What if Abreu returned?

[BirdZip]

Weatherspoon scored 20 yesterday for Toledo, if he were in an Akron uniform yesterday what do you think his point total would have been?

Four of his points came on foul shots, so I'd start by saying he'd have maxed out at 16.

[LZIp]

I guess the question of whether or not to bring him back depends on one other question. How is the current point guard recruitment going? I would imagine if there is a PG out there with the talent to unseat the current group, we should make a huge effort at getting him and AA does not come back.

AA is better than what we have and he isn't exactly a world beater. My concern would be his ability to play after a year off. Q has extremely good athletic ability and AA does not. Q can take a year off and still have the ability. Not sure AA will be able to do the same thing.

In reality, Akron needs something different than AA if they really want to take the program to another level. One of the guys who owns the company where my wife works always say, "What got us here won't get us there." AA helped to get us to where we are (sadly, not always in a positive manner). Another year of him won't get us to where we need to be. Akron is only a couple of players away from being as good as Toledo, so it isn't like we can't do it or it is an impossible hurdle to get over.

Sorry if my belief that this team/program should be better in every way than they are now offends some.

bold 1- if that is really going to be the determining variable as to whether or not Abreu is brought back, then I will have trouble supporting the people who run this program. We would be seen a joke all across the country, especially the MAC.

bold2- very interesting statement. One that I very much agree with. I wonder where many corporations today would be if they stuck to the same paradigm that got them off of the ground and never took risks to improve revenue and profitability. That statement is one that I think can apply to much more than the players if the program ever wants to take another leap.

[clarkwgriswold]

AA would certainly help, but let's remember a couple of things. First, he is an awful defensive player whose weaknesses were often covered up by Zeke erasing his mistakes. Second, AA had trouble getting into shape when he was active. I can't imagine what shape he is in now, what commitment he would make to getting back into shape, or how long it would take him.

Also, I am not sure we could trust him. He not only got himself in to trouble, but then compounded it with a probation violation when he still had a chance to get back to the team.

[The Hip Zip]

Personally, I think that all of us underestimated just how much Zeke disrupted our opponents offensive flow. It's not all to be found in the stat sheets. It's the shots that they didn't take or that were altered that didn't come into play. Countless times teams broke out on us only to grab onto the breaks and kick it out for an ill advised 3 pointer that didn't drop.

[Dave in Green]

Here's what I think about Alex returning. It absolutely cannot be about making the basketball team better. It has to be all about giving a second chance to someone guilty of a temporary lapse of good judgment if there's a high degree of confidence that person has taken all the appropriate steps to prove that they are truly reformed and can be counted on to be a good citizen in the future. It has to have the full support of Coach Dambrot, the team and UA that it's the right thing to do for a young man who is worthy of their confidence. If Alex should return for all the right reasons and then have a relapse of bad judgment, it would be damaging to Coach Dambrot, the team and UA. That's what makes the decision so terribly difficult. The easy thing to do with the lowest risk is to simply dump anyone who makes the slightest mistake and offer no one a chance to right their lives. But often the right thing to do is not the easiest or the one with the least risk.

[GoZips]

I don't understand what Livingston is talking about when he says that Weatherspoon was spurned by UA when the scholarships ran out. Weatherspoon was originally recruited by some high-majors as well as some mid-majors, including UA where he was recruited by Jeff Boals. When Boals moved to Columbus, Weatherspoon was offered by tOSU and accepted. Is Livingston trying to say that Weatherspoon would have selected UA over tOSU if the Zips hadn't run out of scholarships? There's no way Coach Dambrot would have given up his last scholarship as long as he thought he had a shot at Weatherspoon.

+1

[GP1]

bold2- very interesting statement. One that I very much agree with. I wonder where many corporations today would be if they stuck to the same paradigm that got them off of the ground and never took risks to improve revenue and profitability. That statement is one that I think can apply to much more than the players if the program ever wants to take another leap.

Thanks for your response LZip. It is an interesting statement and an interesting company. When the owner says the things he does, he is talking about everyone at the company, including himself. A great leader. A great leader challenges himself and not just those around him.

[ZachTheZip]

No to Abreu unless its as a walk-on.

[Jalapeño Zippy]

No to Abreu unless its as a walk-on.

What he said!

[mivid12]

What he said!

none of you have ever had a 2nd chance at something? lame

[jupitertoo]

none of you have ever had a 2nd chance at something? lame

Wouldn't it be a third chance given that he violated his parole in the first two weeks?

[ZachTheZip]

none of you have ever had a 2nd chance at something? lame

Did I say that he should never be allowed to play on the team?

We need this scholarship to recruit a four-year player. Do any of us want to possibly miss out on four years of another JD Weatherspoon because we used our only scholarship on a player that will be gone in a year and won't be able to contribute at the same level he did when he left?

[Dave in Green]

Wouldn't it be a third chance given that he violated his parole in the first two weeks?

To the best of my knowledge, no details have ever been published about this. If it was an inadvertent minor violation of an obscure legal technicality, that would be a lot different from deliberately thumbing your nose at the law. Since none of us is ever likely to have access to all the details, we're going to have to rely on the good judgment of Coach Dambrot and other UA officials who would be making any decision on the basis of more factual data than we'll ever see.

[MaxZIP]

Did I say that he should never be allowed to play on the team?

We need this scholarship to recruit a four-year player. Do any of us want to possibly miss out on four years of another JD Weatherspoon because we used our only scholarship on a player that will be gone in a year and won't be able to contribute at the same level he did when he left?

