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Recall that SIU star Jamaal Tatum was caught driving drunk, running stop signs, & failing to yield back in March.
Even the local press in Southern Illinois (2nd link above) was alarmed that this is very bad for SIU and should be dealt with strongly and decisively.
Tatum had been in trouble before, even suspended before ( for just ONE meaningless exhibition game ) when he trashed a police statio and broke windows.
The only thing SIU coach Chris Lowery said publicly about Tatum over this most recent incident was that--
"he has not decided on the specifics of Tatum's punishment this time."
The SIU AD said:
"When you have a group of kids, sometimes they make mistakes."
and
"I try to let the coaches handle those situations, because every situation is different and every team is different....
... But I think the program is in good shape."
In other words, they were going to take a wait and see attitude.
Well, now four more months have passed.
Tatum issued a public apology.
Tatums court date has come and gone.
Public comments here and there were "boys will be boys", "he's already suffered enough public embarrassment", and "Lowery will deal decisively with this...".
But guess what? No further action by Chris Lowery or the SIU staff. No penalties, no punishment, no mention of any suspension of games. In fact, the very next news anywhere in the world on Jamaal Tatum, is found in a release in May, saying Jamaal Tatum had turned down an opportunity to go to Boston and do a summer internship with the Celtics, and that he was going to stay on campus.
But there wasn't even any public mention anywhere, not even in the press or the message boards of the outcome of his hearing on April 13.
Apparently he got off pretty easy because he was considering going to Boston for the Summer.
So obviously no jail time or severe penalty. Maybe nothing at all, maybe charges dismissed.
Either way, I personally wonder if C-Lo plans even the tiniest bit of discipline. He gave Tatum a meaningless one game off (a preseason game) for trashing a police station. I'll bet he gives a free pass for this "mistake" as the SIU folks call it.
Here is the paradox, though...
When the JJ Redick DUI occurred, here are a few of the statements on the SIU message boards:
--"Yeah, drunk driving makes him looks like he has an otstanding character doesn't it Coach K........? retard. I hate Duke.... "
--"Reddick is a stroke." "I knew he was no good..."
--"can't wait to talk about J.J.'s drinking problem at work."
--"not the smartest thing to do"
If Jamaal Tatum was a bit-player, Lowery would have booted him from the team to make himself look good and to get another scholarship to use.
BUT-- Tatum is one of his biggies. So let's see what is done. I predict nothing or token action. Remember, when Jim Les had just about the only discipline issues of similar nature (Jabbar Battle, Mike Suggs) he suspended Battle two games and demoted him to virtually no playing time the rest of the year.
Suggs was told to leave post haste and left immediately.
Anyone want to give odds that C-Lo don't wanna lose Tatum for even one game??
Even the local press in Southern Illinois (2nd link above) was alarmed that this is very bad for SIU and should be dealt with strongly and decisively.
Tatum had been in trouble before, even suspended before ( for just ONE meaningless exhibition game ) when he trashed a police statio and broke windows.
The only thing SIU coach Chris Lowery said publicly about Tatum over this most recent incident was that--
"he has not decided on the specifics of Tatum's punishment this time."
The SIU AD said:
"When you have a group of kids, sometimes they make mistakes."
and
"I try to let the coaches handle those situations, because every situation is different and every team is different....
... But I think the program is in good shape."
In other words, they were going to take a wait and see attitude.
Well, now four more months have passed.
Tatum issued a public apology.
Tatums court date has come and gone.
Public comments here and there were "boys will be boys", "he's already suffered enough public embarrassment", and "Lowery will deal decisively with this...".
But guess what? No further action by Chris Lowery or the SIU staff. No penalties, no punishment, no mention of any suspension of games. In fact, the very next news anywhere in the world on Jamaal Tatum, is found in a release in May, saying Jamaal Tatum had turned down an opportunity to go to Boston and do a summer internship with the Celtics, and that he was going to stay on campus.
But there wasn't even any public mention anywhere, not even in the press or the message boards of the outcome of his hearing on April 13.
Apparently he got off pretty easy because he was considering going to Boston for the Summer.
So obviously no jail time or severe penalty. Maybe nothing at all, maybe charges dismissed.
Either way, I personally wonder if C-Lo plans even the tiniest bit of discipline. He gave Tatum a meaningless one game off (a preseason game) for trashing a police station. I'll bet he gives a free pass for this "mistake" as the SIU folks call it.
Here is the paradox, though...
When the JJ Redick DUI occurred, here are a few of the statements on the SIU message boards:
--"Yeah, drunk driving makes him looks like he has an otstanding character doesn't it Coach K........? retard. I hate Duke.... "
--"Reddick is a stroke." "I knew he was no good..."
--"can't wait to talk about J.J.'s drinking problem at work."
--"not the smartest thing to do"
If Jamaal Tatum was a bit-player, Lowery would have booted him from the team to make himself look good and to get another scholarship to use.
BUT-- Tatum is one of his biggies. So let's see what is done. I predict nothing or token action. Remember, when Jim Les had just about the only discipline issues of similar nature (Jabbar Battle, Mike Suggs) he suspended Battle two games and demoted him to virtually no playing time the rest of the year.
Suggs was told to leave post haste and left immediately.
Anyone want to give odds that C-Lo don't wanna lose Tatum for even one game??
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