DISQUS

PostmanE · 2 years ago

Disclaimer: I realize if Bud is convicted and goes to jail, this all moot. Still, it's worth a discussion.

jaime gongora · 2 years ago

For the record, I'm very disappointed in Mackey. When you do something like that you are simply lacking brains. However, it seems that this act was considered unusual by his standards. It also seems that many people around his community still vouch that he's a good person. If he would agree that once he attends Indiana that he enters a rehabilitation program and volunteers in a group that devoted to ending the use of cocaine. I would also suggest that he red shirt a year so he can focus on recovery. If he agrees to these stipulations then I would be ok with him attending IU. I don't care what anybody else has to say about the subject, everyone is entitled to a second chance. If he messes up again, then kick him out, because we have given him all the resources necessary to improve his lifestyle.
On a side note I'm disappointed in my fellow hoosiers who immediately trash kids from any school who get into trouble (like in Illinois and Purdue). These problems go beyond the realm of basketball, and one should hope that a kid can recover and learn from past mistakes.
Jaime

Big A · 2 years ago

E, excellent stuff as always.

I agree that if Mackey is convicted and goes to jail, this is all a moot point. My biggest beef with how this is being discussed by IU fans is how so many are already writing this kid off and moving on to the next recruit.

At the New Albany recruit game back in early August, it was amazing how many people came up and spoke to this young man. He was trying to warm up to play the game and 40-year old men were coming onto the court and asking for a picture with him or for an autograph. And every time, he obliged and did it with a smile on his face.

Fast forward to the present and these same types are going onto various message boards and trashing Mackey at a time when he needs support above all else. These same people who couldn't wait for him to come to IU just a few days ago are now saying that IU should wash their hands completely clean of him.

I am by no means advocating that he should come to IU or be given a second chance. We need to first wait and see how this turns out in the court system.

However, what the fan base should do is support this young man who obviously needs help to rehabilitate his life. Basketball should be the least of his concerns. It sickens me to say things like "Bud is gone, who do we go after now?" Come on people, show some class. If everyone who cared about him just abandons him now that he no longer has potential as a basketball player, he will end up on the streets and will get in trouble again.

My experiences with Bud have been nothing but positive and even if he is guilty of what he is accused of, I will support him and hope that he hasn't ruined his life. Everyone else should think about doing the same.

kelin · 2 years ago

I think as a "fan" of IU I don't want to "deal" with the mess that surrounds Bud if he comes to IU and then if he messes up....I am guilty of doing exactly doing what exactly Jaime speaks of when a PU or dUI player gets in trouble and that comes from the "fan" side me which is short for fanatical......but now that this has darkened my IU door I will think twice (but I still may jab here or there because Painter and Weber are still whiners)

As a "teacher" and a person who believes in the "good" of people and especially kids, I want KS and IU to give Bud the opportunity to redeem himself from this and turn his life around, not for the good of his basketball career but for the good of his life!

My gut tells me....if Bud is not getting 3 squares in the pokey....KS will give Bud the opportunity to redeem himself. I just hope Bud is prepared for what it will take, how mentally tough he will have to be, and how he can use basketball to get on the right path....

Excellent blog big A and the other bloggers...

Tim · 2 years ago

First of all, from what I have read it is unlikely Mackey will come out of this without serving time in jail.

To the point though, he made his choices and there are consequences. One of which is the losing the opportunity to play basketball at Indiana University. I hope Mackey gets his life turned around. But there is no excuse for this incident if he intended to be a Division I basketball player.

There is no justification, in my opinion, for giving this young man a scholarship to a Big Ten university when so many of his and my peers and working and taking out loans to pay for education.

Tom · 2 years ago

Bud Mackey= JamesOn Curry. Bud was very borderline academically to begin with. Apparently a special education student until last year due to learning disabilities. If he truly had possession of crack cocaine and even if an illegal search and seizure and/or entrapment was involved-this Bud's NOT for IU. Quit equating legal rights with the privilege of a scholarship. We recruited him to handle the rock and to score--but not in this manner. I hope he somehow graduates from high school or gets his GED.If he avoids prison-good luck at Junior College and/or another college.

jaime gongora · 2 years ago

Kelin, I go after painter and webber as well. Big cry babies.
Tom, I was a special education student till I finished high school. I graduated IU with honors, and I'm pursuing my PHD at UNC. Just because you have a disability does not make you an idiot. Not trying to pick a fight, but what grades a kid gets does not reflect if one is a good person. I'm not going to judge Mackey right off the bat. If coach Sampson feels that this kid can learn from this incident he has my backing. I would be proud of my University knowing that instead of abondaning him, we gave him a chance. Don't get me wrong, he has no wiggle room but if learns from his mistakes perhaps we might actually save a life instead of seeing one go down in the dumps.

kelin · 2 years ago

I agree with Jaime, I was a C student in high school and am working my third degree. I think often times we get a little spoiled with the "perfect" kid...EJ, DJ, Suhr etc. but then there are those kids who don't grow up with the same support system, value system, and opportunities like the kids we deemed ideal for IU basketball.....

I give Bud zero wiggle room or "zero tolerance" if he comes to IU and I TRULY believe if we were talking about "Tyler Zeller or Eric Gordon" the conversation and post would be more forgiving and tolerable...because they are Indiana kids.

I am sure this opens another hypotheical can of worms but think about it take out Bud and fill in...Eric or Tyler...then write your post.

Bob · 2 years ago

A basketball scholarship is a privilege not a right. Nothing should be done until the legal matter is finished. I would be very surprised (knowing only what we know at this time) if Bud will even be available for a scholarship.

