After having read all these posts on this subject I thought I might add my 2 cents. I will also freely admit that I have made stupid choices as far as driving while impaired when I was younger but was one of the lucky ones who never got in an accident or arrested. It was a stupid thing for me to do then and it was a stupid thing for Mussleman to do Saturday morning.
I have read some very astute posts and much of what I have to say will be redundant but I still wish to make my feelings known. I wish to make it clear that I think Mussleman should be allowed a second chance. Mistakes happen in life. What is important is what is learned from them. I think up to this point he has done a fine job. I do believe that he must make his apologies to Sacramento as a whole, the Kings organization, his players and to his family. I would expect a fine and a suspension from the NBA. I do not believe in a double standard and expect him to fulfill his obligations as far as the penalties for DUI's the same as anyone else.
As far as talk of him being an alcoholic, who knows. He doesn't have a public reputation as far as I know for being an out of control drunk. As it stands now I will give him a pass. What I do know is that he made a bad choice that has placed him in a bad light and put peoples lives in danger. It will be an uphill battle for him to regain some of the trust that he has had by all concerned.
What so many people who have alcohol related problems fail to understand (until it is too late) is how alcohol affects the lives of those close to them. For example, fines to be paid by families that don't have the money in the first place, them losing their license putting family and friends at hardship for having to take the DUI offender to mandatory AA meetings, court hearings, and to their jobs because they are no longer allowed to legally drive.
The financial losses for some can be staggering especially for families where the DUI offender IS an alcoholic and must go to a treatment center, not to mention the pain that family members see of their loved one who needs help but in many cases can't see it.
I am not saying Mussleman is at this point but, he could be.
I am disappointed that he didn't show better judgement but as it has been said numerous times here that most people over the legal limit don't make good judgements. As a leader of young men, and young kids (by his choice) he failed to be a role model for them by making a poor decision in getting behind a automobiles wheel after drinking. I hope he steps up to the plate, and takes his knocks, as they are well deserved, learns from it, and goes on from here and become proactive in helping people to resist the temptation of drinking and driving. As one persons post said earlier. He was lucky. It could have been much worse.
