Jay Williams is BACK

Ok, let's look at school rules. School rules are there for a reason. There was a rule at my school that a bringing a b-b gun would get you expelled from the school. Sure enough, some idiot brought a b-b gun and shot someone with it. (A b-b gun is like a fake gun with plastic? bullets. They hurt a bit but they won't kill you.) The guy got expelled. Do you have to feel sorry for the guy? He broke the rules, he didn't need to bring that b-b gun to school, just like Jay Williams did not need to buy the motorcycle.

What was J-Will gonna do anyhow? Not recover and get another job? He needs a job. I mean I know it's hard to come back from such a huge injury and if he didn't go injure himself, I would have the most respect for him. However, the fact remains, he brought the wrath to himself. The contract clause was there for a reason, but he wanted to be rebellious, perhaps be cool. It is entirely his fault that he got injured, nothing else. For that I can't feel too happy about him recovering and re-joining the NBA, especially if he goes on and wins millions of dollars.

How old is he?

The idiot who bought the b-b gun? I think he was like 16 at that time? 17 maybe. It was in high school, so he should now be like 22.

Jay Will is 23 right now. So 21 or 22 at the time of injury?

Ok, let's look at school rules. School rules are there for a reason. There was a rule at my school that a bringing a b-b gun would get you expelled from the school. Sure enough, some idiot brought a b-b gun and shot someone with it. (A b-b gun is like a fake gun with plastic? bullets. They hurt a bit but they won't kill you.) The guy got expelled. Do you have to feel sorry for the guy? He broke the rules, he didn't need to bring that b-b gun to school, just like Jay Williams did not need to buy the motorcycle.

What was J-Will gonna do anyhow? Not recover and get another job? He needs a job. I mean I know it's hard to come back from such a huge injury and if he didn't go injure himself, I would have the most respect for him. However, the fact remains, he brought the wrath to himself. The contract clause was there for a reason, but he wanted to be rebellious, perhaps be cool. It is entirely his fault that he got injured, nothing else. For that I can't feel too happy about him recovering and re-joining the NBA, especially if he goes on and wins millions of dollars.

Thats like comparing walking the road and bungie jumping. Both are risks.

Jay Williams did break his contract, but if the bulls organisation can look past it and understand he made a decision that effected his health only, why can't you? What gives you the right to criticise?

Did you see the Lakers get upset at Magic becuase he contracted aids? He could have worn a condom.

I dont give a fuck what you feel happy about. You're saying you'd rather him be in a wheelchair than recover. Jealosy is a bitch.

The thing is people don't learn the real lesson of the story. Didn't Winslow do the same thing and injure himself? You see, the thing repeats over and over again. People do not realize that it was a mistake for Jay Williams or Winslow to get the bike. Will Jay Williams learn? Oh well sure, he's the one that got injured, of course he will. However, millions of other people will go, oh poor guy and do the same thing (like Winslow did...). It is the same thing about driving. People break the rules all the time, and only when after they get drunk and drive and destroy themselves or some innocent do they realize "damn, that was stupid!"

Drink driving and riding a motorcycle are totally different. When you are on a motorbike, the chances of you injuring another person dont increase when compared to driving a car. But when you are drunk and you drive, the chances increase significantly. Same with speeding.

Like I said before, we all make mistakes. And the bulls were the ones who lost the most in the accident, and if they can move on and see Williams' side of it, what right do you have to judge him? Have you ever Broken the law (let alone a rule?)

As far as I can remember, I don't think I ever broke the law before. (I skill can't drive so...not a parking ticket yet.)
Anyhow, I get your point.
I just feel that by the Bulls buying out Jay Williams' contract, they basically made another such injury happen. Someone in the future will buy a motorcycle, break the contract and do it again because they won't be fully aware of the consequences. Let's say the Bulls didn't buy out his contract and just voided it. It would've sent a clear message "Don't do stupid shit like this." But now it's like "Don't do this...again." You get me? What I feel is that such sympathy is basically taking away the real issue that Jay Williams made a dumb mistake. People are gonna remember him coming back from the injury rather than him getting injured and eventually forget why he got injured. People are suddenly gonna say something glorified when this accident could've been completely avoided in the first place.
Everyone makes mistakes, but if we don't learn from it what's the point? Are people gonna remember that it was Jay Williams who brought the injury to himself? Or are people gonna remember that he recovered from a motorcycle "accident"?

