The t.u. meltdown continues...

I'm sure it wasn't him, he was just an innocent bystander.



"Yes, we feel a gamble may be necessary at key points in the season. We do not focus on what would happen if it does not work. I do not coach with the fear of being criticized. Prefer to do what is necessary to win, based on what I feel is the best choice at the time. Do not coach in fear, ever."
- Bob Stoops on the 10/01 Jim Rome show

UT's Cedric Benson expected to be charged with criminal trespassing:

Running back allegedly forced open apartment door in search of stolen TV.




By Jonathan Osborne

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, October 20, 2003

Austin Police on Tuesday will charge starting University of Texas running back Cedric Benson with kicking in a Southeast Austin apartment door in an attempt to recover a stolen plasma television.

The misdemeanor charge — officially referred to as criminal trespassing — is punishable by up to two years in jail.

Benson was not immediately available for comment today.

Lt. Curtis Kornfuehrer said that on the evening of Oct. 7, a woman inside the apartment on Little Texas Lane near Stassney Road heard knocking at the front door, and looked through the peephole and saw what appeared to be four men. She did not answer the door.

"She didn't know who they were and she did not let them know she was inside the apartment," Kornfuehrer said. "She heard them talking outside, saying something to the effect of, 'We're going to have to double team this door.' "

Then, Kornfuehrer said, the group forced it open.

"One of them got in her face, who she subsequently identified as Cedric Benson," Kornfuehrer said. "He was inquiring about a stolen television. It was a large, plasma screen television. They didn't see it and they left.

"Since there was nothing stolen, we could not make a burglary."

A 2002 police report filed by Benson says that the television, along with a Sony Playstation, some speakers and clothes, were stolen from his home.

Kornfuehrer said the victim, who gave police a written statement on Friday, had been able to write down a license plate number, leading police to Benson, whom she also picked out of a photo lineup. She could not identify the other men.

"We really don't know who the other three are at this point," Kornfuehrer said. "I don't think we're going to be able to go any further with it unless Cedric wants to give it up."

Benson had a previous brush with the law when he was arrested in spring 2002 and charged with possession of marijuana. That misdemeanor was quickly dropped.

On Saturday against Iowa State, Benson rushed for 140 yards and scored three touchdowns.

josborne@statesman.com; 445-3621

Beautiful! It is time to cut Cedric loose.

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(EDIT: "CRAP! How did that happen? Gotta eat CGI crow, I guess.)
Let's get a pool started to see when the first tsip (t webb, i'm thinking of you...) posts some dusty wire story about an Aggie arrested for weed or DUI months or years ago.

It's 3:22. I pick 3:45

(I realize this has a self-defeating aspect to it, but they won't be able to resist, either on this thread or another one.)



[This message has been edited by Not_a_sip (edited 10/20/2003 3:29p).]

I was in college 15 years ago, but at that time never could buy even a decent 20 inch TV. Is it fair to wonder how a college student comes up with a plasma TV?

I wish I had the summer job he had, for the summer or all year.

Bad boys, bad boys
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Bad boys, bad boys....

plasma tv????? wonder how he paid for that???

Ahhhh, the pre-ou game preparation ethic for Benson is outstanding ... glad to see his priorities were in line.

I doubt that this is going to be one of those "just wait until the story comes out" cases ... sounds cut and dried to me. I like the kid, but time for him to move on to baseball or the NFL (if he gets the shot) and move to Selvin at the primary RB.

Cue Bam Morris reminder post.

Probably the Dodgers paid for it. Remember, he's not a scholarship player.

Cut him loose? No.
Give Selvin the start versus Baylor? Absolutely.

I'm sure it wasn't him, I'm sure it was A.Slocum in a 'roid rage.

Can't you just hear the stampede of teasip lawyers heading this way to explain how this was someone else's fault?

OK, I'm just like any other cat who, from the safety of the window likes to sit by and watch bad things happen to a couple of muscled-up toms who square off in the alley.....but this "event" is pretty tame.

Yeah he shouldn't have done it and he should be punished but geeze...it doesn't deserve a mention in the newspaper.

You know it has to be weak if I'm not piling on.




[This message has been edited by AgDotCom (edited 10/20/2003 3:33p).]

Summer job = pro baseball.

Wonder how he paid for it? How about courtesy of the LA Dodgers?

