Phx-Suns.Net

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc ... /17202009/

Former Phoenix Suns forward Richard Dumas had seven shoplifting counts dismissed following a hearing in downtown Phoenix Monday morning, but the former NBA player still faces seven felony allegations from a Glendale retail-theft case.

Wasn't sure this needed its own thread...

Maybe he and Chapman can hang out together.

I think he's running the Westside Warriors club team. I wonder what the parents think about character of this guy teaching their kids.

Superbone wrote:Maybe he and Chapman can hang out together.

They can form a rec league team sponsored by Joe Arpaio ....

I find it fascinating that he is working night shift janitorial services.

Its a DOOM-BOOM!

"I once played against Michael Jordan in the finals....now I shop lift".

Dudes working as a janitor?!!!

Not that surprising - he had a short career, a substance abuse problem, and there are plenty of players who made a lot more who are flat broke.

The late Ray Williams (a former NBA All-Star) spent some time homeless living in his car -

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-New ... ness-video

Former Boston Celtic Eric Williams claimed to be homeless and broke -

http://newsone.com/3005978/eric-williams-nba-broke

Another was former Washington Bullet Joe Pace -

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/05/17 ... s-shelter/

There are also plenty of former NBA players who spent time in prison including a few other formers Suns, like the late Paul Stovall (forgery), Oliver Miller (assault), Mike Niles (serving a life sentence for having his wife killed), Suns' draft choice Jayson Williams (manslaughter) and sort-of Sun Keon Clark (weapons charge).

Niles' story isn't a very pretty one -

http://articles.latimes.com/1992-10-13/ ... ndon-niles
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-25/ ... hael-niles

He was a knucklehead 20 years ago, and he's a knucklehead now.

These guys are basketball players, not necessarily Rhodes scholars.

Connie Hawkins was functionally illiterate until his mid-20s.

And the system had always been set up to exploit their athletic ability, not to educate them or hold them accountable for their off-court choices.

The Bobster wrote:And the system had always been set up to exploit their athletic ability, not to educate them or hold them accountable for their off-court choices.

Still is.

You have to decide for yourself what kind of person you are going to be.

Absolutely, but college sports should be more than school-sponsored entertainment designed to bring in billions of dollars.

If a student doesn't meet the minimum standards for admission for your average student, isn't working towards an actual degree and can't conduct themselves in an acceptable manner they shouldn't be participating in college athletics.

The system they have had over the last 70-80 years is an embarrassment.

JCSunsfan wrote:You have to decide for yourself what kind of person you are going to be.

True.

Unfortunately, too many of these guys have been set up as demi-gods in the environments/schools where they grew up. Too much hubris can be dangerous.

LazarusLong wrote:Unfortunately, too many of these guys have been set up as demi-gods in the environments/schools where they grew up. Too much hubris can be dangerous.

That's the truth. For example, not everybody can handle being worshipped as well as I do, because most people aren't as humble as I am despite being so awesome.

It starts with the AAU and high school team, if not earlier.

Everywhere a player turns there's a potential hanger-on wanting his piece of the pie and telling him how great he is.

Mori Chu wrote:

LazarusLong wrote:Unfortunately, too many of these guys have been set up as demi-gods in the environments/schools where they grew up. Too much hubris can be dangerous.

That's the truth. For example, not everybody can handle being worshipped as well as I do, because most people aren't as humble as I am despite being so awesome.

Speak for yourself. There are plenty of us that can handle being overly worshipped. Well, "overly" would imply it is more worship than I am worth, and we all know that isn't possible.

I was at my niece and nephews high school graduation in May 2013 and saw Oliver Miller. His daughter was graduating. I couldn't help myself and said hi and snagged a picture with him. Tried to post the picture, but I guess I am not html qualified to make that happen.