OT: Charlie Bell shows up to court drunk
Former MSU basketball player (and current Golden State Warrior) Charlie Bell showed up to court for his DUI hearing drunk. Way to show the judge you're sorry for your previous actions.
Keeping the MSU legacy alive.
http://blog.sfgate.com/warriors/2011/12/09/gs-warriors-reserve-guard-co…
December 9th, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
I just want to know if he drove himself.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
Brandon Minor was recently arrested on drug charges so shouldn't really throw stones
December 9th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
December 9th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
If you are a Michigan fan then you should hold yourself to a higher standard and not have to throw stones.
December 9th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
December 9th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
he's an alcoholic not a sparty. It's sad more than anything.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^
That's is just disappointing. Sparty or not, you have to be at a really low point to do something like that. Maybe its a product of playing for golden state.
December 9th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
Playing for Golden State beats working for Initech.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:34 PM ^
It's bad, and it's NEVER okay to drive after you've been drinking. However, he was "legally drunk." He blew a .09 and the limit is .08. I hate MSU like the next person, but it makes it sound like he stumbled into court smelling like alcohol.
He could've been coming from a lunch and had one beer an hour and a half prior and blew a .09. I've heard of people blowing .08 with fresh listerine on their breath.
Again, no excuse, definitely not okay. ESPECIALLY getting the DUI in the first place. Just a little context that he didn't walk into court looking like Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
and I'm VERY careful not to overdo it when I know I have to drive. One and done usually, but no more than two. That said, the .08 limit is a total crock of shit, and IMO it's all about the money. Texting and driving is more dangerous than .08 is, but there's no money in writing tickets for that.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
I don't have time to find the link right now, but I read a study a few years back (I think it was in Europe) proving that driving while being short on sleep is way more dangerous than being mildly drunk (0.08). I think it all depends on the person at the end of the day. While I agree the 0.08 is low, If the 0.08 limit prevents people from pushing their own limits in terms of safety on the road, I'm all for it. Also, driving while texting is starting to get banned across the country, so I don't think your qualms are falling on deaf ears.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:55 PM ^
It was David Strayer out of the University of Utah. They've done some great research on the topic.
The difference is that drunk people do the same distracting stuff as sober drivers, thereby compounding the problem.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:14 PM ^
mythbusters did one. being sleep deprived was just as dangerous as being drunk. I think people do way too many things they shouldn't (drink, text, drive while tired) and then get behind the wheel. people in general don't seem to realize they're piloting 3500 lbs at speed. imagine getting tackled by every starting lineman at Michigan. now imagine they're running 2-5 times as fast as humanly possible. that's the power you have every time you get behind the wheel.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
That's like being tackled in the ESS EEE SEE, eh?
December 9th, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
Is .08 different for everyone?
Is a beer or two going to get everyone at a .08?
I ask because people have different tolerance levels. A beer or two isn't going to do shit for me but make me have to piss an hour later. However, if I were some 95 lb chic, I might have a legit buzz and need not to drive. Not all of the time, but from what I've seen at least, larger people can handle more alcohol. If true, but .08 is the same for everyone...that's crap. You can't treat the 95 lb chic who has 2 beers and is damn near wasted the same as the 6'5 220 guy who has 2 and is fine...but again, I don't know if it's the same for everyone.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
And I know that a breathalizer isn't the most accurate thing out there to measure BAC...
but for a 200lb male, .08 is ~ 4 drinks (shots, glasses of wine, or beers) in under an hour. Standard disclaimers about breathalizers and every body processing alcohol differently apply.
December 9th, 2011 at 5:29 PM ^
The average person who blows a .09 will show only minimal outward signs of drunkenness, it's true.
Still, you have to be a complete and utter moron to show up to court for a DUI with even a drop of alcohol in your system. Yes, he could have had a beer at lunch... but why the hell would he have a beer at lunch if he had to be at a DUI court date in an hour and a half?
Also, Charlie Bell is 6'3" and 200 lbs. According to bloodalcoholcalculator.org, if he stopped drinking 2 hours before he blew into the breathalyzer, he would have needed six beers in his system to blow a .09. That's not really casual lunch material.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
Dude must have some serious issues. I hope he gets his life in order.
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<br>Unfortunately Sparty doesn't have a monopoly on former athletes with substance abuse issues. Steve Howe anyone? I hope no one holds Howe as an example of our legacy and I suggest we don't for MSU. Really makes us look like asshats.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
I read the title too quickly and envisioned him drunk on the basketball court.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
Being from Flint myself, this is sad. I know of a lot of people who still look up to those guys.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
But I really don't get any enjoyment out of these stories. It's just sad.
Edit: I didn't realize that the dude is in the NBA, commence bashing.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
The non-stop Sparty flaming on every topic/thread is a bit much. We are better than resorting to their type of shenanigans.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^
I agree, it's childish and annoying, not to mention we have a player currently suspended for alcohol related problems.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
I've decided to start deleting the more eggregious comments and have done so to at least one in this thread. Enough is enough. This isn't M-Live.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
that do stuff like this ...I mean to get drunk and get behind the wheel is just ignorant ...Signed Miguel Cabrera...
December 9th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
Reason number 32568364 why I love the NBA.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
David Stern and the NBA have stepped in and cancelled Bell's transfer to jail.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:35 PM ^
Look at you with the Friday funny! +1, Funny
December 9th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
I don't ever drink and drive
I don't like spilling my drinks
I should give superstars lessons on getting a cab.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
SPARTY NO!
December 9th, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^
He may have been so remorseful that he drank to dull the hurt?
Then again, likely not.
December 9th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
This makes it even harder to understand. Either he pounded a few cold ones for breakfast or he got so fucked up the night before that he still registered on the breathalyzer the next morning (not that we all haven't been there, but it seems like a poor call the night before you go in front of the judge on an alcohol related charge).
December 9th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
David Stern should be a pro at handling this. Oh well I guess its good for a laugh.
December 9th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
Let thou who hasn't been drunk as fuck in the morning from the night before cast the first stone.
#ItAin'tMeBabe
December 9th, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
Yet another Sparty NOOOOO moment. The problem here is that neither the judge nor the prosecutor in Flint is going to let him off easy for being on the local team like they probably did for him in EL.
Judges don't like it when a defendant disrepects the court, no matter where they played their HS ball. This is one "Bell" that won't be unrung.