CBS 2: 6 other Illini knew of accident, none called 911

[whitesoxfan101]

Mark Tupper (who is a really talented writer downstate) did an EXCELLENT job summing up how I felt when I saw Jamar, only he did it with less emotion (hence, he's a pro and i'm not yet).

 

http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/

 

It was not until halftime that I saw Jamar Smith and, frankly, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe my eyes and the sight of him made me horribly uncomfortable. Why? Why was he here?, I asked myself. It didn’t make sense to me.

 

I know Bruce Weber had not kicked him off the team for his role in the wreck (and his actions after the wreck). I know he talked about wanting to help Smith through this time and that he was still somehow a part of the “Illini basketball family.”

 

I assumed that meant the coaches would be available in their offices if Jamar needed to talk. They’d provide support and help him work through his haunted thoughts during the most difficult time of his life.

 

But I never imagined it meant he’d be sitting on the bench, in Illini sweats, laughing and back-slapping with his teammates. It looked so wrong.

 

Before Wednesday’s game, Weber, AD Ron Guenther and the team shared opinions on whether or not Jamar should be at the game, where he should sit, what should be his non-playing role, if any.

 

The team was adamant that Jamar should be with the team and on the bench. The most outspoken of all was Carlwell and his opinion held extra weight, since the public perception is that Jamar Smith left him for dead in the car that snowy night. I can tell you everyone associated with the program strongly disputes that notion and Smith’s attorney, Mark Lipton, will no doubt be arguing that in court. If that story proves to have merit and holds up under courtroom scrutiny, we’ll acknowledge it and say, “Wow, I didn’t know it went down like that.”

 

But until we can hear that story, we’re left with too many unanswered questions, too many disturbing images, too many arrows pointing in the direction of a young man who made one horrible decision after another. And it’s hard to get it out of our minds that Carlwell’s critical injuries were not tended to quickly enough or with proper concern.

 

Again, if that’s wrong, we’ll be relieved to find it out.

 

But in the meantime, Smith’s presence on the bench gave the perception, right or wrong, that things are pretty normal, pretty OK, that not much is wrong. It was a sight I found hard to stomach. These are difficult time for Weber and the program right now and having Smith there only invites more criticism. It’s just a bad decision, in my view.

 

I didn’t want to see Jamar Smith laughing. I don’t mean to be cruel, but I wanted to think he was at home agonizing about what happened that night with his teammate, that he was going through a prolonged period of deep sorrow and soul-searching.

 

I believe, however, that the team and his coaches feared that he was slipping into a dangerous darkness of depression, that being with the team at the game would somehow better help him to cope. I’m told the smiles we saw were his first in nine days.

 

And before the game, when Carlwell couldn’t locate Smith, he asked to borrow Weber’s cell phone. Why? He wanted to call to make sure Smith was OK. Isn’t that ironic?

 

I’ll have to be convinced that Smith deserves to ever be back on this team, and if that can happen, wonderful. But for now, there are too many questions left unanswered, too many reasons to think he has not earned a spot on the bench, a spot in Illini sweats, a spot in front of a public that is not ready to accept the sight of him until the day believable explanations can be proven.

 

I assume we’ll see him on the bench in future games, but Weber hasn’t said if he’s traveling on road games or what. There will be some people who are not put off by his presence and I know Weber has been contacted by a couple of former athletes who had DUIs who encouraged him not to abandon Smith, that their own experience taught them support from coaches was a critical factor in their ability to get through that tough time and emerge on the other side as better human beings. I know that’s Bruce Weber’s intent.

 

I just believe there’s some middle ground that can provide support but without the public perception that Jamar Smith is still a part of all the fun, almost as though nothing ever happened.

 

Ok, now first of all, reading that Guenther the rat and Weber (also a rat it appears) talked this over and decided during a rational moment to let Jamar be at the game makes me want to vomit. The rest of the article pretty much speaks for me, except this paragraph:

 

The team was adamant that Jamar should be with the team and on the bench. The most outspoken of all was Carlwell and his opinion held extra weight, since the public perception is that Jamar Smith left him for dead in the car that snowy night. I can tell you everyone associated with the program strongly disputes that notion and Smith’s attorney, Mark Lipton, will no doubt be arguing that in court.

 

That is wrong on so many levels:

 

1. I don't give a f*** what the team, outside of Carlwell, thinks. The inmates shouldn't run the asylum, and they probably support Jamar so much since it's possible half of them left Brian for dead as well.

