“A real funny guy”
“They tried to make me go to rehab, I said ‘No, no, no.’” – Amy Winehouse
Michael Beasley, elevated (Photo: flickr.com)
In his player biography on the Miami Heat Web site, Michael Beasley says that one thing most people don’t know about him is that he’s “a real funny guy.” But as reports from the NBA indicate, it appears that Michael “B-Easy” Beasley, former Kansas State star and first round selection of the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft is coming apart at the seams. If his stock in the league were a credit card, he’d be in default.
And you wonder why David Stern wants higher age limits?
Sudden exposure to the NBA lifestyle, from the money to the grind to the groupies, is a difficult transition for any rookie. It requires maturity, guidance and good decision-making. When players come straight out of high school or a partial college career and enter the league, they experience all the shocks and temptations. Sharks and hangers-on go hunting for fresh meat first, as they’re typically the most susceptible to the siren song.
NBA Commissioner David Stern was recently able to get the minimum age for entering players raised. Will he have to do it again? If young players can’t handle the pressure and continue to make stupid mistakes that harm not only their image and fortune but those of their team and city, another change might be wise.
A young man who likes to party… in Miami?
Michael Beasley is 20 years old. He played only one season at Kansas State, and while his freshman season was dominant on the court, think back to when you were a college freshman. Were you mature at that age? Consider how athletes are pampered and sheltered from things that could distract them from their play, and what you have is a very young man (a boy) thrown into the lion’s den of the NBA. And Beasley hasn’t been able to handle the pressure. He has checked into a rehabilitation program in Houston and could be there for at least 30 days.
What happened? Well, according to the Kansas City Star, Beasley was fined $50,000 for being involved in a hotel room soiree with fellow rookies Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur during the NBA rookie symposium. There were women in the room, as well as bags of marijuana. In everyday terms that isn’t shocking for young men. But when athletes are paid big money to represent their team in the community, clean, responsible behavior is required.
Now he may be suicidal or otherwise disturbed
Check out the TwitPic of Beasley, angel wings and all. “SuperCoolBeas” may claim to be angelic, but this angel ascends high in the sky with artificial aids. There are plastic baggies in the picture that allegedly contain marijuana. It’s hard to tell from the photo. After Beasley posted it to Twitter and made some desperate-sounding statements, the Miami Heat was in touch with him. They encouraged him to seek “possible psychological and substance-abuse problems,” says the Chicago Sun-Times.
Desperate statements? Yes. Here are the two that had Michael Beasley’s team, fans, friends and family worried:
- “Y do I feel like the whole world is against me…I can’t win for losin.”
- “Feelin like it’s not worth livin!!!!!!! I’m done.”
Sounds like more than just a bad day, and hopefully Michael Beasley gets the help he needs.
Be balanced, be prepared
Apply Now!I think that while nobody was shot or killed in this Michael Beasley scenario, it still reminds me of the whole Michael Vick/Donte Stallworth/Plaxico Burress triad of immaturity. Athletes are given the world but not pushed to develop the maturity to be able to handle that world. It would be difficult for anyone to deal with all of the things placed at professional athletes’ feet. If you’re young and have gone through life with a sense of entitlement, you definitely aren’t ready. And you definitely shouldn’t have a credit card until you’ve learned to balance your budget.
Bare minimum, players should have to graduate from college or a developmental league program if their goal is to make it in the NBA or any other professional sport. I know that some kids have no intention of going to class or learning anything, which is tragic. So give that scholarship to somebody who will care about their education as well as sports. Players with all the athletic skill but none of the study habits can attend a developmental camp of the same length of time as college (four years). The NBA and its teams should put that camp together. There is enough money to make it a reality; no credit card maxing would be necessary. Michael Beasley appears to be ready-made for such a developmental camp, once he sorts out his psychological issues.
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Here’s the problem. People who were raised with little to no money, lived in run-down densely populated areas are not used to big money, especially when it comes in all at once. And I’m not trying to diss on anyone here; I am also from the ghetto. I grew up in a small house with a big family. I know how it is to struggle and have nothing. I’m not a rich person, but I definitely worked hard to get to where I am today.
People who grew up in similar backgrounds generally do not understand the importance of money management. There is typically less communication within the family. Many children are raised in unsafe environments and have no morals because there was no one there to instill moral values in the first place. There was no one to show them what’s good and bad and point out their rights from their wrongs. This eventually becomes a part of a never-ending cycle that rolls on to the next generation.
So without proper guidance, these children grow up with no clue on how to react with the world and its rewards and punishments. When you hand someone a large sum of money, someone who had never even held a $50 bill, they’re going to go crazy… literally. They don’t have the brains to sit down and think like a wise man would. They will spend that money on whatever or whoever they choose. Michael Beasley is 20 years old and still has a lot to learn.
I think part of the whole drugs in sports debacles is how we treat our athletes in this country. They get lighter sentences than the rest of us – and it’s bogus. If this guy’s entrance into rehab is from an honest desire to rehabilitate and get healthy, than it’s commendable, if it’s just to avoid the consequences, then he should the book thrown at him.
In other sports around the world, if a player is found to have done drugs the consequences are usually severe. Steroids or recreational drugs are usually accompanied by a ban of over a year, in some cases two or more, and are usually the death knell of a career, especially if the player is getting a bit on the older side.
For instance, Wendell Sailor – played professional rugby in Australia. He tested positive for cocaine and was banned for two years. He recently started playing again, but it was the end of his international career – granted, playing professionally again but he’ll never play for the national team again. Matt Stevens, a player for England’s team, same story – two year ban, and he was approaching 30. He won’t likely be able to play professionally again. Those sort of standards should be applied to the NFL, the NBA, the MLB – none of this cheeky, pansy, you’re out for a month or two – you’re out for a few years. If testing positive means a potential end to their careers, then they’ll be a bit more likely to knock it off, won’t they? It’ll be in their best interest to not only not do drugs, but not declare draft eligibility before they get out of college so they at least have something to fall back on.