Pure speculation on his performance level. I personally would enjoy the entertainment value of having him back on the team. That is after all why we watch the game...right? That'd be some goooood watchin.

[Dr Z]

... inadvertent minor violation of an obscure legal technicality, that would be a lot different from deliberately thumbing your nose at the law

Lacking detail, but this tidbit is found here: Any hope of an Abreu comeback in Akron went up in smoke when he was arrested in July for an unspecified probation violation. He spent two days in the Summit County Jail before being released.

[Hilltopper]

Any hope of an Abreu comeback in Akron went up in smoke when he was arrested in July for an unspecified probation violation.

Nothing but speculation by a sports writer.

[skip-zip]

Wouldn't it be a third chance given that he violated his parole in the first two weeks?

And that's not everything. I encourage everyone to go back and read the stories, including some of Alex's own admissions. This wasn't just "A MISTAKE" or "A LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT".

For many of the reasons already stated here, I just don't see the benefit of bringing him back at this point.

[MaxZIP]

And that's not everything. I encourage everyone to go back and read the stories, including some of Alex's own admissions. This wasn't just "A MISTAKE" or "A LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT".

For many of the reasons already stated here, I just don't see the benefit of bringing him back at this point.

entertainment

[Dave in Green]

I remember reading all the newspaper stories. What sticks out in my mind is what the prosecutor had to say in court on the day Alex pled guilty:

Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Aaron Howell said Abreu had no previous record “of any kind,” that he cooperated fully with police and gave “truthful statements” about what he did from the moment of his March 7 arrest, when police said he and a co-defendant accepted a package containing five pounds of marijuana.

“This wasn’t the first time he had done it,” Howell told the judge, “and he had plans to maybe do it in the future.

“Obviously, by putting him on probation, which I think would be appropriate under the circumstances here, this will be a wake-up call for him.”

Howell said he listened to all of the recorded police interviews with Abreu following his arrest and found him to be “a bright young man.”

“Hopefully,” the prosecutor said, “he can put this behind him and have a successful future.”

Certainly there could be an enormous benefit to Alex from being able to come back and prove on a public stage that he's learned from his mistake, is completely rehabilitated and sincerely wants to be a productive member of society. In any case, it's not a decision that will be made by counting votes on a sports forum from people who've read a few newpaper stories. It's a decision that will be made by responsible adults working with the best available information trying to do what's best for everyone involved.

[skip-zip]

I remember reading all the newspaper stories. What sticks out in my mind is what the prosecutor had to say in court on the day Alex pled guilty:

Certainly there could be an enormous benefit to Alex from being able to come back and prove on a public stage that he's learned from his mistake, is completely rehabilitated and sincerely wants to be a productive member of society. In any case, it's not a decision that will be made by counting votes on a sports forum from people who've read a few newpaper stories. It's a decision that will be made by responsible adults working with the best available information trying to do what's best for everyone involved.

Dave, I'm just saying that I am leaning towards "NO" because this was not a one-time event. According to the statements we've read, he had done it before, and had plans to do it again, and then had a probation violation that landed him back in jail after he was given a very generous reprieve. This was not an isolated event in which someone did something stupid. If that were the case, maybe I'd lean in the other direction. But, there's just too many factors that make this a bad move for the program.

[Dave in Green]

Skip, I do respect your position. I think we all want the best outcome based on the best knowledge we have available to us. The information that's publicly available leaves room for interpretation. For example, I think the fact that he admitted to police that he might have done it again showed an admirable degree of honesty. He didn't have to admit that and no one could have ever proved that he had an intention to. To me that's a sign that someone is not incorrigible, and from what I've read I think the prosecutor was also impressed with his total honesty. The parole violation remains a mystery. But the fact that it resulted in only 48 hours incarceration suggests to me it may have been an unintentional minor technical violation. A serious violation would have had more serious consequences. I have confidence that all circumstances would be carefully considered, including details that aren't available to us, before any decision is made on his possible reinstatement.

[GP1]

For example, I think the fact that he admitted to police that he might have done it again showed an admirable degree of honesty. He didn't have to admit that and no one could have ever proved that he had an intention to. To me that's a sign that someone is not incorrigible, and from what I've read I think the prosecutor was also impressed with his total honesty.

It looks like he is a completely honest guy without an ounce of self control.

It's no wonder he was on the brink of being overweight all the time.

KD: "Alex, your overweight again. Have you been eating too much paella?"

AA: "I might have."

KD: "You might have? Your smell like shrimp and sausage. Are you sure you weren't eating too much paella?

AA: "I might have."

KD: "There is a family size Doritos bag in your car. Have you been smoking pot again?"

AA: "I might have."

[Z.I.P.]

Better solution: Forget AA. bring back Zeke!!!

[GoZips]

Better solution: Forget AA. bring back Zeke!!!

Zeke used up all his eligibility; Alex has not. Which one of us is sin free? Akron is a school famous for giving second chances.

The list is long; Jim Tressel, Gerry Faust, Keith Dambrot, Jamie Bosley, Quincey Diggs and a host of others. Giving Alex a

second chance seems the right thing to do.

I spent Thanksgiving Day with Alex. He seems to have learned a great deal. Let us put it behind us and welcome him home.

[Balsy]

He seems to have learned a great deal. Let us put it behind us and welcome him home.

Call me skeptical, but I need proof of that before I believe it.