 

2. Combine the quote in paragragh from Carlwell, with the one about Brian wanting to use Bruce's celly to call Jamar and make sure he's ok, along with talking to him on facebook and figuring out fast he really means all that, has me convinced that in terms of "forgiveness of sins", Brian Carlwell might be the black effin Jesus Christ. How he can forgive what was done to him by Jamar and God knows who else is beyond me, but at least I know this team has 1 guy I can respect.

 

3. The fact that the program thinks Jamar didn't leave Brian for dead is baffling to me. There was no 911 call, he went back to his apartment for TWO HOURS, and the only person to call 911 was a woman who saw the car randomly. Pretty damning evidence to me.

 

4. It's becoming more and more clear that if Jamar is able to plea out of this before trial and avoid jail time (which wouldn't surprise me, given the history of Champaign County's treatment of Illini athletes), we will see #31 play again in the orange and blue. And if that happens, Bruce Weber and Ron Guenther should be fired ASAP (but they won't, nobody related to athletics at the school with power has balls apparently).

 

This is such a damn disgrace. I am not a U of I grad or student, but I've followed their athletics since the days of the '89 final four team and Jeff George on the gridiron back when I was 3. I feel even worse for you students and alums to see this happening.

[Texsox]

The lack of morality and ethics in this situation saddens me. Universities should be above this and teaching students, and the public, the values they hold. I doubt for 99% of the students and faculty, they share in how this is being handled.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Self came into the program with JR Giddens as a recruit. He was pure trouble, and warned him numerous times to stay out of trouble. Once Giddens messed up, Self did not think twice but to throw his ass off the team. He also threw Giles off for not paying for his thousands of children. Self is a no nonsense guy. The fact that Jamar Smith is sitting and laughing on the bench shows how lack of a control Weber has and how much his players can walk all over him.

[CanOfCorn]

Now is not the time to dump Jamar. Now is the time to make sure he is ok. Make sure he understands the consequences of his actions. Make sure that, even though he effed up and effed up bad, he still has a support group around him.

 

You turn your back on him now, and there's no telling what he might do. I do agree, however, he shouldn't have been on the bench.

 

After you've all nailed him to the cross, has anyone thought about Jamar? Maybe he's realized what he's done and struggling with it. How would any of you like it if you screwed up and your entire support system turned its back on you?

 

I'm not saying he shouldn't be kicked off the team. Or kicked out of school. I'm saying, NOT NOW!

 

We aren't talking about a 29 year old who should know better. We're talking about a 19 year old that should know better but is still young and is going to make some horrible decisions. He should stand up to it like a man, but help him find his way.

[IlliniKrush]

I agree you don't turn your back on him, but no way he should he be no the bench, period.

[Texsox]

Now is not the time to dump Jamar. Now is the time to make sure he is ok. Make sure he understands the consequences of his actions. Make sure that, even though he effed up and effed up bad, he still has a support group around him.

 

You turn your back on him now, and there's no telling what he might do. I do agree, however, he shouldn't have been on the bench.

 

After you've all nailed him to the cross, has anyone thought about Jamar? Maybe he's realized what he's done and struggling with it. How would any of you like it if you screwed up and your entire support system turned its back on you?

 

I'm not saying he shouldn't be kicked off the team. Or kicked out of school. I'm saying, NOT NOW!

 

We aren't talking about a 29 year old who should know better. We're talking about a 19 year old that should know better but is still young and is going to make some horrible decisions. He should stand up to it like a man, but help him find his way.

 

He will find a nice support system in jail. He doesn't need to be sitting on the bench.

[hitlesswonder]

He will find a nice support system in jail. He doesn't need to be sitting on the bench.

 

If I were coaching the team, I think I would have suspended him pending the outcome of the legal process. He wouldn't have benn on the bench. So we agree there.

 

I'm not sure that sending hime to jail is a great idea. Really DUI, is equivalent to running around town randomly shooting a gun. Smith could have killed a bunch of people. I think the act should be punished accordingly, but I also think sending him to jail for a few years would be more likely to produce someone who will commit more serious criminal acts when released. I'd personally be in favor of yanking his license for 5 or more years, and thousands of hours of community service.

 

In general, I'd like a lot stiffer penealties for DUI. Very hefty fines like in Japan would be good, maybe those could be used to finance some sort late night public transportation for drunks -- I don't know. The fact is that DUI enjoys broad bipartisan support in this country; both the current President and Ted Kennedy have done it repateadly and skated. I think it's clearly a problem that most people don't want to be severely punished because they have done it or think they will do it and don't want stiff penalties in place.

 

Anyway, hopefully the legal system is wiser than I am, and comes up with a good solution.

[Texsox]

If I were coaching the team, I think I would have suspended him pending the outcome of the legal process. He wouldn't have benn on the bench. So we agree there.

