PJ Tucker arrested for "super extreme" DUI

[FArting]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor.../?hootPostID=929b543f387e2591ac722f8cbc1783ea

I have lost respect for PJ tucker after this incident. This is bad for the organization.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Wow... just, wow....

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns were aware of the charges before signing him to his new contract.

See Paul Coro article dated 7-28-14 at azcentral.

Last week, Tucker signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract ($12.7 million guaranteed) with the Suns. The Suns were aware of the charges before signing Tucker to his deal. He was a restricted free agent before agreeing to the deal with Phoenix, where he emerged on NBA minimum salaries over the past two seasons after working his way back to the NBA through success in European leagues. He became a regular starter for the Suns last season and was an on- and off-court leader. He averaged 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last season while serving as the team's top defender, an improved 3-point shooter and a repeat winner of the Dan Majerle Hustle Award.

The Suns declined comment until the case is resolved in court.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2014/07/28/suns-player-pj-tucker-dui-arrest/13299361/

 

[Rab]

I would like to hear from the Suns. This is embarrassing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AzStevenCal]

Assuming the charges are accurate, I'm disappointed in Tucker and I'm very disappointed in the Suns. I'm a Tucker fan but I wouldn't have signed him given this incident.

Steve

 

[82CardsGrad]

I would like to hear from the Suns. This is embarrassing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They'll spin it... PJ's first offense... We back him 100%. Everyone makes mistakes and hopefully PJ will learn from this and go on to be the player we know he can be... blah, blah, blah...

Sucks that they knew about this and still signed him... They had to feel pressure with the lack of depth at the forward position... Damn...

 

[Mainstreet]

This charge happened in May so I'm sure the Suns have explored it thoroughly.

 

[sunsfan88]

Ridiculous. He could have easily killed someone driving that drunk.

And he's supposed to be the "veteran leader" of the team.

 

[mojorizen7]

Thank goodness no one was hurt or killed.
Everyone makes mistakes. I have.
It's the repeat DUI offender's that get no mercy in my eyes. There's NO excuse.

 

[elindholm]

This charge happened in May so I'm sure the Suns have explored it thoroughly.

What's there to explore? Re-signing him was a poor decision for a franchise trying to re-establish its image as a quality organization. I like Tucker as a player, but he's always going to be a marginal talent, relatively easy to replace. The Suns should have dropped him and figured out a different way to fill the hole.

Why did the incident take so long to get reported?

 

[Mainstreet]

What's there to explore? Re-signing him was a poor decision for a franchise trying to re-establish its image as a quality organization. I like Tucker as a player, but he's always going to be a marginal talent, relatively easy to replace. The Suns should have dropped him and figured out a different way to fill the hole.

Why did the incident take so long to get reported?

I will wait until this case is resolved in court (or out of court) and an explanation made by the Suns FO. There is a reason for our criminal justice system.

Your question is a good one.

 

[BillsCarnage]

So he bypassed super and extreme and went straight to "Super Extreme"??

Doesn't that sound like a line from Space Balls?

Who knew there was such a thing..

 

[BC867]

"The Suns declined comment until the case is resolved in court."

If Tucker is found guilty in court, could that revoke the newly signed contract?

Sign a contract. Drive polluted. Not give a damn. That's chicken****.

His presence on the Suns will never mean the same as it did before May.

 

[Mainstreet]

Why did the incident take so long to get reported?

Another thought, it could have taken this long for blood test results to return from the lab.

 

[FutureSuperstar]

Not really related to this incident, but does anyone else feel the Suns should have went after Shawn Marion instead of Tucker? Marion's still available, but now there's no need for him w/ Tucker here ...

They do similar things on both ends - Marion's a capable 3-point shooter especially from the baseline, Marion can battle more inside and play more PF because he's bigger ... Both are similar defensively

For as much as Tucker gets praised for his "leadership" / "veteran presence" - He doesn't have any playoff experience I believe ... While Marion is an NBA champion

I just think signing Marion to a 2 yr. / 10 million deal (or maybe less?) would have been wiser than signing Tucker to his deal. I guess it doesn't matter too much, since the guys are so comparable, but something to ponder ... I guess there is more risk w/ Marion though since he's so old and could rapidly decline any year now

 

[elindholm]

This charge happened in May so I'm sure the Suns have explored it thoroughly.

