Posts: 16,012
Threads: 1,685
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
Well wishes and a speedy recovery coach, you're the man.
Quote:
![[Image: g_suttons_275.jpg]](http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/ncb/2006/0215/photo/g_suttons_275.jpg)
STILLWATER, Okla. -- When Eddie Sutton became the basketball coach at Oklahoma State in 1990, he openly spoke of his struggle with alcoholism.
Sutton underwent treatment for alcoholism at the Betty Ford Center in 1987, while he was the coach at Kentucky, and while discussing the issue three years later, he said, "I've dealt with it."
Now he's going to deal with it again.
During a strange late-night press conference on Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena, where the Cowboys play their home games on Eddie Sutton Court, Sutton addressed reporters by telephone and acknowledged drinking before an accident Friday that has cast a cloud over the future of his 35-year coaching career.
Sutton apologized to numerous people for the accident: his university family, his current and former players, and the driver of the other vehicle involved in the wreck. He said that he plans to seek treatment for his drinking relapse during his current medical leave of absence, which began Monday.
He didn't say where he would be seeking treatment, but did say he would do so next week.
"I have a problem with alcohol," Sutton said. "That said, I make no excuses for what has happened. I recognize it and I will be seeking treatment for it. I know I have let many people down."
But many of those people expressed support for Sutton and the coach's effort to approach his drinking problem head-on.
One of Sutton's assistant coaches, James Dickey, said Sutton is "like a brother" and that "he has always taught personal responsibility and accountability to our coaches and players. And that's what he's doing this evening: taking responsibility and accepting accountability. I would expect nothing less from this wonderful man."
Added Randy Rutherford, a guard on Oklahoma State's 1995 Final Four team: "He has taught us a lot about basketball, but more importantly, he has taught us a lot about life. Tonight he's once again teaching us about life -- about accepting responsibility for our actions.
"We all make mistakes in life. But we shouldn't be judged by the mistakes. Judge a man by what he does to correct that mistake."
Sutton didn't address his coaching future during the press conference and didn't take questions.
Oklahoma State President David Schmidly said Sutton's future would be determined after he returns from his medical leave of absence. Sutton's son, Sean Sutton, will continue to coach the Cowboys in the interim.
Schmidly said the university will support Eddie Sutton.
"We want him to get well, get back on his feet and we will look forward to the time when he will return and continue his contribution to our university," Schmidly said.
Schmidly said the announcement Wednesday didn't necessarily mean Sutton would be retiring, but the president said he wouldn't be surprised if that happened.
"If anybody has seen this man, [they] know what kind of pain he's in," Schmidly said. "He's 69 years old. We've got to get Coach to focus on his health. That's the most important thing."
Sutton has had chronic hip and back pain in recent years. In September 2004, he cracked his tailbone in five places when he jumped into a ditch to avoid being hit by a vehicle.
The chronic pain drove him to alcohol, he said.
"The pain at times literally has been unbearable," he said. "Last Friday, the pain was so bad that I took a lot of pain pills, but that didn't seem to work, so I succumbed to temptation and went and bought a bottle."
Sutton was cited for driving under the influence, speeding and crossing the center line following a crash Friday night on his way to the Stillwater airport, where the team gathered before flying to a game at Texas A&M.
Witnesses told police they saw Sutton fall at Gallagher-Iba Arena before getting into his Dodge Durango. Crash witnesses reported seeing Sutton swerving before he collided with another driver's sport utility vehicle.
Sutton was hospitalized overnight and has been resting at home since Saturday afternoon.
Police are awaiting results of a blood test to determine whether Sutton was driving under the influence. Those test results could be available by this Friday.
Sutton coached at Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky before becoming taking over at his alma mater prior to the 1990-91 season. He's fifth on the NCAA Division I career coaching wins list with 794. He trails only Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bob Knight (867) and Jim Phelan (830).
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
Posts: 32,452
Threads: 5
Joined: Jun 2004
Reputation:
0
Way to finish your career in shame you drunk.
See You In Toledo
Posts: 16,012
Threads: 1,685
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
BIRD33 Wrote:Way to finish your career in shame you drunk.
You seem to be the only one who see's it that way. congrats.
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
Posts: 28,652
Threads: 4,420
Joined: May 2004
Reputation:
0
I think he got beat by UL Lafayette in the NCAA Tourney in 1990...
Posts: 16,012
Threads: 1,685
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
BIRD33 Wrote:Outside of podunk kansas he's just another drunk.I wonder if the family he hit while fucked up shares your opinon.
