Big Al Jefferson charged with DUI

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4954095

I must say, its surprising. I know this doesnt mean he's a 'bad guy' but his image has been pretty perfect since entering the league.

 

[M_Barragan]

Oops

 

[Double-K]

I must say, its surprising. I know this doesnt mean he's a 'bad guy' but his image has been pretty perfect since entering the league.

So was Tiger

 

[TheWileyVet]

twolves should just cut him

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I guess the Kings will have to sign him, Al and Nocioni can bar hop.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

So was Tiger

HAHAHA... damn

 

[DocHolliday]

Ehh a DUI doesn't mean a ton to me unless he was out of his mind drunk, staggering, weaving all over the road and truly putting others and himself in danger. .08 which you will get arrested for is only legally drunk, by no means "truly" drunk. Millions of people do that everyday in the US after having a couple strong drinks at dinner.

It's all about who is at the wrong place, at the wrong time, that maybe have done something like an illegal u turn, or going a few miles an hour over the speed limit to bring attention to themselves.

 

[ElRey]

Maybe we could get him from Minnesota for cheap now. How about our first round pick?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Ehh a DUI doesn't mean a ton to me unless he was out of his mind drunk, staggering, weaving all over the road and truly putting others and himself in danger. .08 which you will get arrested for is only legally drunk, by no means "truly" drunk. Millions of people do that everyday in the US after having a couple strong drinks at dinner...

And millions more have the common sense to secure a taxi or a dd. I reckon I'm of the opinion that driving under the influence is always a bad thing, whether your "out of your mind drunk" or not.

 

[DocHolliday]

And millions more have the common sense to secure a taxi or a dd. I reckon I'm of the opinion that driving under the influence is always a bad thing, whether your "out of your mind drunk" or not.

You have your opinion, I have mine.

To address one thing though...If you think that couples all around the US are calling a taxi to go out for the evening or dinner, well in my opinion that is a VERY naive outlook. I would say the one's that live in very large cities with an ample amount of public transportation at reasonable prices may ver well; since a lot of those people in those cities don't own cars and use public transit, or cab's as a way of life.

The average couple in a city such as Sacramento with ridiculously high cab fares (approx $100-$110 for a ride form Roseville to Downtown) are NOT securing a cab, or a DD. That would be a date night, and assuming the guy drove, he has a couple drinks. he may technically be .08 and they drive to dinner and home. If you do not realize this happens almost every, every day you have blinders on to the way life "actually occurs" versus the you think an "ideal world" should function.

 

[Double-K]

If you do not realize this happens almost every, every day you have blinders on to the way life "actually occurs" versus the you think an "ideal world" should function.

"Happens almost everyday" does not mean it's acceptable. People commit crimes and causes themselves, or other people's death, everyday. Doesn't make it acceptable or "right". Drunk driving is just irresponsible. and like Slim said, whether your "out of your mind drunk" or not.

But without hijacking the thread too far, let's get back to Al Jefferson.

Do you guys think he'll get any suspension/punishment from the league because of this?

 

[kennadog]

I don't think they can suspend him until he's proven or admits he's guilty. Noc just got community service for his DUI. So far neither the league not the team has suspended him as far as I know. Noc was pretty embarrassed as he is known to be pretty much a home and family man.

"Lots of people do it," is a stupid justification. It doesn't mean its right. And I'm not naive. Sure I know people do it all the time. I also know they are making a poor judgement choice.

You don't have to take public transportation or call a cab, unless you're out alone. Just have a designated driver. Since I have no problem going without drinking, I've often been a designated driver for years and I'm almost 60. Even if you are out alone, do you have zero friends or family you could call? Or know how much you drink and wait the period of time it will take to metabolize the alcohol. Driving impaired is just stupid.

By the way, you don't need to be staggering drunk to have an accident. They've done tests on people on a pylon course within 30 minutes of having one drink. All of them could get through the course without hitting a pylon before the drink. Not one made it through cleanly after the drink, including professional race car drivers. Some knocked over a lot, some knocked over only a couple, but the fact is they were all impaired to some degree.

 

[6th]

"Happens almost everyday" does not mean it's acceptable. People commit crimes and causes themselves, or other people's death, everyday. Doesn't make it acceptable or "right". Drunk driving is just irresponsible. and like Slim said, whether your "out of your mind drunk" or not.

And, if caught, a very expensive irresponsiblility. Much more so than that "expensive cab fare."

I work for DMV and I am amazed at the number of DUI's every day. Al Jefferson is being irresponsible and to use "too expensive" as an excuse, well...it just doesn't fit for someone who makes millions of dollars. He will pay the piper...and rightly so.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

By the way, you don't need to be staggering drunk to have an accident. They've done tests on people on a pylon course within 30 minutes of having one drink. All of them could get through the course without hitting a pylon before the drink. Not one made it through cleanly after the drink, including professional race car drivers. Some knocked over a lot, some knocked over only a couple, but the fact is they were all impaired to some degree.