On the plus side, this confirms he's not a pothead. When was the last time a pothead could summon the energy to do anything more aggressive than open the fridge door?

140 yards and 3 TDs. Awesome!

"plasma tv????? wonder how he paid for that???"

The same way he pays for his full ride to Texas, via income from the LA Dodgers organization. They pay his room and board, and he gets a $50K reporting bonus every spring.

The kid's probably guilty of the crime, but don't try and go fabricating NCAA issues.

"Look, lady, all I want is my TV back, man, I've got a 13" TV/VCR combo but Half Baked just isn't the same without my plasma!"

C bong-sen's statement to police:
"It couldn't have been me. I was smoking dope over at a friend's house. I have witnesses. They'll testify that they saw me firing up a blunt at the exact time I was supposedly breaking into that apartment, officer."

Why not cut him loose? He's made a number of decisions that show he has little respect for his teammates or the opportunities he's been giving. He has a pattern of questionable behavior. Mack shouldn't let him get away with it. Not playing against Baylor doesn't exactly send much of a message.

Triple trouble? Jesus Christ my browser went insane.

[This message has been edited by AdamB (edited 10/20/2003 3:31p).]

Double trouble.

[This message has been edited by AdamB (edited 10/20/2003 3:29p).]

Yeah, yeah, the Dodgers, we forgot. You do have to admit that most college players would be looking pretty suspicious with a big screen plasma TV. We just forgot that he's got a legit income stream. We're not used to getting the MLB discount on our star players.

No worries for Ced...he probably thought one of the other 3 guys was going to see a girlfriend and just invited him to come along. He didn't know there was going to be "trespassing" involved. He didn't have a clue. Now expect the lady to drop the charges and sign a sworn afidavit stating Ced wasn't there and it was only her mistake. I'm sure if she agrees to do that, she'll have enough ca$h to buy 100 big screen t.v.'s.





[This message has been edited by chile pequin (edited 10/20/2003 3:33p).]

quote:

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Not playing against Baylor doesn't exactly send much of a message.

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I don't know Ty think of all the yards he could rack up -- if 2 Aggie backs can get 100+?

Think of all the fun he would miss out on!

I'm always amazed at guys with money -- like Ced, with his baseball bennies -- who decide to do this stuff themselves.

Doesn't he understand 'plausible deniability?' Get one of your boys to hire some hoodlums from around the way to deal with it.

Kids! They do the darnedest things!

quote:

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We're not used to getting the MLB discount on our star players

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That's not true. Wasn't Ju Parks drafted as a centerfielder by the Astros?

Ty (I'm really not trying to get on your case today, just want an honest response),

On this same token, wouldn't you say the same about Roy Williams? Throwing tantrums when he doesn't get the ball would be in effect the same thing as showing up his teammates. Also during the Arkansas game, him sitting at the end of the bench pouting wasn't good for his character either, IMO.

quote:

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Wasn't Ju Parks drafted as a centerfielder by the Astros?

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Ju Parks wouldn't be centerfielder, he would be centerfield!

quote:

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That's not true. Wasn't Ju Parks drafted as a centerfielder by the Astros?

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Well played...

He actually might be faster than Biggio is out there.

Seed-ric Benson makes a mad dash for his TV and fails to get it done.

It's a metaphor. Get it?

I can hear them at the line up now:
"Excuse me number 32 would you mind lowering the plasma TV so we can see your face ..."

Ty - nice!

I'm picturing Ju chasing a ball up the hill in center field. Funny stuff.

"All the dude ever wanted was his TV back."

quote:

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On this same token, wouldn't you say the same about Roy Williams? Throwing tantrums when he doesn't get the ball would be in effect the same thing as showing up his teammates. Also during the Arkansas game, him sitting at the end of the bench pouting wasn't good for his character either, IMO.

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No, not at all. First off, I've heard way more talk about this than have seen it happen. Two, it is normal for athletes to get frustrated. Three, making bad decisions on the football field is different than making bad decisions off. Four, going to a party where there are drugs there and busting down some lady's door like Dirty Harry are premeditated actions. He had every opportunity to think it over and make the right decision. Five, Cedric has already had one run-in with the law and he makes another bad decision again. If you're going to go Axel Foley on this woman, couldn't you wait until the season is over?

Roy Williams' frustration is no different than say...taking a cheap shot on a guy after throwing an interception to him. It is worthy of a talking to, but not missing games or being removed from the team.