I'm sure people have realised how difficult and how long of a road it was for Jay to even start talking seriously about returning to the NBA. That itself is the biggest deterrent, and no one who should be taken seriously will glorify what he did.

But you still cant get over the issue that he made a mistake 3 years ago. What harm did it do to you? Are you impacted by someone having a motorcycle accident? Maybe you should just get your priorities right and realised he nearly lost his life, and he is trying to improve himself.

And you cant blame the Bulls for this. Players have been riding motorcycles for years. Malone used to ride his bike to home games at salt lake city. Malik Sealy lost his life whilst driving a car. Same with Bobby Phills. Sometimes things are just bad luck.

The important thing is to not turn somthing positive into a negative, which is what it looks like you are doing.

wow these nba contracts go pretty deep..... they should also prevent players from eating fast food in the off season.

NBA players can't get motorcycles? I thought Shaq bought a motorcycle some time ago... (and then he didn't want it and the maker wanted to sue him because it was too big for anyone else to use).

I think that's the kind of clause that varies from team to team and player to player.

Jay still has no one to blame but himself.

With that being said, I hope he's able to come back and produce, although he'll probably never be close to the player he was even in his rookie year.

Is anyone blaming anyone but Jay? Of course it was his fault, but it was still an accident. Not only that, it was what, 3 years ago? Get over it.

Some people are pathetic.

interesting discussion. i see both sides of bangy and matthew's argument.

i'm still somewhat pissed about jay williams.he was supposed to be most nba ready in his draft class falling on him face, no pun intended, his rookie year. the guywent to college, a great college like duke too.

this was supposed to the next best thing for the bulls. he even had the guts to take jordan's locker and say forget about MJ, we're starting a new run. he had all the endorsements lined up for him. man he had everything set and he pisses it all away and goes knievel. you sure can throw out the argument of college makes you a better person on this one, eh?

as a bulls fan, i resent jay williams for setting back the bulls franchise several years. even he makes it back to the nba, in all likelihood he won't return to the team. the bulls have lost the #2 pick of 2002 for nothing. at least darko is a scrub with all this potential and washington will get something in return for kwame. the bulls will get nothing.

i do feel bad for jay williams the person and wish him well. it's a tragic accident but it looks like he'll be able to live a normal life. i really hope the media doesn't spin this into an inspiring story. maybe if jay williams goes out and promotes motorcyle safety if there is such a thing (similar to what bobby hurley did with seatbelt wearing) i'll buy in

is JWill allowed to ride a bicycle??

Air, thats why I think if he does return, it should be to Chicago. They are the ones who spent the high pick on him ahead of Amare and other players in that draft, and essentially got nothing. They also paid him once the injury happened when they didnt have to, which is very classy.

this was supposed to the next best thing for the bulls. he even had the guts to take jordan's locker and say forget about MJ, we're starting a new run. he had all the endorsements lined up for him. man he had everything set and he pisses it all away and goes knievel. you sure can throw out the argument of college makes you a better person on this one, eh?

This one of the better points ive seen posted here. No one can really argue that.

Hindsight is 20/20... you can't go back and change the past so why is everyone arguing who is at fault?

Why don't you read before posting? Nobody is arguing about "who is at fault". It was Jay Williams at fault. However it also was an accident and he and everyone else has moved on.

Is anyone blaming anyone but Jay? Of course it was his fault, but it was still an accident. Not only that, it was what, 3 years ago? Get over it.

Some people are pathetic.

Uh, obviously it happened three years ago. But apparently, someone posted a thread about it, thus reviving the issue.

wow these nba contracts go pretty deep..... they should also prevent players from eating fast food in the off season.

