Mitch to NBA
According to Yahoo Sport's Dan Wetzel Mitch to the NBA after testing positive for marijuana which netted him a YEAR LONG BAN from the NCAA
EDIT: Because some people aren't reading the article:
- Mitch failed an NCAA administered test during the tournament - schools test during the year
- The NCAA has harsher policies than schools do. Had Mitch failed a Michigan adminstered test it would have been 1-2 week suspension
- Mitch dressing did not affect his test. Had Mitch been in street clothes or in AA he could have been tested by the NCAA during the tournament
- Mitch passed 8 tests during his 2 years at Michigan, this was his only failure
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mitch-mcgary-heading-to-nba-after-positive…
Mitch McGary took a deep breath. He wanted to tell the story of why he smoked marijuana one night in March, why the NCAA suspended him for a year because of it and why the confluence of those events is helping lead him to declare for June's NBA draft. It wasn't easy, so he started at the beginning. For months, McGary had struggled to come to terms with the back injury that limited him to just eight games for the University of Michigan this season, none after mid-December.
EDIT 2: Quotes from Mitch and Beilien from mgoblue.com:
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042514aaa.html
"My family and I want to thank everyone for giving us privacy and the time to make this decision," said McGary. "As you know, it was important for us to weigh all the factors that go into something like this. With that being said, I am ready to move on to the next stage in my life and enter the NBA Draft. "Being a part of a program that values integrity, it is important to let everyone know of a poor decision I recently made. I tested positive for marijuana during the NCAA Tournament. We were notified of that result after the Final Four. I regret thoroughly disappointing my family, coaches and administration. Despite all of this they have been understanding and helpful over the last couple of weeks. "I take full responsibility for this poor choice and want to apologize to everyone, especially those I have grown close to during my fabulous two years at the University of Michigan. "I love the University of Michigan and all it has allowed me to do. I have had my ups and downs, especially with my injury this season. I want to thank all the fans for embracing me. This has been the best two years of my life and I have some unbelievable memories. I know that I will be a Wolverine forever. Go Blue."
I feel like I just got punched in the junk. What an ass clown!
because he is leaving.
I'm sureI would have failed an NCAA drug test during my years in school, so I can't exactly call out Mitch.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
Agreed, the stupidity of holding these ruilings are incredible.
No one should take shots at Mitch for this.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
They test during the tourney EVERY year. If you fail an NCAA drug test during the tourney that's pretty stupid. It would be different if it was a suprise test. Way to think of your future Mitch...
So if every year during finals they drug tested students, you would have failed?
I had a friend in grad school that couldn't even take an exam unless he was high. Something about "state-dependent memory", he said.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
because you sound like a total dick.
Yeah...you might have earned that avatar with this post alone.
Upvoted, on the assumption that this comment is directed at the NCAA, fate in general, or the overall state of affairs, and not at Mitch.
He smoked one marijuana.
Give me a break.
Only that one time! I swear!
I actually agree with you, though. Testing positive for pot does not equal serious substance abuse problem. I'd be surprised if anyone on the team didn't smoke pot, to be honest.
But why would you think he would have a substance abuse problem because he tested positive for pot? I don't smoke the stuff and comments like this make me shake my head. This is 2014 right? If he got caught drinking a beer you wouldn't automatically worry that he was an alcoholic would you?
I totally agree with you. Pot (and this is coming from a non-smoker) is almost certainly less harmful to society than alcohol. A high person is much less likely to get in an accident or start a fight than a drunk person.
Atleast you don't get hung over and feel like death the next day.
I see what you're saying, but asking if he has a substance abuse problem due to one failed marijuana test (after 8 successful ones) is like asking if someone has a learning disability if they get one C after being a straight A student. It comes off a little insensitive and uninformed to even beging implying the possibility, but I understand you didn't mean to come off this way.
I don't see it that way but thank you for taking the time to explain this to me, rather than just attacking me. I appreciate it.
why 1+1=2, and you just saying you disagree.
there is no opinion to have here other than the correct one and the wrong one, and you're on the side of the wrong one.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
I don't think that my comment assumes he has a problem. I said if he does have a problem, I hope he gets help for it because I wouldn't want that to ruin his future. I don't see where the correct or incorrect opinion that you mention comes into play here.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
Why would you even think he has a problem? At worst, weed is habit forming. It's not heroin or meth. Plenty of people use weed on a regular basis and are fully functioning members of society.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
I don't personally think he has a problem. I don't have any personal knowledge as to whether or not he has ever done drugs in the past. I said, IF he does have a problem, I hope he gets help for it. Whether or not we agree with the NCAA or NBA or criminal rules/laws regarding drugs, they do exist. If he happens to have a problem, which I don't know if he does or not, I would hope he would get help for it so his NBA career isn't affected.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
I mean, couching it in "I hope that X isn't true" doesn't change the fact that it's irresponsible to introduce X into the conversation.
