Eddie Griffin killed in Houston [Archive]

Johnny_Blaze_47

08-21-2007, 07:18 PM

BC-BKN—Griffin Killed, 1st Ld,0225
URGENT
Former Timberwolves forward dies in SUV-train crash
Eds: ADDS details on crash.
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Former Minnesota Timberwolves Eddie Griffin died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash in Houston, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Tuesday.
Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his tumultous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March.
The five-year veteran and former seventh overall draft pick had battled alcohol problems since coming out of Seton Hall. He was suspended by the NBA for five games in January for violating the anti-drug program.
Houston police said in a report that the SUV ignored a railroad warning and went through a barrier before striking the moving train about 1:30 a.m. Friday.
The driver's body was badly burned and there was no identification.
Griffin had a series of suspensions, court dates and missed practices during his first two years in the NBA with Houston and New Jersey. He spent time in the Betty Ford Center for alcohol treatment in 2003-04.
Griffin signed with the Wolves as a free agent before the 2004 season, and showed enough promise as a shot-blocker and rebounder to be signed to an extension.
But he was waived in March after appearing in just 13 games for the Wolves this season.
AP-WS-08-21-07 2011EDT

timvp

08-21-2007, 07:21 PM

Damn. He was a pretty good kid coming out of high school. Never really adjusted to the stardom and fame that came with the territory. He was still only 25.

R.I.P.

angel_luv

08-21-2007, 07:22 PM

How awful! Condolences to his family. Also to his friends and fans. What a tragedy.

mavsfan1000

08-21-2007, 07:23 PM

Horrible news. I always knew Griffin had problems though. He always looked depressed. Could've been suicide.

MaNuMaNiAc

08-21-2007, 07:23 PM

poor kid

Hoy

08-21-2007, 07:25 PM

Was he abusing himself while driving, distracted, causing him to banging in to the train?
Is there a bad joke here somewhere?

L.I.T

08-21-2007, 07:25 PM

Jesus. Poor guy and condolences to his family.

loveforthegame

08-21-2007, 07:26 PM

How sad. Thoughts and prayers out to his family and friends.

ShoogarBear

08-21-2007, 07:27 PM

Wow. The story does makes it sound like it could have been suicide. R.I.P.

Holt's Cat

08-21-2007, 07:35 PM

Death by train is unfortunately common in the Houston metropolitan area.

exstatic

08-21-2007, 07:45 PM

Spurs Brazil

08-21-2007, 07:55 PM

Rip

50 cent

08-21-2007, 08:00 PM

Damn, that sucks.

spurschick

08-21-2007, 08:22 PM

Damn shame. RIP.

leemajors

08-21-2007, 08:22 PM

Was he abusing himself while driving, distracted, causing him to banging in to the train?
Is there a bad joke here somewhere?
that would depend largely on whether the dvd player in the car was in use at the time of collision. luckily, this article paints a far more sombre picture than that. hopefully some good can come of the story, if youngsters who enter the NBA at an early age take heed.

JMarkJohns

08-21-2007, 08:29 PM

It's not about talent, it's about what you do with it. Eddie G had as much as anyone, he just wasted it. Dude could ball. For the minutes, his shotblocking and rebounding were damn good, and he could knock down the trey. Dead at 25. How sad.

His one season at Seton Hall was one of my favorite by any player. Kid was flat-out amazing. While Durant surpassed him as my favorite freshman performance, the two's skills were very, very similar. Shame their mentality wasn't.

It is very sad. Always terrible seeing talented wasted, but even worse when said wasted talent is tragically cut short.

SRJ

08-21-2007, 08:54 PM

hopefully some good can come of the story, if youngsters who enter the NBA at an early age take heed.

Take heed of what? Griffin's demise has far more to do with an emotional illness than it has to do with his leaving school early. I don't know how this serves as a cautionary tale.

I can think of well over a hundred early entry/high school players who haven't come close to the problems Griffin had.

baseline bum

08-21-2007, 08:58 PM

That's really sad. Griffin had Hall of Fame talent.

leemajors

08-21-2007, 09:02 PM

Take heed of what? Griffin's demise has far more to do with an emotional illness than it has to do with his leaving school early. I don't know how this serves as a cautionary tale.

