Rules Violation Specified: Royce White arrested for stupidity

Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by JF in 2009-2010

So maybe he hasn’t grown up. Word leaked late this afternoon that Royce White was arrested in October for shop lifting and fifth degree assault. For non-legal scholars, fifth degree assault is defined here. Both crimes appear to be firmly on the idiotic side of the idiotic-harmful pendulum, and the indefinite suspension punishment appears appropriate at this time. No doubt this is stupid, but he is hardly a threat to society (especially when compared to the charges another Gopher power forward is facing). He is, however, a threat to his own career.

I have to plead ignorance when it comes to getting through to an incredibly talented 18 year who also happens to have incredibly poor decision making skills. Royce White has shown that when motivated enough he can stay out of trouble and be a good teammate. He also has a history of idiocy that makes me wonder if he will soon join the unfortunately long list of other stupid but talented people who have thrown away great opportunities.

White needs to be suspended, and only he and Tubby Smith know what it will take for him to learn that he needs to get his act together. If I was Tubby Smith, I’d keep him off the team until he can demonstrate that he can behave and until he shows enough remorse in actions and words that it is clear this will be the last time he messes up. And that remorse, it can’t be about missing out on playing time. It needs to be about making a horrible decision and showing that he has learned from it.

College kids, especially freshman, are notoriously stupid. I was too. Luckily I never got into that kind of trouble for poor decisions. If I was a talented basketball player who had been told that I was invincible, maybe I would have.

Royce White, you are now on your third chance. Don’t blow it. This is about more than basketball. This is about your life.

Tags: Royce White

4 Responses to “Rules Violation Specified: Royce White arrested for stupidity”

Late Night Links | UM Hoops.com

03. Nov, 2009

[...] Rules Violation Specified: Royce White arrested for stupidity The wheels are falling off a bit in Minnesota. Royce White and Trevor Mbakwe, the Gophers best incoming freshmen, have been suspended indefinitely. Mbakwe has a pending assault charge while White recently was caught shoplifting from a Macy’s. [...]
Nardo

09. Nov, 2009

This certainly dissapointing, especially with TM’s legal issues. I suppose the good news is for Gopher fans that we still basically have our entire team returning from last year. After seeing TM in the Tubby Tip-Off scrimmage I was sure hoping that he would bre eligible. Losing these two young men will hurt the team, but holding them out until the time is right is still better for the overall program, I suppose.
76 Classic Preview « Beadlemaniacs

26. Nov, 2009

[...] Mack have been picking up the slack in his downturn. The Gophers, meanwhile, have dealt with the dismissal of star recruit Royce White and have not been challenged yet. He takes a lot of shots, and sometimes some unnecessary ones, but [...]
Into the New « University Word

13. Jan, 2010

[...] easier on yourself when setting plans for the next year. The University community had Spring Jam, Royce White and Gary Tinsley swinging a board, just to name a few of the bad. Not too hard to make anew and [...]