Driving Duke Athletics in to the Ground

As the Duke campus was finally recovering from the shameful allegations brought upon their lacrosse team, Duke's golden boy of the last few years is just the latest to put Duke athletics further behind the eight ball. JJ Redick, Duke's famed sharpshooter and the all-time scoring in the ACC, is being charged with drunk driving after being pulled over by Durham police near campus early Tuesday morning. Head basketball coach Mike Kryzewski staunchly defends the character of his former star, so this appears to be nothing more than an isolated incident. However, given the importance that is being placed on character on draft boards in all sports, a projected early lottery pick could fall deeper in to the first round. More importantly for Cameron Crazies and Duke enthusiasts across the country is the further negative attention focused on the Blue Devils athletic program. While I am certainly no Duke sympathizer, linking the two distinctly different infractions is ridiculous. The two allegedly guilty parties share a campus, but very likely not much else.

An incident such as this forces general managers and team owners to think twice before selecting a player. As one executive put it, it does not necessarily reflect his character, but it forces the organization to look deeper. In Redick's case it would be surprising to find skeletons in his closet, but to other players a more thorough evaluation could unveil a host of new issues. The growing trend of team's putting an emphasis on character is a welcomed change. Teams are not willing to take on another Ryan Leaf and deservedly so. Not only do character issues often surface on the field, it also helps teams stay off the front pages when a player acts unprofessionally off it. The prime example on the importance of character can be seen in the recent success of the New England Patriots. Having players who make good teammates and work well as a unit is often more important than teams stacked with talented, but individual minded stars. Team chemistry can not be overlooked, and the key ingredient is a team full of good characters. My only point of contention is where you draw the line. For a player like Redick, this appears to be his first infraction and is apparently just a lapse in judgement. This is not to absolve him of his sins, but the incident does not seem to be a true testament of his character. Certain executives feel this will adversely affect his draft status, but the punishment does not seem to fit the crime. However, in an age where sports stars often feel they are above the law, it is important that they be humbled by experiences such as these.