I can think of well over a hundred early entry/high school players who haven't come close to the problems Griffin had.
it may be an extreme case, but i don't think you can sit there and say his problems were strictly emotional. so getting big money out of high school contributed in no way to his early demise? i'm not sure if you're making any point except a contrary one.

BronxCowboy

08-21-2007, 09:07 PM

Really, really sad. I always thought (hoped) that kid would get it together one day.

T Park

08-21-2007, 09:30 PM

Three things obviously.

Drugs

Alchohol

or suicide.

Shame..

SRJ

08-21-2007, 09:35 PM

it may be an extreme case, but i don't think you can sit there and say his problems were strictly emotional. so getting big money out of high school contributed in no way to his early demise? i'm not sure if you're making any point except a contrary one.

#1) If Griffin's is an extreme case, which I believe it is, than it cannot serve as a cautionary tale except to players suffering mental/emotional problems.

#2) You just said I called his case strictly an emotional issue, which I did not. I will concede that the trappings of fame and wealth undoubtedly had an effect - but they affect almost everyone.

#3) If one of us was making a contrary argument, it would be you. The vast majority of early entry players don't have half the problems that poor Eddie Griffin did.

MrChug

08-21-2007, 09:55 PM

That fkin SUCKS.

R.I.P. Eddie.

marini martini

08-21-2007, 10:02 PM

:( :( :(

leemajors

08-21-2007, 10:04 PM

#1) If Griffin's is an extreme case, which I believe it is, than it cannot serve as a cautionary tale except to players suffering mental/emotional problems.

#2) You just said I called his case strictly an emotional issue, which I did not. I will concede that the trappings of fame and wealth undoubtedly had an effect - but they affect almost everyone.

#3) If one of us was making a contrary argument, it would be you. The vast majority of early entry players don't have half the problems that poor Eddie Griffin did.
the point is talent and money can't save you from yourself, if he did happen to commit suicide. i don't see how that isn't cautionary. i made a statement, you made a contrary argument, yes?

Cry Havoc

08-21-2007, 10:11 PM

the point is talent and money can't save you from yourself, if he did happen to commit suicide. i don't see how that isn't cautionary. i made a statement, you made a contrary argument, yes?

College just isn't a place to ball or to pick up chicks. For a lot of individuals, it's a place to really experience life on their own terms for the first time. College helped me deal with a lot of emotional problems that I probably could not have otherwise. For me to think of being in pressured situations like the NBA day in-night out with no real emotional outlets... it's a troubling thing to think about.

If this was a suicide, there is no guarantee that Griffin would have been better off going to college. But from my experience, it certainly couldn't have hurt, and it very well might have helped.

The vast majority of early entry players don't have half the problems that poor Eddie Griffin did.

Yeah man, I know what you mean. The NBA is just a model of proper etiquette and behavior. It's undoubtedly full of good influences for Griffin to build upon. I mean, who wouldn't love to have Kobe or Iverson as a mentor for how to live life? :rolleyes

ashbeeigh

08-21-2007, 10:20 PM

sad. When I read the title of the thread it took the breath right out of me.

itzsoweezee

08-21-2007, 10:24 PM

that's awful. RIP.

T Park

08-21-2007, 10:26 PM

When I first read the title I honestly though he'd gotten shot.

ObiwanGinobili

08-21-2007, 10:31 PM

wow. :( this is really sad.
Such a shame, poor kid.

Shelly

08-21-2007, 10:38 PM

How awful!

leemajors

08-21-2007, 10:39 PM

College just isn't a place to ball or to pick up chicks. For a lot of individuals, it's a place to really experience life on their own terms for the first time. College helped me deal with a lot of emotional problems that I probably could not have otherwise. For me to think of being in pressured situations like the NBA day in-night out with no real emotional outlets... it's a troubling thing to think about.

If this was a suicide, there is no guarantee that Griffin would have been better off going to college. But from my experience, it certainly couldn't have hurt, and it very well might have helped.

Yeah man, I know what you mean. The NBA is just a model of proper etiquette and behavior. It's undoubtedly full of good influences for Griffin to build upon. I mean, who wouldn't love to have Kobe or Iverson as a mentor for how to live life? :rolleyes
if i remember correctly, he went to seton hall for one year.

T Park

08-21-2007, 10:42 PM

I know it sounds cruel, but, the feelings can go either way.