I will wait until this case is resolved in court (or out of court) and an explanation made by the Suns FO. There is a reason for our criminal justice system.

You're not making sense. This isn't a situation where the question of fact can be difficult to resolve. Was he the driver of the vehicle, yes or no. Was his BAC over the legal limit, yes or no. End of story.

If the Suns have "explored it thoroughly" over the last two months, then the answers to those questions are known. He was driving the car or he wasn't. Blood work can be turned around in a day or two.

Of course there is a reason for our criminal justice system, and that's to hold off judgment until the guilt or innocence of the accused can be established. But the only mystery left in this case is what kind of plea Tucker will work out, and what his punishment will be.

Let me put it this way: When has it ever happened that someone accused of DUI was discovered to be innocent?

 

[Mainstreet]

You're not making sense. This isn't a situation where the question of fact can be difficult to resolve. Was he the driver of the vehicle, yes or no. Was his BAC over the legal limit, yes or no. End of story.

If the Suns have "explored it thoroughly" over the last two months, then the answers to those questions are known. He was driving the car or he wasn't. Blood work can be turned around in a day or two.

Of course there is a reason for our criminal justice system, and that's to hold off judgment until the guilt or innocence of the accused can be established. But the only mystery left in this case is what kind of plea Tucker will work out, and what his punishment will be.

Let me put it this way: When has it ever happened that someone accused of DUI was discovered to be innocent?

Bingo.

 

[elindholm]

"Super Extreme DUI" requires a BAC of .200, The minimum jail sentence is 45 days, so a plea arrangement is likely. Nonetheless, this is a serious offense.

http://phoenix.about.com/od/crime/a/azdui_3.htm

 

[elindholm]

Bingo.

So, for the sake of argument, what could conceivably be in doubt here? If Tucker wasn't driving, wouldn't we know by now? Are you holding out hope for a problem with the blood test?

 

[Mainstreet]

So, for the sake of argument, what could conceivably be in doubt here? If Tucker wasn't driving, wouldn't we know by now? Are you holding out hope for a problem with the blood test?

Example: Did the police have probable cause to pull him over.

 

[elindholm]

Example: Did the police have probable cause to pull him over.

That can matter legally, but not morally. Are you disputing the blood test? If not, he was drunk at 3 times the legal limit. What's the response to that? If he figures out a way to get out of it, does that exonerate him?

 

[SwingMan]

One strike and you're out - novel concept.....

 

[Mainstreet]

That can matter legally, but not morally. Are you disputing the blood test? If not, he was drunk at 3 times the legal limit. What's the response to that? If he figures out a way to get out of it, does that exonerate him?

I don't feel I am in position to throw the first rock or take the moral high ground.

As I previously said, the criminal justice system is in place for a reason. A lot of things can happen.

 

[FutureSuperstar]

Tucker is 100% at fault and in the wrong, but the report was that he slowly went past a STOP sign, not that he was speeding. Of course him driving in any fashion is wrong, but it's difficult to injure anybody when going as slow as Tucker was, or may have, been going ... Maybe he was driving a few blocks to get to the nearest public transportation, knowing that he couldn't drive in his condition?

There is definitely an amount of respect lost toward PJ Tucker from this incident, but the "amount of respect lost" is still up in the air depending on the circumstances of the situation.

 

[JS22]

Tucker is 100% at fault and in the wrong, but the report was that he slowly went past a STOP sign, not that he was speeding. Of course him driving in any fashion is wrong, but it's difficult to injure anybody when going as slow as Tucker was, or may have, been going ... Maybe he was driving a few blocks to get to the nearest public transportation, knowing that he couldn't drive in his condition?

There is definitely an amount of respect lost toward PJ Tucker from this incident, but the "amount of respect lost" is still up in the air depending on the circumstances of the situation.

Driving ANYWHERE with that high of a blood alcohol level is incredibly stupid. Even on his "minimum" salary he could have, at the very least, called a cab.

Lost a ton of respect for him. Still like him as a player, but this news is depressing. Also very depressing is the fact that the Suns still offered him a contract knowing this.