steviebrownfor…

March 24th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^

legalize it, mon! From a 1997 Newspaper article:
Contrary to the wholesome image marketed by the National Basketball Association, 60 to 70 percent of its 350-plus players smoke marijuana and drink excessively, according to conversations with more than two dozen players, former players, agents and basketball executives.
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/sports/marijuana-and-pro-basketball-a…

Beavis

March 24th, 2010 at 5:03 PM ^

USA Today recently ran a big article on marijuana laws (not teenage smoking). Around the 1997 time about 15% of the population favored to "legalize it mahn". In 2008 that number had risen to around 45%. So yeah.. the last 10+ years have seen a huge surge in marijuana reform.

ChitownWolverine82

March 25th, 2010 at 9:21 AM ^

It's reportedly over 50% these days. Its a wonder its really still such a vilified drug in the eyes of some government officials. Even Clinton said, after leaving office, that it should be legalized. Players on the other hand tend to take it to a whole new level, especially basketball. I've seen Joakim Noah at clubs here in Chicago, and the dude smells of pot and can never open his eyes....shocking expose to come.

WreckingCrew

March 24th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^

95% seems a little high, but if I had to bet, I would guess somewhere around 80%. If you had to pick a starting 5 of NBA stoners (suspected), who would it be? I'm going with: C. Eddy Curry (obvious problem with the munchies) PF. Big Baby Davis (ditto) SF. Josh Howard (duh) SG. Tracy McGrady (always looks blazed) PG. Baron Davis (also frequently looks blazed) Head Coach: Bill Walton

CRex

March 24th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^

I knew a lot of students who had to smoke to keep an even keel in college. One of my friends always had to light up before midterms and finals to calm himself down. I was never a pot smoker, tried once or twice it didn't really do anything for me, but I don't begrudge others their pot. I drank like I was a fish at least two nights a week to cope with the stress, so if they want to smoke a little, go for it.

Beavis

March 24th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^

That 1/3rd number seems high because they couldn't stop smoking pot for a few weeks before the test. Out of the remaining 2/3rd I bet over half of them were smoking weed at some point in February or January. This obviously becomes a moot point if they made them do a hair test, but those are more expensive and it's doubtful to me.

wigeon

March 24th, 2010 at 5:29 PM ^

I smoke two joints in the morning I smoke two joints at night I smoke two joints in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright I smoke two joints in time of peace, and two in time of war I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, And then I smoke two more

Beavis

March 24th, 2010 at 6:00 PM ^

Cobain? Seriously? I love Sublime, but I rarely hear anyone trying to argue that they were better than Nirvana. That being said, I guess you could assume Cobain was so far gone most of his good music days were behind him. Although Dave G has been chugging along for YEARS now.

wigeon

March 24th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^

but it was (for me anyway) easier to lump Nirvana in with several other bands, while Sublime's body of work was somewhat unparalleled at the time. On the other hand, there's no denying the significance of Nirvana turning the music business on its ear with the release of one single. Personal preferences, I s'pose.

Tater

March 24th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^

Even as a mediocre bar band musician for a few years in the 70's-80's, I probably turned down "free" heroin at least ten times. I can't imagine how many times it would be offered to someone as "high" on the foodchain as Sublime got. If you get offered a few times a week over a period of a few years when you are already drunk, high, or both, the odds of being able to stick to one's guns and say "no" decrease rapidly. I'm surprised that even more don't "dance with Mr Brownstone."

mejunglechop

March 24th, 2010 at 5:06 PM ^

I think if a player gets to the point where they've bought their own bong, then maybe teams should look into you a little more. That shows commitment to smoking. If the player hasn't bought one it really should be nbd. It's casual- experimentation you know?

Bird of War

March 24th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^

Have you seen him on the Celtics this year? I think he's increased his cheefing habits threefold this year alone. Dude looks high in half his games and the other half he looks like he's recovering from his munchies-induced food coma from a 3 AM Insomnia Cookies delivery the night before.

wisecrakker

March 25th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^

SI.com's Don Banks joined the show to talk about his report on concerns about positive tests for marijuana in this year's NFL draft class. Banks said that GMs and personnel men have told him that 10 or 11 players in this year's draft have a history with marijuana. Banks said players are sometimes coached to get ahead of these stories and tells teams in advance that they failed a test. That's better than reacting to a story. Banks said that the new NFL decision-makers don't necessarily throw out a name because he tested positive. Banks said that they now try to go on a case-by-case basis. "The red flag that stands out the most is probably still drug use," Banks said. "They can identify certain kids as trouble Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/103721/index.html#ixzz…