I feel very sorry for the young man. He is however 18 and responsible for his actions.

garvey · 2 years ago

No way should Bud be in an IU uniform. Life has consequences, and to keep the door open reinforces that athletes get special treatment mentality.

Really, if there was an illegal search and the evidence is inadmissible, Bud was still carrying crack and more than likely smoking dope. Those are actions that should preclude Bud from wearing an IU uniform.

Why?

1) IU reputation. We've had bad eggs before, and will again. But this is a different level.

2) Coach Sampson's reputation. We know CKS is a great guy, but public perception is still looking at him as a cheater. Throw this in the mix and the negative buzz keeps going.

3) Actions have consequences.

I hope Coach looks to how UNC handled the JamesOn Curry situation -- a professional and compassionate way to manage the situation -- that is IF Bud gets out of the legal mes he is in.

But there is ZERO tolerance for drugs on school grounds and I wouldn't be surprised to see Bud go away for a long, long time.

kelin · 2 years ago

I think as a first time offense....I doubt he does any jail time unless there is more to the story......this is a lot to consider...I could only imagine what KS and the gang are going through with this decision....

Scott · 2 years ago

I might think differently with a different set of (alleged, at this point) facts. But if it's basically true that he was possessing crack with the intent to either use it or sell it, I think that pretty much does it for me.

There are offenses that are excusable and offenses that are inexcusable. If the kid pled guilty to, say, sexual assault, can we live with that? What about if he's caught cheating on a test? What if it was marijuana rather than cocaine?

It seems to me that some of these scenarios are easy to answer. Some of them are difficult to answer.

I don't think the possession of crack cocaine is a difficult one to answer. It's unacceptable and should remain such. I realize that we all want Bud to come to IU to play -- but we should not be willing to mortgage our souls to have him.

Tom · 2 years ago

Stong rumors that the offer has already been pulled.

Big A · 2 years ago

There might be strong rumors, but we won't know anything anytime soon because IU can't talk about it and the Mackey camp certainly isn't going to say the offer was pulled.

Tom · 2 years ago

Its called leaks.

Big A · 2 years ago

It's a rumor. He hasn't even had a day in court yet. I'm sure a decision will be made after all of the facts are known.

Tom · 2 years ago

what does a day in court have to do with pulling the offer? Zilch. The bad publicity is enough. This isn't a due process case.Its about the privilege of an IU scholarship.I don't care if he gets off on a technicality.I don't care if it was rock candy instead of rock cocaine- he was still smelling of marijuana.The decision has been made.

Big A · 2 years ago

I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree that a decision has been made. It happened three days ago and all of the facts are not out.

mmm · 2 years ago

If there's even a bit of truth to the charges, Mackey should not be wearing an IU jersey next year. Schools like UConn have been rightly criticized for allowing players involved in serious crimes to play for their basketball teams. IU holds itself to a higher standard and is right to do so.

This does not mean that Sampson has to turn his back on the kid. Sampson can continue to act as a friend and as a mentor and help support and advise him if he chooses to put his life back on the right track. He can show that he continues to care about Mackey as a person, and not just as a basketball player.

And Sampson could even make him a deal. Sampson could say that if Mackey resolves his legal problems and demonstrates a serious commitment to turning his life around by going to a junior college, getting good grades, and staying out of trouble for two years, there will be an IU scholarship waiting for him at the end of the process.

Giving a second chance in a case like this only works if the kid is really committed to turning a new page. And the risk is that the kid concludes that he doesn't really have to change his ways because his talent will always be great enough to make people overlook his sins.

Mackey needs to know that there's only a place for him at IU if he really is willing to live up to IU's standards. Given the seriousness of this transgression, next fall is too soon to be sure about the answer to that question. I want to see more proof about his intentions before I see him in an IU jersey.

Tom · 2 years ago

The facts are coming out-1.6 grams of rock cocaine cut in 5 pieces in his shoe---admission of delivering it to another person----Shut out the lights,the party's over

Newt · 2 years ago

Later Bud....

jaime gongora · 2 years ago

I'll agree to mmm's comments. I don't want him to necesarily play basketball for us, I just don't want the kid to be completly thrown into the gutter. This just doesn't go for mackey, it goes for all kids who make this type of mistake, and who put the comitment and yearn for a second chance. After all we all can't be perfect like Tom.

JUDE · 2 years ago

There is some cultural bias evident in this article. One of the author's first reaction is something like "Crack? Why not ecstacy?" Well, that is the trapping of preference among black youth in our country. Ecstacy seems more likely preferred by a frat boy from from the suburbs or hippie chick running aroud Bloomington.
So, what's up with the kid? Will he receive treatment/help? Has he been arrested, charged with a crime, etc.? Will he play ball in college...at IU?

PostmanE · 2 years ago

Jude:

I appreciate your observation, but I think you're supporting the point I was trying to make there: Crack is far less acceptable to the average, white, midwestern IU fan than a "party" drug like ecstasy would be. I draw no such difference; to be honest, if Mackey wasn't doing crack, I don't have that much problem with him selling it. The reality for plenty of black male youth in this country is that selling drugs is literally their only option, whether for short-term or long-term financial gain. Without getting into an argument on the War on Drugs in this country (stupid, stupid, stupid), that's how I feel.

So I appreciate your comment, but I promise I wasn't trying to hold up that cultural bias. Rather, I was trying to expose it. I definitely should have been more clear.

John · 2 years ago

This kid stole cars in the ninth grade.