thedoper wrote:Camden0916 wrote:thedoper wrote:Like I said, tough situation. But to me, these guys and their families should know not to take any money as charity, bottom line. This has been the situation for years. Do the rules suck? Yes. But everyone knows the game, especially Penny Hardaway. Wiseman may be a great character individual, I don't know. I would be sure that he was if he went the difficult road of accepting the punishment, rather than hiring lawyers for injunctions and then walking away from it.
That's not the difficult road. That's the near impossible road. How was he supposed to pay $11,500 on his own while continuing to be a student athlete, which is what he would still be had he "accepted the punishment" as you said? Keep in mind, most collegiate athletes do not have the time available to get a job due to the commitment of classes, practices, travel, and games. He wasn't allowed to accept any donations. He obviously can't take any money from agents. He can't sell memorabilia to include autographs. Maybe he should have opened up a lemonade stand or worked the concessions during those Memphis home games? I just don't think it was as feasible as you might think it to be. A 12 game suspension is whatever, but paying back that $11,500 on his own while maintaining his responsibilities seems to be the more challenging aspect that needs to be understood here.
Leaving Memphis under those circumstances seemed like the only sensible thing to do.
He could have directed those lawyers he hired at fighting the fine while admitting some culpability, which would have been the logical and probably outcome in regards to a fine like this. Lawyers with the power to submit a restraining order could have also argued a reduced fine. Leaving Memphis was the only thing to do if you refuse any culpability in it all. Maybe he is totally innocent, but the discussion began with red flags. I'd say this incident still implies potential character issues, that he was either so unaware with his business dealings that he didnt know he was wrong, or that he knowingly took money and wasnt willing to do the right thing when caught. He did make a choice that made sense to him and has been supported by popular opinion. Im just not sure its as simple as you and other former players with a vested interest in the issue are portraying it.
A side question that could be a factor...who was paying his lawyers? Were they doing this for free? Maybe he didn't have any more money to pay them and was afraid the outcome was going to be the same regardless?
Anyways one way or another this Whole situation is a negative for him as a prospect there isn't any way around it.