JawsGT wrote:
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JV Arrested for DUI
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CalgaryRapsFan wrote: View PostI understand the emotion behind it, but I don't agree with a sports team taking a random stand beyond what the laws say. Typically a first offense is at most a short-term license and possibly vehicle seizure, a small fine and possibly a single year driving probation period (at least here in Alberta). If you got a 1st time DUI charge over the weekend, would you expect the company you work for to punish you further? No, it makes no sense.
I get that professional athletes and the franchises they work for are in the public sphere, which is why I would prefer outreach to simple punishment. Punishment doesn't help anybody else, which is the exact situation these athlete celebrities are uniquely in. I think having JV talk about his experience with students, as an educational attempt to persuade teens to choose not to drink and drive, would be far more beneficial for the public and much more aligned with the team's commitment to social responsibility.
Also, the punishments as you listed, are minor, and obviously not enough to discourage the behaviour. It's widespread across the country. And, I think community service is a BS sentence for this situation. If he had killed someone, he would probably be going to jail, so community service because "he didn't hurt anyone" just doesn't cut it for me.
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Axel wrote: View PostPlus Jason Kidd has a history (assault) and was just named a Head Coach. Context is very important.
Well then perhaps you should take your passion, and put it towards the cause and make a difference (MADD Canada perhaps?). Cause posting on a Raptors forum with over-reaction isn't going to help anyone get safer roads. Since this is a basketball site, we can only really discuss the basketball side of it, which follows NBA rules, policies and CBA provisions. So while your passion is to be applauded, this discussion (on the Raps site) needs to follow the realities of the NBA.
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Vykis wrote: View PostThe Raptors organization is not responsible for the state of drunk drivers in Canada and have no power there, so if you want to adress that issue go to the canadian goverment forums
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JawsGT wrote: View PostWell that is a good point. My employer would have nothing to say about the situation if this happened to me, unless it was on company time. But boy, would it be great if an employer did (or could do) something to take a stand on the issue, other than releasing a twitter statement. But I guess legally, they probably can't do anything about it. A five game suspension is nothing really.
Also, the punishments as you listed, are minor, and obviously not enough to discourage the behaviour. It's widespread across the country. And, I think community service is a BS sentence for this situation. If he had killed someone, he would probably be going to jail, so community service because "he didn't hurt anyone" just doesn't cut it for me.
There are parties that lobby to increase or decrease those consequences.
Allowing any individual to punish an offender however he sees fit leads to situations like "mob lynchings, witch burnings and inquisitions." Just because there are a group of people who believe a certain offense merits a certain level of punishment, they are not allowed to wield that power over people."Bruno?
Heh, if he is in the D-league still in a few years I will be surprised.
He's terrible."
-Superjudge, 7/23
Hope you're wrong.
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JawsGT wrote: View PostActually, I'll write and discuss whatever the hell I want here.
If you really are that passionate about the issue, then you should take my suggestion and become an advocate and help make a difference.Heir, Prince of Cambridge
If you see KeonClark in the wasteland, please share your food and water with him.
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isaacthompson wrote: View Post"Oh, everyone's done it once or twice" does not make it okay. Wtf?
now if he hit and injured/killed someone then I am there with a pitchfork ready to rake him over the coals but nothing came of his idiocy
he is a young good kid who made a stupid mistake and im ok forgiving and forgetting as long as this does not become a habit
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JawsGT wrote: View PostWell that is a good point. My employer would have nothing to say about the situation if this happened to me, unless it was on company time. But boy, would it be great if an employer did (or could do) something to take a stand on the issue, other than releasing a twitter statement. But I guess legally, they probably can't do anything about it. A five game suspension is nothing really.
Also, the punishments as you listed, are minor, and obviously not enough to discourage the behaviour. It's widespread across the country. And, I think community service is a BS sentence for this situation. If he had killed someone, he would probably be going to jail, so community service because "he didn't hurt anyone" just doesn't cut it for me.
