"Tony Woods is a punk and Louisville deserves him." I remember thinking that last year when I heard about him, and the drama that was associated. I even made a couple smart-ass tweets. That was then. In the last day or so, Tony Woods has met with all the big shots at UK, with the obvious possibility of a basketball scholarship for the upcoming season being thrown around. Now, it seems no one in the UK sports universe wants anything to do with him, and thinks the school is crazy for even being mentioned as a potential destination.
We all know what Tony did: he hit his girlfriend and broke her back. Or did he? Earlier today, I read Jason King's wonderful article about the incident.Here's what it boils down to: minor incident, no proof of harm, simple misunderstanding. (Doesn't that sound like a UK fan's familiar defense?) Even the victim said as much. Read the article, if you haven't already, and come back to me. I'll wait.
After I first heard the news of a UK-Woods wedding, I didn't have an initial reaction. Wanted to see how it played out. After some thought, and a few eye-opening events, here is my reaction:
The University of Kentucky should absolutely give Tony Woods a scholarship, and feel proud that they did.
Why? Because just a few hours ago, I saw the body of a 28-year old woman lowered into the ground. A 28-year old with four small children, children who will spend the rest of their lives wishing they could see their Mommy again, and not knowing why she had to die. I don't know why she had to die, and I'm not here to get into religion, or death, or any of that. We all suffer grief at some point in our lives, and we all deal with it and go on. But what I saw today made me absolutely sure of one thing. In the big picture, sports is absolutely meaningless.
I say that hypocritically, because I used the Tony Woods-UL fiasco as a reason to feel superior to Louisville fans a few months ago, and every fan around has used someone's past as a reason to look down; it's the nature of being a sports fan. Now think back to the funeral I mentioned. Several people who attended will watch baseball tonight, or go play basketball in the morning, as a way to keep their minds off the bad parts of life. But that's all sports is, an escape. There are sportswriters and coaches and personalities and athletes who feed their families through sports. For them, it's a means of survival. But for the fan? It means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
After reading King's article, I immediately thought of second chances. I thought of Tony Woods' young son. And now I think of the four motherless children. I'm not at all trying to say that someone getting arrested and getting a bad reputation is anywhere near as serious as death; I'm not that shallow. But I am using that for perspective.
Here is the perspective: Tony Woods made a fairly serious mistake. Therefore, UK fans (and I include myself here) are saying "this guy is trash, we don't want him. Look at what he did!" How many fans who are saying that have ever been arrested for DUI? Anyone that has has no right to say anything judgmental about him. I've had a DUI, six years ago; blew nearly twice the legal limit. What Tony Woods did is no worse than what I did. Granted, I didn't cause anyone harm, but that is only because I was fortunate enough to go to jail before I hit another car on the interstate. Now, how many people have missed child support payments over the years? Those people need to shut the hell up as well. How many people have ever been consenting party to an abortion? Those people need to shut the hell up as well. How many people have ever screamed at someone, made fun of someone, turned a blind eye to someone's misfortune? Those people need to shut the hell up as well. We are so quick to throw stones at others, but at some point in the rock-throwing, we broke the mirror we need to be using to look at ourselves.
What Tony Woods did was wrong, but it wasn't anymore wrong than anything I listed above. Remember Tony's son? If his father doesn't get a second chance, what message does that send to the boy? That mistakes aren't allowed? That remorse and regret aren't acceptable? What kid needs that pressure on him? I like to think this is a world where second chances are allowed, and given. UK should absolutely take a chance.
I've given the emotional reason for this, now let me give the sports fan reason: If Tony plays at UK, it doesn't change a thing. In twenty years, no one will care, and it won't affect gas prices, or world hunger, or domestic abuse, or drug use. Some talking heads are going to spew ridiculous derogatory bullshit, even if John Calipari signs a homeless quadriplegic deaf-mute who comes from a family of third-world nuns. A Tony Woods signing would only serve to give the snipers more bullets. I've said before, people are going to believe what they want, regardless of what evidence there is to the contrary. This situation is proof of that. I also say that, at the end of the day, who gives a damn if the media thinks UK is the epitome of evil? The media can kiss my ass, and hopefully yours. If Tony doesn't come to UK, people are still going to find something to bitch about. Personally, I think Calipari, and for that matter the school itself, has much more to gain than lose. If he messes up again, it was to be expected and UK keeps hearing the criticism it has always heard. But if he succeeds...Oh man, think of the possibilities! For starters, it would put the school in a positive light for once. It would also take some heat off Calipari, a man who himself is all too familiar with having molehills made into mountains in the press. He is also familiar with making success stories out of questionable characters. And least of all, it would give UK a talented big man with something to prove. But honestly, the team's needs are the furthest thing from my mind. I could care less about whether the team needs him, I care that Kentucky fans lower their collective heads enough so that they no longer have to look down their noses at a human being who made a bad decision.
Want proof UK fans are looking down their noses? How about this one: "Tony Woods deserves a second chance, but not at UK. UK is an elite program." Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt your caviar and champagne, Chauncey Fitzpatrick Pendlethorpe IV. I must've forgot that none of us have ever been appalled at a rich person ignoring the less fortunate. That wasn't us! To me, that's just another reason to bring this young man on board. Set the bar. Show the world that UK isn't too big and precious to take a chance on a guy with a checkered history. I bet all you self-righteous, elite program snobs rooted for the sheriff of Nottingham instead of Robin Hood.
Regardless of what I, or you, or ESPN, or Jason King, or anyone thinks, UK and John Calipari are going to do what they see fit. Here's to hoping they see fit to give a young man with a bad name a second chance. Practically all of us have had them; who are we to tell someone else they don't deserve one?
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