If a Group of Young Men Ever Wanted to Click Their Hills Three Times, This Would Be It

The three UCLA Basketball players accused of shop lifting in China quickly realized they  weren’t in Kansas anymore, not even in the same hemisphere.  I can only imagine  the thoughts racing through their head when they were presented with a possible ten year prison sentence to pay for their alleged shop lifting crimes.  (click here for the NPR news article/video).  What I struggle with is understanding, why?  I don’t know much about the backstory of Cody Riley or Jalen Hill, but everyone, thanks to his father, knows about LiAngelo Ball, brother of the #2 pick in the draft current NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers, Lonzo Ball.  How could a kid without a need for money be so stupid as to get caught shoplifting in a country where it’s punishable by a ten year prison sentence?  Yes, kids do dumb things, I get it, but have those who feel entitled reached a point of simply not caring and think they are untouchable?

I believe the punishment enforced by UCLA addresses the magnitude of the situation, but only time will tell.  What is unfortunate is that young people see this story and they might feel this is what you need to do if you’re a high profile college basketball player or even worse, if they think that’s what they need to do to become a star basketball player.  I wonder how Keyshawn Johnson would have handled this situation had his son been involved?  Based on his previous actions, I feel confident his son wouldn’t have gone down this path, but as I said earlier, kids are kids, sometimes they make dumb decisions.  In all fairness, I’ve not uncovered what conversations were held between LaVar Ball & his son LiAngelo upon learning about the situation.  Without making things up, all I can do is wonder, but part of me believes it may not have gone the same as if Keyshawn were on the other end of the line.