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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2009 > March > 02
Monday, March 2, 2009
Are Buckeyes now OSUI?
That is, Ohio State Under the Influence?
In the past week, we’ve seen two stories about current or former Ohio State athletes possessing drugs or the instruments to use drugs.
First, former basketball guard Jamar Butler did not fight charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He later apologized in a letter his father delivered to the hometown paper:
“I am not a good kid gone bad,” Butler wrote in the letter, delivered Sunday to The Lima News by his father, Melton Butler. “I’ve never been in trouble before, and promise you I don’t intend to be again. I will learn from this and will make myself a better man because of it.”
Then, on Sunday, news reports surfaced that two freshmen offensive linemen will make their own court appearances on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia:
Mike Adams, 18, and J.B. Shugarts, 19, were cited on Jan. 14 after being pulled over for running a stop sign at Pearl St. and E. 14th St., in the campus area.
They were not arrested.
Each has pleaded not guilty. Adams has a pre-trial hearing set for Monday and Shugarts for Wednesday, both in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Often, the seemingly long line of bad news concerning athletes can be traced to the attention such incidents receive rather than an actual epidemic. Entire newspaper sections and news broadcasts could be filled with just the student arrests, especially at a school the size of Ohio State.
But, on top of these, you add Alex Boone and his antics in California. And, the cloud that still hangs from Maurice Clarett (you bet it’s still there nationally). And the Serbian scandals from Jim O’Brien’s tenure. People wonder if there’s a pattern.
Of course, each school has its problems, but Ohio State has nowhere to hide. Its news rises straight to the top in this state, no matter what else is happening with any other team. Its negative tidbits aren’t tidbits at all. They’re full stories.
It’s the negative side of enjoying such attention and support. Each incident is covered and remembered.