1. Feel horrible and remorse and just wish the best, if he committed suicide.

2. If he was drunk, then you can't feel sorry for him. I believe hes been busted in the past for DUI or DWI and would make me honestly more angry than sorrowfull.

IcemanCometh

08-21-2007, 10:43 PM

tpark is a giant douche

Roxsfan

08-21-2007, 10:53 PM

very sad, too bad he could not turn his life around.

SRJ

08-21-2007, 11:10 PM

The vast majority of early entry players don't have half the problems that poor Eddie Griffin did.

Yeah man, I know what you mean. The NBA is just a model of proper etiquette and behavior. It's undoubtedly full of good influences for Griffin to build upon. I mean, who wouldn't love to have Kobe or Iverson as a mentor for how to live life?

Read much, Havoc?

I didn't say that the NBA was a good place for an Eddie Griffin to go. What I did say was that most early entry or HS players don't have close to the same reaction to the league and the lifestyle that Eddie Griffin did. It seems apparent to me that Griffin was going to meet an untimely end no matter what he did in life.

Why am I the only one who sees the huge leap in logic made below?

hopefully some good can come of the story, if youngsters who enter the NBA at an early age take heed.

"If you leave early for the NBA, you could end up like Eddie Griffin?" How?

Michael Jordan didn't. Magic Johnson didn't. Moses Malone didn't. Spencer Haywood didn't. Larry Johnson didn't. Rex Chapman didn't. Isiah Thomas didn't. Not even Rod Strickland didn't. Hakeem Olajuwon didn't. Charles Barkley didn't. Derrick McKey didn't. Rashard Lewis hasn't. Vince Carter hasn't. Rasheed Wallace hasn't. Corey Maggette hasn't. Kevin Garnett hasn't. Shaquille O'Neal hasn't. Baron Davis hasn't. Elton Brand hasn't.

Avitus1

08-21-2007, 11:16 PM

Damn thats crazy.

judaspriestess

08-21-2007, 11:30 PM

how sad, RIP Eddie

Findog

08-21-2007, 11:31 PM

I mean, who wouldn't love to have Kobe or Iverson as a mentor for how to live life? :rolleyes

Iverson seems to have turned the corner in many respects. At least as far as basketball goes, he kills himself and leaves everything on the court.

whottt

08-22-2007, 12:49 AM

2. If he was drunk, then you can't feel sorry for him. I believe hes been busted in the past for DUI or DWI and would make me honestly more angry than sorrowfull.

Busted before?

He drove into a bar while masturbating to porn on the DVD player in his Lincoln Navigator...drunk. He then tried to get out of it...and then the cops let him off the hook initially.

He also assaulted and shot at his girl friend.

If only he hadn't been a multi millionaire by the age of 20, had the world basically handed to him on a Silver Platter, and been given umpteen chances by the league and society....he was just dealt a bad hand by life and never got a chance.

I doubt this was suicide BTW...and if it was...it was probably the drunk kind of suicidal impulse.

Fast Dunk

08-22-2007, 12:53 AM

Busted before?

He drove into a bar while masturbating to porn on the DVD player in his Lincoln Navigator...drunk. He then tried to get out of it...and then the cops let him off the hook initially.

He also assaulted and shot at his girl friend.

If only he hadn't been a multi millionaire by the age of 20, had the world basically handed to him on a Silver Platter, and been given upteen chances by the league and society....he was just dealt a bad hand by life.

I doubt this was suicide BTW...
You are an idiot!

even spurs fans pick on you!

whottt

08-22-2007, 12:57 AM

Um...the only idiot is you. I said nothing that wasn't the truth...hell some of it is on video.

He did beat and shoot at his girlfriend...he did drive into a bar while jacking off to porn on the DVD player in his navigator....drunk.

He had been given scholarships and multimillion dollar contracts and upteen chances.

It's only genuine luck this guy hadn't killed anyone else...

And even if it was suicide he put others at risk when doing it by driving into a train...

It wasn't suicide though...I mean the guy didn't drive into a bar because he didn't think he'd get hurt...he was drunk and preoccupied, he didn't see the bar...and he probably didn't see the train either.

Hey Charles Manson never got a chance either...he was institutionalized by the age of 12....poor kid.

ca®lo

08-22-2007, 01:03 AM

rip eddie....

