Florida State Police Blotter

July 16, 2015

Jameis Winston may have left campus last spring for the NFL but law enforcement is still keeping busy dealing with criminal activity from Florida State football players.

A pair of consuming-alcohol and hitting-women stories emerged last week from Tallahassee. It started with De’Andre Johnson being dismissed from the program after being charged with battery for allegedly striking a woman at a bar. It ended with another battery charge against runningback Dalvin Cook who allegedly punched a woman outside a Tallahassee bar. Cook, the team’s leading rusher last year, was not dismissed from the team. Wonder what Johnson, who is not a projected starter, thinks about the inconsistent punishment.

The tough week led to school president John Thrasher stating his student-athletes “will be held accountable for their actions.” What a novel idea!

Dalvin Cook’s still at FSU

Head coach Jimbo Fisher made a similar declaration saying he would hold players accountable for their actions, and promising that “we will do better.”

We heard similar proclamations back when Winston was a regular visitor to the police station for his various transgressions.

It has also came out that Cook had another run-in with the law last summer. According to Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples, Cook was cited last July for having three pit bull puppies, all under eight months old, chained together and not sheltered.

Perhaps Fisher does mean business this time. Reportedly, he has banned his players from going to bars after the incidents involving Johnson and Cook.

I am not sure if he can legally do that. But with all the dealings Fisher has had with the law since taking over the Florida State football program, he has to be considered somewhat of a legal expert.

Where Are They Now?

While writing my preview of the NBA draft a few weeks back, I came across some interesting where-are-they-now stories. These guys were singled out as NBA Draft busts. I picked out a few that pertain to our region.

How about Adam Morrison, the third pick of the 2006 draft by Charlotte?  After an amazing career at Gonzaga, Michael Jordan rolled the dice on the shaggy-haired, college star forward ahead of players like Rajon Rondo. Big mistake.

Darko, left, kickboxing

Morrison lasted just four seasons in the league, although he did pick up two championship rings as a bench warmer for the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged just under eight points a game. Morrison has even been able to land a coaching job of any sort. He has returned to Spokane and is now an assistant video coordinator at Gonzaga.

Remember Chris Washburn? After a brief stint at North Carolina State, he was the third pick of the 1986 draft. Washburn failed three separate drug tests in three years, leading to a lifelong NBA ban in June of 1989. Those who saw him play here in Hickory or in Raleigh likely cannot believe he has a NBA career scoring average of three points a game. Washburn struggled with cocaine addiction throughout the 1990s, only getting motivated to come clean after his father’s death in 2000. He is now back in Hickory where he owns and operates a chicken wings restaurant. His son, Julian, transferred from UTEP to TCU in 2014 to play basketball for the Horned Frogs.

Then there is Darko. Darko Milicic was the number two choice in the 2003 draft.

Sean May

The Pistons infamously chose Darko behind LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, Milicic averaged a measly 6.0 PPG during his career. Milicic has since taken up a kickboxing career and made his debut in the sport on December 18, 2014 in Serbia; he lost in the second round.

Historians will always remember Sam Bowie Though Bowie played 11 seasons in the NBA, his legacy is clearly defined by multiple injuries and being the player drafted immediately ahead of Michael Jordan. He has forged a successful second career as an owner and trainer of race horses in Lexington, KY.

How about Kwame Brown? He was the number-one pick back in 2001. Brown became the first high school player to be drafted No. 1 overall and was Michael Jordan’s first catastrophe as an NBA executive. Brown did last in the NBA until 2013 but only averaged double figures in scoring once in that span. Despite his lackluster career, Brown certainly isn’t slumming it in retirement. At the end of 2014, his home in Los Angeles was on the market for over $4 million.

Remember all the great games Sean May had at Carolina? Charlotte selected the home-state product with its first round pick in 2005. He played in just 119 NBA games. Out of the NBA since 2010, May was playing in France as of the end of 2014.

I will close with Todd Fuller from North Carolina State. He was drafted ahead of Kobe Bryant back in the 1996 draft. You know Golden State would like that pick over again. Fuller played just five NBA seasons and averaged 3.7 PPG. He is currently a math instructor at Queen’s Grant Community School in Charlotte.