a "normal" person.

Bingo.

In the article I linked to in the OP it even states that the girl's parents knew of previous abuse and didn't report it because they didn't want to ruin his potential NBA career. Which likely translates to, "we knew he would be making a ton of mone and kept our mouths shut so we could get a piece of it".

Terrible.

hover · #8 08-16-2010, 04:52 PM

more proof that a skewed sense of reality, a desensitizing of violence and a rampant sense of entitlement never mix well.

enjoy the slammer, scumbag. may your kid be lucky enough to forget you're alive, or at least be taught to learn from your mistakes.

Pilgrim · #9 08-16-2010, 04:53 PM

And people wonder why the NBA has a terrible image.....

Shared with all too many pro sports.

Phil Smith · #10 08-16-2010, 05:02 PM

When you worship people like gods this is the result.

Dr. Cheese · #11 08-16-2010, 05:04 PM

Lance Stephenson has screwed up royally for sure, and he is not the only NBA player to do so. I don't think it says anything negative about NBA players overall. From what I can see, over the last ten years, the number of players getting arrested for domestic violence has probably declined. I know David Stern is pretty hard on that sort of thing as well as many team owners and GMs.

The main thing about any athlete who gets arrested is that there are so many fans who follow players. I mean seriously, I'm a pretty good sports fan, and I had never heard of this guy, yet his arrest warrants significant internet time, and a thread on TB. Why should his arrest mean more to me than that of a battering plummer, cop, or college professor?

Jared Lash · #12 08-16-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

When you worship people like gods this is the result.

I don't think nearly as many kids idolize sports figures today as in years past. But I think a LOT more kids (and adults) dream of the exorbitant salaries that major sports stars garner.

And so you see kids that have massive potential as early as junior high start to be considered a gravy train to a lot of people around them who start giving them celebrity status and the green light to act completely inappropriately because they have the ability to make millions down the line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

The main thing about any athlete who gets arrested is that there are so many fans who follow players. I mean seriously, I'm a pretty good sports fan, and I had never heard of this guy, yet his arrest warrants significant internet time, and a thread on TB. Why should his arrest mean more to me than that of a battering plummer, cop, or college professor?

I can't answer why it should mean more to you in particular. But as for why it is more newsworthy? For the same reason that it would be if some soap star that most TBers didn't know did the same thing. Or for that matter, a very well known and published college professor. Because while he isn't LeBron James, he IS one of only 400 or so people on the planet talented enough to play basketball on the highest level. That makes him a (albeit low level) celebrity of sorts AND a millionaire.

I know who he is because I am a big basketball fan. He was at one time regarded at one of the nation's top recruits before character issues came to light. And he was playing very well in the summer league which boded well for his potential chances on the NBA level.

I find it more interesting than a story about a battering plumber (to use your example) because the stakes were so much higher for him. If convicted he may have completely blown his chance at pro ball and millions of dollars. Then again, Lawrence Phillips did something very similar and still found jobs in the NFL. Of course he never changed and is now serving 30 years for beating another woman and driving his car into a group of teenagers that angered him in a pickup football game.

Phil Smith · #13 08-16-2010, 05:10 PM

It's amazing that this guy could be in a position to attract so many great and interesting women and he's so pathologically caught up into one that he's probably blown his whole future. What a waste.

elgecko · #14 08-16-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Why should his arrest mean more to me than that of a battering plummer, cop, or college professor?

That's the price of fame.

sloasdaylight · #15 08-16-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Why should his arrest mean more to me than that of a battering plummer, cop, or college professor?

Cause he got paid 1 Million dollars to play a game.

Dr. Cheese · #16 08-16-2010, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

That's the price of fame.

He's not that famous. How many here heard of him before the arrest?

Dr. Cheese · #17 08-16-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Cause he got paid 1 Million dollars to play a game.

That's not that much of a reason. If he were a successful real estate agent or a doctor, he would probably have much more real wealth than the average NBA player, and no one would care if he were arrested for domestic violence.

IMO, NBA players fit a popular image of a "thug" for many people, and when one acts like a thug, many jump on the story because it fits their preconcepttion.

As for Mr. Stephenson, he made his bed, and he will have to lay in it. I just see no reason to make any broad ssumptions about his profession based on his situation.

Jared Lash · #18 08-16-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

He's not famous. How many her heard of him before the arrest?

I had. But of course that's why I read the story in the first place and why I created the thread.

I agree that most casual sports fans probably don't know his name. But he is the alltime leading scorer for high school basketball in New York state. Big basketball fans know who he is just like big football fans would know guys like Taylor Mays, Jahvid Best and others who weren't necessarily high draft picks this year.

sloasdaylight · #19 08-16-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

That's not that much of a reason. If he were a successful real estate agent or a doctor, he would probably have much more real wealth than the average NBA player, and no one would care if he were arrested for domestic violence.
Much of a reason or not, that's why people do that.

IMO, NBA players fit a popular image of a "thug" for many people, and when one acts like a thug, many jump on the story because it fits their preconcepttion.
This happens for all professional sports for the most part, and it goes beyond that, because the media and people are attracted to negatives, specifically, EPIC negatives, and throwing your girlfriend down the stairs then bashing her skull into the bottom step qualifies.

As for Mr. Stephenson, he made his bed, and he will have to lay in it. I just see no reason to make any broad ssumptions about his profession based on his situation.

.

elgecko · #20 08-16-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

He's not famous. How many her heard of him before the arrest?

Well...as a 2nd round (formerly 1st round) NBA draft pick, fame was imminent.

The NBA hasn't made a decision yet but if his contract is rescinded, he'll be famous as the douche who blew an NBA contract by savagely beating his girlfriend.

If he loses his contract and somehow doesn't end up doing time, he can still play in the Euro league and still have a pretty decent life...unfortunately!