FromWayDowntown

08-22-2007, 01:18 AM

I just saw this on the ESPN crawl. Remarkably sad to see a guy with such difficulties never be able to get himself back together. Talent aside, it's a tragic story.

Fast Dunk

08-22-2007, 01:21 AM

When I first read the title I honestly though he'd gotten shot.

Another IDIOT even spurs fans usually make fun of

phxspurfan

08-22-2007, 01:42 AM

Iverson seems to have turned the corner in many respects. At least as far as basketball goes, he kills himself and leaves everything on the court.

Iverson is nowhere near as messed up as this guy was. He has his own family and responsibilities to them.

BeerIsGood!

08-22-2007, 01:49 AM

It's a sad situation, but it's survival of the fittest in this world. The guy obviously had the physical tools to survive, but unfortunately for him not the smarts to survive.

whottt

08-22-2007, 01:51 AM

Another IDIOT even spurs fans usually make fun of

I don't see why you are taking it so personally...

It's not like TPark is celebrating his death.

This guy wasn't a victim of society...he was just screwed up..sad, but also no different than millions of other people...who never got the chances he had.

saporvida

08-22-2007, 02:48 AM

.

Another IDIOT even spurs fans usually make fun of

polandprzem

08-22-2007, 03:12 AM

Ps. TPark you have no idea what can be in humans psycho ...

medstudent

08-22-2007, 03:19 AM

Tpark has no soul

spursjustice

08-22-2007, 03:21 AM

I remember many touted him the most talented player out of 2002 rookie class... nearly everyone spewed over the fact that the Nets traded his draft rights to Houston for RJ, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong... that's how gifted he was... he had his chances to make things right... just a sad ending to his life story...

RIP Eddie Griffin...

Supreme_Being

08-22-2007, 05:21 AM

RIP: 1982-2007

by Lang Whitaker

There will be much more about this in the days ahead, but I heard today that troubled former Houston Rocket/New Jersey Nets/Minnesota T-Wolves forward Eddie Griffin died last Friday. Just spoke to someone else who told me the body was identified by police today.

I’ve heard a few stories about exactly how it happened but couldn’t confirm anything.

Most recently he was working out in Houston with Hawks forward Josh Smith.

Eddie Griffin was 25 years old.

http://slamonline.com/online/2007/08/breaking-news-eddie-griffin-is-dead/

Leetonidas

08-22-2007, 05:22 AM

Breaking News: This is the third time this was posted.

Supreme_Being

08-22-2007, 05:23 AM

Oh fuck. I wasn't aware.

Clemenza

08-22-2007, 05:26 AM

RIP Eddie.

Leetonidas

08-22-2007, 05:26 AM

Oh fuck. I wasn't aware.
I like how he's not just dead, he's FUCKING dead. :lol

But yeah, it's very sad. :(

Cry Havoc

08-22-2007, 07:29 AM

Read much, Havoc?

Yeah, I read what you said.

It seems apparent to me that Griffin was going to meet an untimely end no matter what he did in life.

Predestination much? I was simply stating that if he would have stayed in college for 4 years, there was a chance he would have learned some appreciable life skills to take with him.

leemajors

08-22-2007, 07:38 AM

Read much, Havoc?

I didn't say that the NBA was a good place for an Eddie Griffin to go. What I did say was that most early entry or HS players don't have close to the same reaction to the league and the lifestyle that Eddie Griffin did. It seems apparent to me that Griffin was going to meet an untimely end no matter what he did in life.

Why am I the only one who sees the huge leap in logic made below?

"If you leave early for the NBA, you could end up like Eddie Griffin?" How?

Michael Jordan didn't. Magic Johnson didn't. Moses Malone didn't. Spencer Haywood didn't. Larry Johnson didn't. Rex Chapman didn't. Isiah Thomas didn't. Not even Rod Strickland didn't. Hakeem Olajuwon didn't. Charles Barkley didn't. Derrick McKey didn't. Rashard Lewis hasn't. Vince Carter hasn't. Rasheed Wallace hasn't. Corey Maggette hasn't. Kevin Garnett hasn't. Shaquille O'Neal hasn't. Baron Davis hasn't. Elton Brand hasn't.
you're the only one taking it like a heel. there are plenty of early entries who have problems, and there will be more in the future. maybe if griffin had tried to get help, this wouldn't have happened.