This. Do I feel like I can conquer the world at .08, yes. I probably can do plenty of things "just about as good" maybe some better. But the tests don't lie and I think people lose sight of how dangerous operating a motor vehicle actually is just because it is so routine. And yes, we may do other things that are more dangerous than driving at .08 or .1 regularly, like drive tired, talk on the phone, fix our hair, watch our kids, etc. Fact is that many of these same distractions are still there when you are at your .08 so it just further compounds the impairment.

And besides, we're talking about NBA players here. They can afford a cab to Roseville or Tahoe or NYC. Unfortunately I think that also means that the penalties for a DUI which are quite severe for average folk are nothing to them which is why we seem to have this discussion once or twice a year.

 

[6th]

I don't think they can suspend him until he's proven or admits he's guilty. Noc just got community service for his DUI. So far neither the league not the team has suspended him as far as I know. Noc was pretty embarrassed as he is known to be pretty much a home and family man.

I can guarantee you that here in California he got more than just community service. Yes, the court gave him community service. However, in CA, there is something called Admin per se. That means that it is out of the court's hands.

Noc would have lost his license for 6 months (or got a restricted license after 30 days). To get a restricted license, you must sign up for a dui course (expensive for you and I) and gone to an insurance company and got an SR22 (definitely expensive). Restricted license means he is only allowed to drive to and from work and during the course of employment. Forget driving to the grocery store, taking your kids to school, or any of the other driving privileges we take for granted with a driver's license.

Oh, and don't forget that your insurance rates have just gone up considerably while that dui is on your driving record. And, it stays on for 10 years now.

DUI is stupid, irresponsible, and expensive. And the idea that Jefferson, Nocioni, or anyone else would choose to drive after drinking, and place themselves, or more importantly others, at risk of serious injury or death, is more than irresponsible. It is CRIMINAL!

 

[kennadog]

This. Do I feel like I can conquer the world at .08, yes. I probably can do plenty of things "just about as good" maybe some better. But the tests don't lie and I think people lose sight of how dangerous operating a motor vehicle actually is just because it is so routine. And yes, we may do other things that are more dangerous than driving at .08 or .1 regularly, like drive tired, talk on the phone, fix our hair, watch our kids, etc. Fact is that many of these same distractions are still there when you are at your .08 so it just further compounds the impairment.

And besides, we're talking about NBA players here. They can afford a cab to Roseville or Tahoe or NYC. Unfortunately I think that also means that the penalties for a DUI which are quite severe for average folk are nothing to them which is why we seem to have this discussion once or twice a year.

Part of the impaired judgement caused by drinking.

 

[kennadog]

Allright 6th. Mea Culpa. Here's the sentence as reported in the Bee. He pleaded "no contest."

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/23/2558388/kings-nocioni-pleads-no-contest.html

Sacramento Kings forward Andres Nocioni pleaded no contest Monday and was sentenced to three years of informal probation for his Nov. 5 downtown drunken driving arrest.

Superior Court Judge Emily E. Vasquez also ordered Nocioni, who was not present in the courtroom, to perform two days of sheriff's work project, complete a three-month class and pay fines totaling about $2,500.

His lawyer also said he faced possible disciplinary action from the league.

 

[kings4lyfe32]

You have your opinion, I have mine.

To address one thing though...If you think that couples all around the US are calling a taxi to go out for the evening or dinner, well in my opinion that is a VERY naive outlook. I would say the one's that live in very large cities with an ample amount of public transportation at reasonable prices may ver well; since a lot of those people in those cities don't own cars and use public transit, or cab's as a way of life.

The average couple in a city such as Sacramento with ridiculously high cab fares (approx $100-$110 for a ride form Roseville to Downtown) are NOT securing a cab, or a DD. That would be a date night, and assuming the guy drove, he has a couple drinks. he may technically be .08 and they drive to dinner and home. If you do not realize this happens almost every, every day you have blinders on to the way life "actually occurs" versus the you think an "ideal world" should function.

Earlier tonight i read this thread and agreed with your opinion to some extent. However, one my best friends drove drunk tonight, flipped, and died. Changed my whole outlook on this. I dont care how drunk he was if he had one sip he should have called a taxi.

 

[Widowmaker2k]

Earlier tonight i read this thread and agreed with your opinion to some extent. However, one my best friends drove drunk tonight, flipped, and died. Changed my whole outlook on this. I dont care how drunk he was if he had one sip he should have called a taxi.

Wow, my condolences. That's a terrible thing to deal with. I agree, you shouldn't drink and drive. Driving is dangerous enough, adding alcohol to the mix is asking for trouble. If I know I'm driving, I won't have more than one beer. I'm a big guy (with a tolerance), so I can reasonably say that one beer won't affect me much. Sadly, I know of many folks (and several friends) who have received DUIs in the past. Luckily, none of them have actually suffered a crash. My heart goes out to you dude.

 

[kennadog]

Earlier tonight i read this thread and agreed with your opinion to some extent. However, one my best friends drove drunk tonight, flipped, and died. Changed my whole outlook on this. I dont care how drunk he was if he had one sip he should have called a taxi.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. How very sad.