 

I'm not sure that sending hime to jail is a great idea. Really DUI, is equivalent to running around town randomly shooting a gun. Smith could have killed a bunch of people. I think the act should be punished accordingly, but I also think sending him to jail for a few years would be more likely to produce someone who will commit more serious criminal acts when released. I'd personally be in favor of yanking his license for 5 or more years, and thousands of hours of community service.

 

In general, I'd like a lot stiffer penealties for DUI. Very hefty fines like in Japan would be good, maybe those could be used to finance some sort late night public transportation for drunks -- I don't know. The fact is that DUI enjoys broad bipartisan support in this country; both the current President and Ted Kennedy have done it repateadly and skated. I think it's clearly a problem that most people don't want to be severely punished because they have done it or think they will do it and don't want stiff penalties in place.

 

Anyway, hopefully the legal system is wiser than I am, and comes up with a good solution.

 

It isn't just the DUI, it is also leaving someone hurt in the car.

[fathom]

The spin job by the Illini fans is amazing right now. Besides for many thinking that all charges vs Jamar will be dropped, some have even mentioned this will help recruiting because Weber will be looked at as looking out for any African-American athlete who gets in trouble. I couldn't even make up something as stupid as that.

[thedoctor]

The spin job by the Illini fans is amazing right now. Besides for many thinking that all charges vs Jamar will be dropped, some have even mentioned this will help recruiting because Weber will be looked at as looking out for any African-American athlete who gets in trouble. I couldn't even make up something as stupid as that.

 

who is saying this?

[IlliniKrush]

The spin job by the Illini fans is amazing right now. Besides for many thinking that all charges vs Jamar will be dropped, some have even mentioned this will help recruiting because Weber will be looked at as looking out for any African-American athlete who gets in trouble. I couldn't even make up something as stupid as that.

Certainly aren't getting that here. IB perhaps?

 

Anyway, there's no way this helps recruiting, spin it however the hell you want.

[Rex Hudler]

Now is not the time to dump Jamar. Now is the time to make sure he is ok. Make sure he understands the consequences of his actions. Make sure that, even though he effed up and effed up bad, he still has a support group around him.

 

You turn your back on him now, and there's no telling what he might do. I do agree, however, he shouldn't have been on the bench.

 

After you've all nailed him to the cross, has anyone thought about Jamar? Maybe he's realized what he's done and struggling with it. How would any of you like it if you screwed up and your entire support system turned its back on you?

 

I'm not saying he shouldn't be kicked off the team. Or kicked out of school. I'm saying, NOT NOW!

 

We aren't talking about a 29 year old who should know better. We're talking about a 19 year old that should know better but is still young and is going to make some horrible decisions. He should stand up to it like a man, but help him find his way.

 

Allowing Smith to be on the bench with his teammates is NOT helping him. Helping him is being there for him. Off the court. If Bruce Weber wants to support him and help the kid through a tough time, I have no problem with that, but there should be no Illini uniform involved. He should have access to counseling sessions and time with teammates and/or coaches away from the athletic facilities. He should not be part of the athletic process right now at all.

 

What I am losing in all of this is where is the guy's FAMILY? What is his family history? It seems to me his family should be more, or at least as much, responsible for supporting him in this tough time. Supporting him and allowing him to participate in team on court activities (games, practices, film sessions, etc) do not have to go hand in hand.

[Buehrle>Wood]

So apparently Carwell's BA Level was .00. Um, Brian, why in the blue hell weren't you driving then?

Edited February 24, 2007 by Buehrle>Wood

[Rowand44]

So apparently Carwell's BA Level was .00. Um, Brian, why in the blue hell weren't you driving then?

Good question.

[Texsox]

So apparently Carwell's BA Level was .00. Um, Brian, why in the blue hell weren't you driving then?

 

Tall, sober and stupid is no way to go through life, son

 

[fathom]

So apparently Carwell's BA Level was .00. Um, Brian, why in the blue hell weren't you driving then?

 

I still want to know why they didn't test these two guys for drugs? One of the members on this site seems 100 pct certain that marijuana was involved that night.

[Buehrle>Wood]

I still want to know why they didn't test these two guys for drugs? One of the members on this site seems 100 pct certain that marijuana was involved that night.

They did test.

Edited February 24, 2007 by Buehrle>Wood

[fathom]

They did test.

 

The State's Attorney said they only tested for alcohol.

[whitesoxfan101]

The State's Attorney said they only tested for alcohol.

 

What I had heard was they took a blood sample from Jamar only and it would take 4-6 weeks to find out what's up, so we'll know by late March either way. Jamar was for sure smoking the ish though, although I had heard Brian was completely clean originally from that same person, so the .00 report doesn't surprise me.