Ok, in keeping with the tone of all of the posts on this thread, let me have it now! Okay, I'll let you have it. You've hit on the central point about why we treat DUI as a serious thing: because, regardless of what actual harm is done, the potential is so great that there has to be a very strong deterrent. That's why the, "I've done it, you've done it," attitude is a dangerous one, dangerous to those who espouse it as well as to those who might someday be their victims. It is true that Willis, like many others booked for DUI, didn't hurt anybody. You still have to smack 'em down hard, though. If someone's demonstrated the lack of judgment that allowed them to drink and get behind the wheel, you need to show them the hard way why they don't want to do it, and paint a very clear picture of how much worse it could get. I was a bystander and first responder once when a pedestrian was hit by a...I won't call him a "drunk driver", because I have no idea how the balloon test came out, but he'd been drinking. It was dark, it had been raining, he was traveling through a complicated intersection, who's to say that it was the beer that did it? All I know is that he had been drinking, and that he didn't drive with enough care to avoid hitting a woman who was crossing in a crosswalk. I didn't know much first aid at the time. She didn't move, I couldn't tell if she was breathing, there was blood coming out of her head. Then she said, "What happened?" and started to cry, very quietly. Just then this guy came up, saying, "Oh my god, I didn't see her, I couldn't stop, is she all right?" And in that moment, honestly, I didn't know which of them I felt worse for. This is why DUI is a big deal: because this is where you could end up, standing on a dark street over a bleeding body and wondering if your victim will live or die. If you drink and drive, the only thing that keeps you from an outcome like this is dumb luck. Other people shouldn't have to rely on your dumb luck for their own safety. That's why DUI is a big deal, whether anyone actually gets hurt or not.
Is his license going to get suspended for 6 months, get 200 hours community service, undergo alcohol assessment like you or I? No, BECAUSE he was all over the media and it made him someone to talk about and make jokes about DUI. Look at this stream, how many of you ignorant dorks have made jokes about this Bently driving potential death machine pissing in the street. There is nothing to laugh about and because he has money and celebrity status he will not go through what we poor peasents would, that is just the facts. Do your reaserch and see how many pro athletes and other famous people have DUI but are still drinking and driving. Maybe they will hit you next, and if you live, you can laugh then.
Cloolis, The only thing we are BOTH doing is contributing to this thread. The point I'm trying to make is that people with different life experiences are going to have different perspectives on many issues, as lbb clearly expressed above. Peoples opinions and perceptions are generally based on their life lessons, one no more "right" than another. I don't care is Dontrelle was drunk. I don't care if he took a piss in the middle of the street. What I do care about is someone putting any mind-altering substance in their body and then getting behind the wheel. That single act of self-indulgence and lack of regard for human life is about as narcissistic as one can be. And if you think the description of my father's death was a comparison to a drunk idiot pulling his car over to take a leak, you've completely missed the boat. On the other hand, if you can read the words of others open to the possibility that you might see a view different than your own, you might call that a good day. To your apologies and affection for personal attacks, Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I can assure you if you stop assailing the opinions of others you won't have to come back with apologies or guilt-ridden well wishes for the season.
He made a mistake, at least no one is dead, but he should still be made an example of...but he wont...im tired of f#$%ing athletes getting off
JUST IN********Dontrelle "JUST LEAKED"to the media that Cris Henry was actually drivig the Bentley.......
JUST IN********Dontrelle "JUST LEAKED"to the media that Cris Henry was actually drivig the Bentley....... It was also discovered that Tank Johnson violated his house arrest when Chris Henry said he was in the back seat of that Bentley selling guns to Morice Clarette...
While we are on the subject on DUI, I just want to share a personal experience on the matter.I'm a personal two time DUI offender.The first time in 1980.I didn't even lose my licence.That didn't stop me.My second offense in 1990 coming home from a Patriots game,I blew a .18 on the breathalizer. After all was said and done in court,I lost my license for 90 days.It should of been only 45,but I decided to fight it.After all that,I still didn't learn my lesson. In May of 1993,I got into a serious motorcycle accident where I almost lost my life.I had a female passenger on the back.Luckily she only broke her big toe on one of her feet.Myself?I was transported to the local hospital where my injuries were so severe that I had to be MedFlighted to U Mass Medical Center where I remained in critical condition in a coma for 10 days with a fractured skull,broken back,ruptured spleen and liver,facial fractures,a broken collar bone,broken ribs and a broken arm,and a left foot and ankle so busted up,they had to take bone from both hips to repair it,and skin off of both thighs for skin grafts.There are a few more injuries,but I could write all day about it.After 2 months in the hospital,and another 21/2 in a rehab,I finally got to come home in early Oct. And to top it all off,it just happened to be mothers day that year,May 9th 1993,at 1:15 in the morning.A nice Mothers day present when she answered the door that morning and a cop was there telling her that a priest was going to meet her at the hospital because her son was involved in an accident,and they weren't sure that I was going to make it.So if anybody who doesn't think that DUI isn't a serious thing,think again.Even though Dontrell didn't get hurt or hurt anyone else,things could of been worse.I know it smartened my ass up,but look what it took.That would of been my third offense,but one of the cops at the scene knew who I was and figured I wasn't going to make it,and even if I did,knew I had a long road ahead of me decided not to charge me.I know this has nothing to do with this thread,but I just wanted to share this with you all here.If you read it thanks for reading it.Maybe it will give some people that just pulling over to take a piss is no big deal,and it's something that we have all done if you have ever drunk and drove.But who knows what may have happened if he didn't stop to take that piss and end up getting busted.
Texan- If you look at all my posts on this thread never once did I say that DUI or its repercussions were AMUSING. So yes, you were reading between the lines when you said that I did find it amusing. What I found amusing (again) was that what he did was no worse than what most of the people on this thread have done at one time or another- whether they were caught or not! And that he made a mistake and deserves a chance to show that he will learn from it, so that something worse doesn't happen next time, and that there will not be a next time for him. If you honestly feel you have never made a big mistake (not necessarily drunk driving), whether you were caught or not, you are living in a fantasy world. By calling me INSANE (or insinuating as much) you also were making personal attacks, the kind you reprimanded me for. My apology was not "guilt ridden" either, so once again you are reading between the lines. I do reserve the right to take away my apology- you are not worth it.
What I found amusing (again) was that what he did was no worse than what most of the people on this thread have done at one time or another- whether they were caught or not! Once more, you have no way of knowing this. Now stop it. Just stop. You went and mined a couple of people's profiles -- mine and Texan's -- in search of insult-fodder. You crafted some spectacularly lame insults. You did so in direct violation of SportsFilter guidelines. You did this once, you were pointed to the guidelines, you came up with this "gee sorry bout that" apology -- and then you went and did it again, hence Texan's comment. You went to his profile, then went to his website, and did your level best to take everything you found there and turn it into a spiteful, petty little attack. I read it and was disgusted. Your apology to me is not accepted; how can I believe that there's any sincerity in it when you turn right around and do the same thing to someone else?
I do reserve the right to take away my apology- you are not worth it. You got to look at it like this: It's like the kid that goes to the blacktop with a basketball but the moment he doesn't get picked to play, he grabs his ball and goes home. Com'on people, enough is enough!! The personal attacks are getting way out of hand and are not warranted. No one deserves to be treated poorly, especially on here. We're supposed to be talking about sports here so what seems to be the problem? I love just about all aspects of sports: watching sports, talking about sports, writing about sports and debating about sports but getting personal when someone doesn't agree with your point of view is never necessary.
And another thing....! heh. Happy New Year.