They kinda have that for Shaq with Miami. I remember reading something about Shaq having to be under a certain weight, or else conditions apply to his contract.

Air, thats why I think if he does return, it should be to Chicago. They are the ones who spent the high pick on him ahead of Amare and other players in that draft, and essentially got nothing. They also paid him once the injury happened when they didnt have to, which is very classy.

thanks...

true, he should return but i don't think it's happening

jay wants to go to a situation where he can be a big contributor. with gordon, hinrich, and duhon on the roster, the role's not there.

also, jay is a very proud man. in recent interviews, he talks of about earning his spot rather then getting it out of pity. i think jay will most certainly come in for a workout for the bulls but that's it.

also a chicago beat writer did on him: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-050721morrissey,1,3125401.column?coll=cs-bulls-utility

Seven surgeries to repair damage to his hip, knee and ankle.

The last surgery was about eight months ago, on his ankle. He still has some numbness in his leg. He's still building muscle. There are aches and pains a 23-year-old shouldn't have. That happens when you have had a fractured pelvis, three torn knee ligaments and nerve damage to your leg.

In all seriousness, I think Jay Williams should join the Bulls with a minimum contract for a long time because he owes it to the Bulls. The Bulls easily could've just voided his contract, or could have kept him a restricted free agent, but they've been nice enough to just set him free and buy out his contract.
This reminds me of Alonzo Mourning when he joined the Nets. The "right" thing to do was to sign with the Heat with a minimum contract because the Heat were behind him 220% (yes 220%) and made sure he was healthy. Not to mention Alonzo Mourning's contract was huge, so the Heat were basically still paying him around 13 million per year when Alonzo wasn't playing. I thought that the "noble" thing to do for Alonzo was to re-join the Heat. I actually thought Alonzo, being a likeable person, a leader and also just an all around good guy would stay in the Heat. He didn't, but he eventually did join the Heat with a minimum contract.
I guess I get that Jay Williams will probably play for another team because Jay Williams will not get enough playing time for the Bulls. Just wondering to myself...whatever happened to loyalty?

Basketball (and other sports) are a business. Oops, I used a cliche. But it's true. And when it comes down to it, loyalty doesn't mean too much as far as player to team goes. A player can really give his all for a team, but at the end of the season they could end up cutting him (i.e. Troy Brown and the Patriots). Everyone just moves on. It wouldn't be a smart business decision for Jay to sign a minimum contract for several years with the Bulls, "just to give them something back".

In all seriousness, I think Jay Williams should join the Bulls with a minimum contract for a long time because he owes it to the Bulls. The Bulls easily could've just voided his contract, or could have kept him a restricted free agent, but they've been nice enough to just set him free and buy out his contract.
This reminds me of Alonzo Mourning when he joined the Nets. The "right" thing to do was to sign with the Heat with a minimum contract because the Heat were behind him 220% (yes 220%) and made sure he was healthy. Not to mention Alonzo Mourning's contract was huge, so the Heat were basically still paying him around 13 million per year when Alonzo wasn't playing. I thought that the "noble" thing to do for Alonzo was to re-join the Heat. I actually thought Alonzo, being a likeable person, a leader and also just an all around good guy would stay in the Heat. He didn't, but he eventually did join the Heat with a minimum contract.
I guess I get that Jay Williams will probably play for another team because Jay Williams will not get enough playing time for the Bulls. Just wondering to myself...whatever happened to loyalty?

it's a good gesture, but i don't think the bulls would want him. As air gordon said, the bulls are pretty full at that position.
speaking of Alonzo, he's an ASSHOLE. The only reason he joined the Heat was because they were championship contender not because he thought he owe something for the organization and the funs. He even forced the raptors to buy him out. I still think the raptors should've just kept him on the bench/IR and see him rotten to the end of his career.

I don't think it would be Williams turning the Bulls down, but the other way around. I honestly think he would return to the Bulls for the minimum even though other teams would give him more.