If I saw you have a drink, and said to a bunch of people, "geez, I hope ilah17 isn't an alcoholic" I'd consider that to be a really rude suggestion, even couched in "I hope NOT"
April 25th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
I see your point. Thank you for making it civilly.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
School drug tests are completely different than NCAA drug tests. I'm 100% positive if this was a school test during the tourney he would have passed.
and he passed 8 other tests in two years....
FIRE THE NCAA
#FREEMITCH
April 25th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
Those tests were administered by Michigan right? I'm sure nobody in the athletic department would give a star player a heads up that they might be on the list to get tested. I'm not saying Mitch is lying, but passing 8 tests administered by someone with a vested interest in the test being passed doesn't really prove anything in my mind.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
Because Michigan is going to risk the nuclear detonation that comes from a discovery that they in any way influence the outcome of drug-testing their athletes? Come on, you're smarter than that.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
I have two words for you. Plausible deniability. So, I guess I'm not smarter than that. I don't think anybody is above breaking the rules. I hope and think that our administrators and coaches wouldn't do such a thing but nothing surprises me anymore. Edit: This is just a general lack of faith in humanity, not me passing judgement on the program because of recent events or anything.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^
If it was UM test, he said it would be 3 games or so.
given the general opinion regarding weed in AA, not to mention its decriminalized status, if the school arranged the testing in a way designed to minimize the likelihood of someone getting caught.
An example of what I mean: when I was an undergrad it was a violation to have certain items in a dorm room that were officially considered fire hazards, although no one, including the fire marshal, took that official consideration seriously: no hot pots or other cooking devices, no hair dryers above a certain (pretty low) wattage, etc.
I had a hot pot in my room I used to boil water for tea and instant soup. One night I came home to a note from the fire marshal saying he had inspected my room and found the following violations of campus fire policy, etc.... He would be returning to re-inspect the room sometime between 2 and 3pm the following Thursday and if he found the offending item at that time I would be cited. However, he also wanted to inform me that he did not have authorization to open any closed dresser or desk drawers....
Needless to say, I never heard of anyone actually being cited for a fire violation.
It actually said they could have tested him even if he had been in street clothes, or had stayed in Ann Arbor. So the dressing didn't officially matter. Unofficially, who knows.
A year for weed is absolutely ridiculous, especially when we see DUI's getting a a game or 2 suspension.
Mitch made a mistake, and apparently is owning the consequences. But as gmoney41 notes, the penalty is excessive - there is no competitive advantage that McGary gained through smoking some weed, and it's not like he was endangering anyone's safety.
I get that weed is illegal depending upon where you are, and it may be a gateway drug (to quote one of the guys in Kings of Leon "weed's a gateway to Cheetos and sweat pants" at least). And I'm not a big fan of the drug in general, since I've seen too many friends fritter years away in a wake-and-bake rut. But a year for getting high when you're not even competing is excessive.
Best of luck to Mitch in the NBA, and thanks for the memories.
I generally agree with you, but the whole "gateway drug" thing has been pretty thoroughly debunked.
Wait! Are you telling me that the D.A.R.E program may have included some incorrect information? That's unpossible!
(I still think it's a gateway to Cheetos and sweatpants, even if that belief is based entirely on anecdotal evidence. Or even if that belief is based on me thinking it's a funny line, truth of the matter notwithstanding.)
This comment is spot on. It's bullshit, plain and simple. Fuck.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
No. A one or two game suspension for DUI is what is ridiculous.
This doesn't constitute a substance abuse problem.
Alcoholism doesn't exist. But your point remains valid (even if the logic is flawed).
UNIONIZE NOW, PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE NCAA
#FreeMitch
I think you're joking, but just in case. I'm in a union and can still get fired for testing positive for drugs/alcohol. If you don't like a law/rule, try to get it changed. Don't break the rule and then say the punishment is stupid (Mitch isn't doing this, thankfully).