This situation was a political hot potato during the last provincial election, with the law subsequently being changed to reduce the limit. The argument against such a rule is that the age-old '1 drink an hour' rule of thumb is out the window, so people having a glass of wine or a beer with dinner have no idea if they're driving home legally or not. On the other hand, the penalties for driving while extremely beyond the legal limit (ie: 2, 3 or even 4x) and the penalties for causing significant injury or death, were not increased. I think such change to the law was done to help the new (now ex) Premier gain some PR points (which backfired), but will do absolutely nothing to help improve the safety of our roads, since the people causing the rash of serious incidents were the people who were well over the limit and didn't care at all about the laws. Personally, I think if the legal punishment for causing damage, injury and death were significantly increased, it would act as much more of a deterrent to the casual drinker who decides to avoid the risk. Seriously, is a 3-day license seizure going to stop anybody from having a drink or two when eating out? Nope.
But I digress, the laws are what they are, which is why I would be opposed to the Raptors organization stepping beyond the rule of law. If you want to see a sports franchise step up to the plate and make such an infraction more serious, or at least show the public that they take such an infraction seriously, then public outreach is probably the best thing they can do. Joe Blow doing community service is not nearly as impactful as JV going around to a bunch of schools in the TO area, talking about the dangers or drunk driving (possibly in partnership with a group like MADD). The Raptors are uniquely positioned to actually make a positive difference out of this mess, but simply punishing JV does none of that.
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Niagara Raptor wrote: View Postdoesn't make it ok, it was a stupid thing to do but no one is hurt and someone shouldn't be condemned for what could of happened
now if he hit and injured/killed someone then I am there with a pitchfork ready to rake him over the coals but nothing came of his idiocy
he is a young good kid who made a stupid mistake and im ok forgiving and forgetting as long as this does not become a habit"Bruno?
Heh, if he is in the D-league still in a few years I will be surprised.
He's terrible."
-Superjudge, 7/23
Hope you're wrong.
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stooley wrote: View Postbut the argument goes that a drunk driver is not under sufficient control to ensure that he does not damage property or person. so once they step behind the wheel, both people have committed the same crime.
did he violate the law yes he did and I cannot argue against that ... unless devolving into childish naming calling is acceptable ... you poo head
but for morality I think its two parts ... the intention and the outcome ... did JV intend to get drunk and hurt someone and I would say no he didn't ... did he hurt anyone? physically or their property ? again no
so for that im willing to be forgiving
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Public statement from the man himself:
"Hello, I am Jonas Valanciunas. I am Lithuanian centre for the Toronto Raptors. I would like to everyone to know that drinking and driving is never good things. That's why I take the bottle with me. That way I can drink as soon as I'm finish driving. I hope everyone can understand this. As the mayor say, "it's was just a drunken stupor!" I apologize once more times and I hope to help the Raptors to many wicktories in the playoffs."A key that opens many locks is a master key, but a lock that gets open by many keys is just a shitty lock
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e_wheazhy_ wrote: View PostPublic statement from the man himself:
"Hello, I am Jonas Valanciunas. I am Lithuanian centre for the Toronto Raptors. I would like to everyone to know that drinking and driving is never good things. That's why I take the bottle with me. That way I can drink as soon as I'm finish driving. I hope everyone can understand this. As the mayor say, "it's was just a drunken stupor!" I apologize once more times and I hope to help the Raptors to many wicktories in the playoffs."
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stooley wrote: View Postbut the argument goes that a drunk driver is not under sufficient control to ensure that he does not damage property or person. so once they step behind the wheel, both people have committed the same crime.
I'm 6'6 and 230, and don't drink very often. If I'm working on the yard or something a half dozen beer and I could feel fine. Sometimes though I have 2 and you couldn't pay me enough money to get behind a wheel.
Guess the point I'm making is this: For a big Lithuanian man like Jonas, who probably has some experience drinking, he was probably functioning quite well. I don't think he got behind the wheel thinking he was in any way dangering anyone. And if it weren't for the open beer bottles (Pure idiocy) he probably would've been fine. He admitted to the police he had some drinks and that's what's gonna be his problem.
So yes he broke the law and in no way is that acceptable, but he didnt (based off of speculation) put anyone in danger the same way Kidd did, and that is huge. I'm thinking a good apology (from what I've read it sounds like he was sincere to his team), a nice donation of his time, and whatever the law decides. I don't think he deserves to be made an example of but should be treated like any hard working 21 year old who made a bad decision and was caught without any damage to anyone. People make mistakes, if you do it reasonably no one should get hurt
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