jackrobert

March 29th, 2011 at 8:26 PM ^

Jalen is an idiot, but I wonder if anyone in the MSM will remember Bobby Hurley's DUI, which occurred not long after Duke beat the Fab Five for the title.

BTW, I don't want to sound callous given that Hurley later almost lost his life when a drunk driver hit him.  The point is that Hurley committed his crime while still a Duke student, while the Fab Five were labeled a bunch of thugs even though I don't recall any run-ins with the law other than Jalen's infamous "crack house" incident.

HAIL 2 VICTORS

March 29th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^

You said mistake where you meant to say crime.  A mistake is calling someone by the wrong name or perhaps using the meat fork with a salad.  Driving drunk is hardly a mistake.  I am also glad nobody got hurt but Drunk driving deserves a much tougher sentence then what is given.

MGoRob

March 29th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^

Actually techincally speaking he didn't commit a crime*.  After crashing his car, he refused the breathalizer.  We're still waiting to hear back from his bloodwork if he was drunk.  For all we know, he could have been under the legal limit.

And I'd also argue that a crime can be a mistake.  He clearly made a wrong decision at some point in the evening to drink too much or to even attempt to drive.

*unless refusing the breathalizer is a crime?

5280rad

March 29th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^

Jalen is hosed.  I think his overall reputation took a HUGE turn for the worse nationally after the airing of the Fab 5 documentary - and now this.  I was a senior during the Fab 5's freshman year, and was actually in the locker room with the players during the tourney selections show march '92 (working for the university).  The documentary he did could have been so much better and so much more positive than it was.  I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying his broadcasting career will slowly spiral down to become nonexistent in a few years.  Over time, that documentary will end up doing much much more damage than good to memory of the Fab 5 yrs as people look back on it say 10 or 20 yrs from now. 

BlueDragon

March 29th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^

The documentary he did could have been so much better and so much more positive than it was.

The players, except for Mr. Webber, grew up on the streets of Detroit and other urban areas. Their story is not a warm and/or fuzzy one. Sorry if the strong language and behind-the-scenes look at college basketball was not to your taste.

I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying his broadcasting career will slowly spiral down to become nonexistent in a few years.

Really? After all the publicity he just generated from a documentary on a 20-year-old college basketball team? His career has certainly improved in the eyes of people who do not particulary care for Duke. Besides which, he's probably made his millions at this point and retiring is certainly an option if he's planned his finances properly, and we have no reason to think that he has not.

Over time, that documentary will end up doing much much more damage than good to memory of the Fab 5 yrs as people look back on it say 10 or 20 yrs from now.

Judging by the reactions on this board, I would say a brand new generation of Michigan fans has been turned on to the mystique and ultimately the tragedy of the Fab Five, and I for one am grateful to get to watch the documentary and the interviews. I agree that the lack of Mr. Webber was a blow against it, but it's not 2013 yet. Consider this documentary a "down payment" on a more complete picture that will emerge as soon as Mr. Webber's term of separation from the University is over.

Section 1

March 29th, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^

So much for getting out in front of a story and heading off bad news before it gets worse.  Or perhaps, "Wait until the documentary has aired before anybody (most particularly the Executive Producer) says anything..."

dennisblundon

March 29th, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^

Drunk driving kills and injures thousands of people every year. Car makers respond with air bags and seat belts but why not installing a blow and go in a car? At what point does cost out weigh the risk? 

WolvinLA2

March 29th, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^

Because unless it became a law that all cars needed to be made that way, very few people would buy a car with that feature. 

Automakers don't improve car safety to keep people safe, they improve car safety because it sells more cars.  Keeping people safe is a nice by-product.  An airbag is never (well, almost never) an inconvenience to the driver, and is certainly never seen that way.  Anyone who drinks on occasion would probably not buy a "blow and go" car, nor would anyone hoping to sell their car to anyone who might drink. 

A feature that eliminates buyers will never fly unless it is mandated by the government.

m1817

March 29th, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^

According to that above link, "a passer-by called officers to report seeing a Cadillac Escalade that appeared to have gone off the side of the road".

Did anyone actualy see him driving the Escalade?  Also, he refused to take a breathalyzer at the scene.  Looks like a good defense lawyer has a good chance of getting the charges dismissed.

 

 

m1817

March 29th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^

Jalen was arrested in West Bloomfield.  The blood test was administered at Henry Ford Hospital.  By the time the blood test was administered, some of the alcohol would have been absorbed in his system and he might have been below the legal limit. 

Also, it sounds like he was on the side of the road, not caught in the act of driving.  Looks like a circumstantial case that will be pleaded out or dismissed. 

Section 1

March 29th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^

You don't think that they bundled Jalen into a squad car and drove him 45 minutes down the Lodge to HFH do you?  No; they took him 10 minutes over to the Henry Ford Hospital W. Bloomfield Center ER.

And, his case will be heard in the 48th District Court.  Now I don't do those kinds of cases there, but the three judges are Kimberly Small, Diane D'Agostini and Marc Barron.  That's at least two very bad choices out of three for a dui defendant. 

MGoSoftball

March 29th, 2011 at 6:55 PM ^

until proven guilty.   Lets wait for the process to work itself out.  I am happy to see that his star power did not get him "out of it" but he has his right of the presumption of innocence.

Desmonlon Edwoodson

March 29th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

You know what, I've probably driven when I shouldn't have.  Just never got caught.  Not saying it was right...it was stupid.  By the same token I'd rather share the road with a buzzed driver than a texter 7 days a week.

If I had to choose between saving a drunk, a self righteous hypocrite, or a pretentious snob, I'm saving the drunk.  And I'd save a random dog on the side of the road before any of them.

Jalen isn't perfect.  Shocker.  You want to be proud/ashamed/indifferent that Jalen went to Michigan, fine.  Bottom line he is a guy trying to get through the day, just like the rest of us.

Tater

March 29th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^

I have no legal credentials, but I do keep my eyes open.  Here's what I think will happen:

I'm betting he pleas this one out.  His expensive lawyer will argue "probable cause."  Since law enforcement in the Detroit area isn't nearly as "color blind" it they should be, that could enter into the mix, too.  I am betting this one ends up a ticket like "careless driving" or "driving too fast for conditions."

Due to the social climate nowadays, ESPN will probably suspend him for a week in the summer when the case is disposed.