Bad sports, good sports: don’t mess with Delonte West

Posted on September 21st, 2009 by Alan Spoll

Delonte West, a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was pulled over for speeding on his motorcycle in Maryland this week. The traffic stop became an arrest when police discovered that West had not one, not two, but three guns on him at the time. Apparently, he had a handgun in his pocket, another in his pant leg, and a shotgun in a guitar case strapped to his back. Seriously. I am not reading you the plot synopsis from Mad Max.

I just don’t get it. OK, I am a Jewish kid from the suburbs of Philadelphia. I have absolutely no familiarity with or understanding of the culture of guns. I have no interest in guns, short of my admiration for the way some other countries have nearly eliminated gun violence. I do know that some athletes feel they are targets, as they generally have a lot of money. Still, cruising the highways of Maryland armed to the teeth hardly seems like an intelligent thing to be doing. Was one gun not enough? When he stuffed the second gun in his pant leg (insert Plaxico Burress joke here), did it occur to him that maybe he also needed to bring the ol’ shotgun along. You know…just in case? I mean, you never know when the other two guns might jam. Always happens at the exact wrong time.

West played his college ball at St. Joe’s, here in the Philadelphia area. I remember rooting for him during the great run to the Final Four that the Hawks went on in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. He and Jameer Nelson made quite a backcourt, and both went on to play in the NBA. I admit that I knew little about him as a person, but I always had a positive impression. His depression problems weren’t publicized until last year. I can’t claim to understand how his life has been impacted by those problems, but I am not sure that any analysis on my part would lead to my understanding of the need to be packing heat.

The problem of athletes and guns is not a new one. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems to me that we are hearing these stories more often now, rather than less often. I hope the NBA takes West’s inevitable punishment as seriously as the NFL took Burress’.

Bad sports, continued:

2) OK, Leodis McKelvin made a bad play when he fumbled a kickoff return that led to New England’s come-from-behind win against McKelvin’s Bills last week. He should have gone down when hit, rather than fighting for an insignificant extra yard or two while surrounded by a bunch of Patriots who were trying to strip the ball. Still, I think that having his home vandalized is a bit over the line.

3) The Chicago Cubs have suspended Milton Bradley for the rest of the season after he badmouthed the team to a newspaper reported this week. Never could have seen this one coming, eh Chicago?

Good sports:

1) He may not actually be playing for the Tennessee Titans these days, but Vince Young is trying to do good things in his life. He had a close relationship with Steve McNair, who was murdered in Nashville this summer, as well as with his kids. He took McNair’s boys to a school event for kids and their fathers this week, helping to fill a void that must be a huge one for those kids.

2) American runner Tyson Gay ran the second fastest 100 meter time ever on Sunday. 9.69 seconds. I am not sure I could drive it that fast.

3) I know I have mentioned him a few times this year, but Mark Martin’s resurgence at age 50 is truly a remarkable thing. He went into NASCAR’s Chase in first place, after winning five races during the “regular season.” He kicked off the Chase by doing no less than winning the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Truly amazing.

Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday

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Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02