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."
on the intricacies of the process. How'd that happen? j/k... (Welcome to the Blog, btw)
said he was notified final four weekend, test occurred Mar. 28. So a week or two.
Unfortunately for Mitch, he tested before they reduced the penalty. After August 1st this year, a positive test is only a half season suspension.
Still too long for weed.
A year long ban for marijuana!? You have guys using steroids, beating girlfriends, driving drunk, but this gets a year long ban? WTF?
shall we? Alex Rodriguez got essentially a year suspension for his, arguably, third offense for PEDs. (Sort of his first, but come on...really Alex?) In comparison, Mitch wasn't playing, is a college student and this is the first time he's even remotely come close to anything resembling trouble. NCAA...you're my hero.
Who in the hell does this benefit? The NCAA: looks stupid. Michigan? Looses a player who wanted to be here and was otherwise a good guy. Mitch? Wanted to be back and probably was hoping to improve his draft stock.
#freemitch. Here's to hoping he gets drafted by the Nuggets (because he's awesome... and also because the idea of Mitch and Javale McGee on the floor at the same time makes me chuckle for some reason).
Why does the NCAA look stupid in this case, other than maybe the suspension being a little excessive?
It was pointed out in another comment that they've already adjusted the ban to 1/2 a year after August 1st. The legalization of marijuana in some places does not mean the NCAA has to embrace its use among their athletes. They still have rules against tobacco use by coaches and that's been legal forever.
1) Then apply it retroactively to Mitch and any other athlete affected by it. If the NCAA cares about the "student-athlete" then do the right thing -- let him stay in school, get him help, whatever. Basically telling him to hit the road isn't helping him. What if the kid doesn't have the NBA to jump to? Suspending him for a year could lead to a spiral in his life where he no longer cares about school, sports, etc.
2) No one said they have to -- suspending someone for a year for a first time marijuana offense is patently stupid. You wouldn't get that from a judge.
3) Your point is stupid about tobacco. You can't use it during games and practices but that's it. It would be illegal as hell to try to prohibit them from using tobacco in their private lives.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
Why do you assume this is the only reason he's leaving? If he wanted to stay, do you really think Coach B wouldn't allow him to sit a year and then play in 2015/16? Would his scholly get yanked automatically? What if the NCAA did make the rule retroactive for Mitch and he still wanted to leave? What if it was only 4 games and Mitch still left? Are you mad about the rule or Mitch leaving?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
I never made that assumption. Sitting for a year isn't good for your game, especially given his age. If he was on the fence before, I'm sure this is what put him over. If he misses 4 games, and he's on the fence, then I don't think it plays as big of a role. So yes, I'm mad at the rule becaue I inherently think that a year penalty for a first time marijuana test is ridiculous and of the clouting effect it had on his decision.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
"Basically telling him to hit the road isn't helping him." I'd say this is assuming that the NCAA is forcing players out of school with their year ban. I'd say it's Mitch's injury along with his age and and the suspension that is forcing his hand. If he was a year younger or older or if he had played this year, would the year ban really matter? That was my point. Edit: I guess you could be arguing that the NCAA should look at the suspensions on a case by case basis. I think this would open a Pandora's Box of unequal punishment (see Cam Newton).
BTW, when the NCAA reduced the penalty for marijuana, it also reduced the penalty for heroin.
— John Infante (@John_Infante) April 25, 2014
A year long ban for ONE positive Mary Jane test? Seriously, that is stupid. Expecially in light of, oh, I dunno: sexual assult cover ups and the like going on, it seems like a single test (or even a half a year) test is excessive and unfair.
I can lose my job for one little failed test. Besides, if Mitch wasn't considering leaving for the NBA already, he'd serve his suspension and be back to play. This is just the perfect shit storm for us as fans.
He would be losing potentially 2 years of an NBA career instead of 1. That's a big difference and he is on the older side already.
The NCAA looks horrible here because it suspended a kid for a whole year for smoking weed and failing one, and only one one, test. I get that it is illegal (but not in all states), but a whole year? If this was one or two or six games, fine, but a whole season? If he had failed other tests, fine. But a year?
Comparatively, Cam Newton's dad took money and the NCAA didn't seem to care. Ohio State gave out cars, cash, tatoos, etc. and they let the guilty players play in bowl game. Hell, you can assault people, get nabbed for drunk driving, etc. and only miss a game or two.
I make no bones about being a member of the over 40 GOML crowd arond here. I generally think that anyone who breaks the rules has what is coming to them, However, this result is arbitrary and, frankly, just plain mean.
dude could fail a million times and it wouldn't be worth a one year ban.
The NCAA has already adjusted the punishment for next year, so they are admitting the year ban was excessive. Plus, failing a drug test is a pretty black and white thing, unless you are Ryan Braun. All the examples you gave involve at least a degree of interpretation and gray area, which allows the NCAA to pick and choose who they want to really punish.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
I don't smoke marijuana or do any drugs and never have. That being said, maijuana is a natural plant that research shows has many more positives then any potential negatives. It should be legal in every state of the country. The penalty for a first time offender for marijuana shouldn't be more than a 3-5 game suspension. Beyond that is ridiculous.
matter how you feel about the drug personally there is no reason someone should be suspended for 30-40+ games for failing a single drug test. Who benefits from this???
If you want to make the kid go to counciling, fine. If you want to suspend him for 3-5 games, ok. If you want to shame the mans name for doing something he shouldn't, go ahead. But an entire year suspension! Think about that for a second. Absolutely and utterly ridiculous. In no way is that punishment representative of the initial action. We mine as well be in North Korea. Send him to camp no. 138. I know I'm making huge leaps here but this is absolutely the dumbest thing I have heard in the month of April, hands down.
In the words of Charles Barkley, "turrible, just turrible."
ON WEED?!!!?
GOD DAMN IT
I've done a lot of stupid things in my day and been lucky to not get caught/arrested. I feel for Mitch if his claim that it only happened once is true. Think what you want about weed, if it's against the rules then NCAA athletes shouldn't be doing it. Good luck to him in the NBA.
Even if Mitch played for my most hated enemy (ohio) I would find this beyond absurd. Essentially forcing a kid out of school due to an excessive suspension. Would he have left anyway after next season; very likely. But to have someone sit that long for a first offense for something so petty is beyond me
Smooth move NCAA. No wonder Coach Cal and the one and dones are becoming more and more common. Just not smart. Punishment should be dealt but it should be a just punishment, not this bs.
Rant over
At what point will news from both Michigan's football and basketball team get tired of kicking me in the nuts? At this point I believe they must be developing blisters on the top of their feet from delivering so many kicks to my balls in a row.
And as said many times before. This is an absolute ridiculous rule and truly defines the word "draconian."
why can't this offseason end?
125 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes until college football...
At which point, we'll be facing the actual season, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that, either.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
Alcohol is bad, the herb is not.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
If these worthless pukes can send me off to war at 18, I'm gonna drink if I want to.
The latter is impossible to find.
Also, both mess with your judgement thus making them both bad.
or, at least my first coherent thought after a few minutes of rage. Seriously, If anyone doubts that a union is worth the "trouble" this should be it.
So, I guess the 2014 meme is officially dead now, right?
Seriously, he is going into the NBA b/c he tested positive for pot after a game that he never played in because he was still hurt but had to take a test b/c he wore the uniform?
Anyone know a witchdoctor who car remove this curse we are living under?
I'm staring at it like your picture...I'm mind fucked
You can't convince me that this was "random."
Totally "random." Just like when I come back from vacation or sick calls somehow I'm always randomly tested.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^