Dick Vitale, God of Basketball Wrote:[B]Feb. 15, 2006 A great career may have come to an end Wednesday as Eddie Sutton announced he is taking leave of his position as head coach at Oklahoma State and will enter a treatment facility for his alcohol problem.
This is truly one of the finest teachers and winners ever to grace the sidelines. Eddie and I go back a long way, sharing the podium at clinics back in the early '70s when I was coaching the University of Detroit and he was at Creighton. I was always amazed with his ability to get his people to understand and play as a team defensively.
Defense, like offense, has a certain rhythm to it and all five players must buy into the philosophy and execute as a unit to be efficient. Sutton has always been able to get his teams -- whether at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky or Oklahoma State, to understand his concepts. That, my friends, is coaching! The ability to get the most out of their people and have them compete at the highest level.
Sutton's teams also had a great understanding of shot selection, which is all related to the discipline he learned under the late, great Hall of Famer Henry Iba. Yes, Sutton's ressurrection of the Oklahoma State program has been a thing of beauty.
Sutton has been a Frank Lloyd Wright, a builder of programs, from the College of Southern Idaho in the JuCo ranks, to his final stop at Oklahoma State.
Over the last year, in my travels, and seeing coach Sutton on the sideline, you could almost see the pain he was suffering from the various physical problems he was having, his back and other parts of his body. It has been widely stated that he has dealt with painkillers to help with his pain.
Let's respect his feelings and have compassion for this man, as he has been man enough to address this situation immediately. It has been documented and stated that Eddie dealt with an alcohol problem several years ago and went through rehab at the Betty Ford Center. Speculation will run rampant that his latest accident was because of alcohol. All I know is he has been man enough to address his dilemma and he has asked that we pray for his speedy recovery.
He has always asked his coaches and players to be accountable for their actions and he is living by that doctrine as he courageously stated -- I have a problem that I must address and all he basically wants to do is make a healthy recovery.
I wish him all the best. The team is in the capable hands of Sean Sutton, who is an extension of his dad and has been well prepared to take over the program.
I close by saying to my friend, Eddie, my family's prayers are with you and please get well. Thanks for all of the magical moments that you have allowed us to enjoy in the game we love, college basketball.
[/B]
Thanks Bird. He manned up, admit he was wrong, addressed the situation and apologized to the woman he hit. If he's punished, he'll man up and face that too. Beating on an old man when he's down is really classy Bird.
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
Posts: 28,652
Threads: 4,420
Joined: May 2004
Reputation:
0
Nevermind..
It was Oklahome in 1992
Posts: 16,012
Threads: 1,685
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
BIRD33 Wrote:If this was his first incident i'd give him a pass but its not so I dont feel sorry for him at all.Please show me an article where Dick Vitale is critical of anything.
He's never been in another incident with the law. Last time he went to the Betty Ford Clinic under his own will. I guess if you had read any of the article you be able to show a littly sympathy for a guy in pain. The guy is a class act, stand up guy, and one of the nicest guys I've had the pleasure of sitting down and having a conversation with.
I hope you're put in a similiar situation, only you split your skull on the steering wheel and die.
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
Posts: 13,801
Threads: 1,828
Joined: Mar 2004
Reputation:
1
Eddie who???
Why do I keep this cesspool alive?
Posts: 4,613
Threads: 258
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
rehab is for quitters. dude's a pussy
Posts: 13,679
Threads: 549
Joined: Jun 2004
Reputation:
0
Paul Pierce scored 50 points last night. Grant Hill has 40,000 more all-star votes than him.
Posts: 16,012
Threads: 1,685
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
BIRD33 Wrote:I hope when I crash into a family while drunk people write nice articles about me too.Im sure he's a nice guy, Ive met lots of nice drunks.Being a nice guy doesnt take away from anything when you almost killed people.
The woman (1) wasn't even treated in the hospital. She left under her own will at the scene. Yeah, he fucked up bad. He's got a problem. He's admitted all of this.
I feel for the guy, especially since his career may or may not go out on this low note. Sad to see one of the best going out like this, and I, much like the rest of the basketball fans are compassionate.
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
Posts: 16,012
Threads: 1,685
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
WoolyGoat Wrote:Paul Pierce scored 50 points last night. Grant Hill has 40,000 more all-star votes than him.
stupid band wagon duke fans
kansas breeds professional basketball players
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
![[Image: boston.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/FattyJ16/boston.jpg)