That was not an isolated incident from what I remember and just a couple of years he broke his hand trying to hit the boyfriend of a woman who threw up on his yacht. Around the time of the choking incident Sprewell had a dog like a pit or rottweiler that viciously attacked his own daughter and he refused to get rid of it or have it put down. The guy has serious issues. Either in the P.J. incident or an incident with another player, sorry I don't remember exactly, dude left the gym and had to be held back when he came back with a 2x4.
What i've heard was that PJ was screaming intensely at Spree and had been over his coaching tenure in GS ~ Spree told him to cut it out and PJ kept it up. Then Spree slipped during a drill and the only place to grab and break his fall was PJ's neck. The rest was a PJ/ GS/ NBA overreaction ~ poor Spree. Is a year suspension fair for tripping?
DD, Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't you want Eddie Griffin back? Who's worse? You can answer that last one regardless of whether my memory serves me correctly. -P1st,S2nd
"There is, however, much evidence to refute Sprewell's assertion that he has led a trouble-free NBA existence the past five years and that what happened in that gymnasium between himself and Carlesimo was an aberrational act unaccountably out of character. That must have come as startling news to former teammate Jerome Kersey, against whom Sprewell once brandished a 2x4 before threatening to shoot him." http://www.igtc.com/archives/celtics/1997/Dec/msg00397.html this a link to a Bob Ryan column that mentions the 2x4 incident. It was an incident with Jerome Kersey in which he also threatened to shoot him. I will try to find a link about the dog and his daughter.
Let's see a 23 year old troubled young man or a 35 year old man with a history........ I will take a chance on the young one, but not the old one. DD
DD, Spree can play. So I am interested in him. I would rather have Finley, but the money is likely to be a problem. JVG coached Spree and likes him. Spree likes JVG. That is enough for me. -P1st, S2nd
"In October 1994, Sprewell's four-year-old daughter, Page, was attacked by one of the family's four pit bulls and had an ear severed. Sprewell didn't put the dog to sleep until the 10th and final day of the animal's quarantine. He said the attack didn't traumatize him. "Stuff happens," he said." http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Sprewell_Latrell.html this is a link to a biography on Sprewell that mentions the dog incident with his daughter, apparently he did have the dog put down ten days later after refusing. Honestly, of all the Spre stories this is the one that bothered me most that this ignorant ass would want to keep a dog after it attacked his young daughter. BTW, google's a mofo.
DD, I respect your opinion 110%. But if JVG can manage him, I don't care. Spree's age and condition are bigger concerns for me right now. Don't you remember when Rudy wanted Spree after the P.J. incident? -P1st, S2nd
Didn't Griffin fire a gun at his girlfriend? Please correct me if I'm wrong. That seems a bit worse than a hand to hand altercation with another adult male.
Patience, My sentiments exactly. But Eddie did have some acute psychological issues for which he got professional help. And according to Eddie, he shot a gun but not *at* the girl. But still potentially killing somebody is way worse than what Sprewell did, IMHO. -P1st, S2nd
Thanks to DoD and pgabriel for the excerpts and links. That's the kind of stuff that helps clarify the truth and Spree's character, for good or ill. As to those of you who take offense at someone raising a factual question, I hope you don't hold a public office.
spree asked if he could take some of the postgame spread home to the family and PJ said "No dice." but seriously, like pgabriel has brought up, spree has hardly been a saint outside of the choking incident. maybe age combined with some humility from getting such a small contract plus the desire to win a title would keep him on the straight and narrow, but at 35 you pretty much are what you are and everything would have to go perfectly to not have him cause a problem about something.
I take offense to your suggestion that one of the fine members of this BBS would stoop to the level of holding a public office.
Here is how it probably went down.... PJ - man you guys really suck......hey Spree pass the F'in ball sometime will ya... Spree - but coach the rest of the team sucks so I need to shoot the ball PJ - Spree...now we've talked about this before, your no MJ and not good enough to carry the team.....isn't last year enough evidence in that. Spree - STFU coach......I'm carried this team last year. PJ - yeah and look how far that got us.....now pass the F'in ball to your team mates Spree - don't tell me what to do biach PJ - Uhm.....I'm paid to tell you what to do you little spoiled malcontent, now shut up and pass the ball to your team mates so we can have a winning season this year. Spree - <Spree getting angry......must choke coach> PJ - <gasp> can't breath.....help <choke> <gasp>
