CougarClaw wrote:
CougarClaw wrote:
Willis must pay a fine ($340), does 100 hours community service, and goes to counseling. misses 2 exhibition warm-up "games" and their season opener.
Given that the charges were reduced, this seems like a fitting punishment to me. I don't see it happening again, but if it does, they should throw the book at him.
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I disagree.
Had he choked a guy on the basketball court, he'd have a stiffer suspension; but, because it was a woman, away from the court, the school goes easier on him? :bug:
Wouldn't you say that the situation of choking the guy on the court has more protection from things going wrong than does the situation involving the woman away from the court? But even with the greater potential for harm, we give him a lighter sentance because of a plea deal, not the actual conduct? :roll: :skeptic:
So is throwing him off the team going to protect more women in the future? Or protect more basketball players? He's a 20-year old kid who very nearly lost his basketball future on a stupid irrational stunt he won't soon forget. And he did receive both a judicial and school punishment for what he did. And I think it's also important to remember that justice is not about punishment as much as it is about reform and deterrent. I think he got both.
it's still a misdemeanor and even though that's still a large break from a felony, he's a first time offender. That means he is included in the criminal ranks of Graffiti Artist Sam, Mary "it's-not-mine" Jane, and Samuel "the-drunk"Adams who won't stop singing on the street corner.
If he does it again, I doubt he'll get the same treatment and I think second chances are appropriate.
First I didn't advocate throwing him off of the team; only making his punishment fit the punishment of one who had done this on the court.
Second, I disagree with you assessment of what justice is. With juvinile defendants, it is about reform and deterrance; with big boys it is about punishment. And the punishment itself should be a deterrant. But even if it is about deterrant, how does this deter other athletes from doing the same thing? It doesn't. 2 preseason games and one warm up game is supposed to deter someone form throttling his girlfriend? c'mon....
And last, i understand that it's a misdemeanor, but what i was saying let the punishment fit the actions, not what the DA chose to do. DA's drop charges all the time because witnesses will not cooperate.
