UGA fans should curb their enthusiasm over Rogers’ arrest
That rumble you heard earlier today was the sound of laughter rolling across the great state of Georgia. Da’Rick Rogers, the receiver from Calhoun who famously spurned the Bulldogs to sign with Vince Dooley’s son at Tennessee, was arrested in Knoxville at 1:50 a.m. for disorderly conduct after what we old folks used to call a barroom brawl.
(If you haven’t read esteemed colleague Chip Towers’ explanation of the matter, please do. The Chipster is to college recruiting as Target is to shopping — comprehensive and classy.)
It’s human nature to delight in the misfortune of a rival, especially a rival that snatched a recruit who’d committed to you eight months before Signing Day. But we must also note, for the sake of fairness, that the Georgia program isn’t immune to arrests — not of teenage athletes, not even of a 40-year-old athletics director.
I was talking to a Georgia Tech man last weekend, and he was trying — and mostly succeeding, I should report — not to chuckle over Damon Evans’ plight. Because we old folks can tell you young ‘uns that the fan base that laughs today is invariably the next to be embarrassed. (It’s uncanny how that works, but work it does.)
No school holds the patent on good behavior. No school can ever be inoculated against the misjudgments of young athletes, or even 40-year-old ADs. I understand why Georgia fans find Rogers’ arrest amusing, but I’ve also been around long enough to caution against irrational exuberance.
There’s always another arrest waiting to happen in a college town, and that town could well be yours. Bradley’s Rule: Tempt not the football gods by busting a gut laughing, lest tomorrow ye weep bitter tears.
Update: Tennessee coach Derek Dooley announced Friday night he has kicked safety Darren Myles Jr., who’s from Atlanta’s Carver High, off the team and indefinitely suspended Marlon Walls and Greg King for their part in the incident. Da’Rick Rogers has not been suspended.
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409 comments Add your comment
Calhoundawg
July 9th, 2010
5:35 pm
Extremely insightful article, MB. Yes, I’m being facetious. We knew what he was the day he committed to Tennessee — a drama queen punk. Ironically, with all the trash-talk about UGA these days (no program is immune to this stuff), Rogers might have made it over the hump in a program like Richt’s. Now, he may never play a game at UT. Plus, he gave up the opportunity to play with guys like Aaron Murray, A.J. Green, Marlon Brown, Orson Charles, and many others. We Georgia fans can gloat all we want. It’s his own fault. All of this just puts Tennessee’s arrival back into contention in the SEC just that much farther back. I hate it for Coach Dooley. In the mean time, Go Dawgs !!!!
MyPatooti
July 9th, 2010
5:38 pm
Mark Bradley just identified himself as a “looney liberal”. The use of the word “guffawing” ranks right up there with “chortling”. Those two words are in the “Book of Phraseology” for liberal sports writers. When I see those two words I feel like “throwing down” (as opposed to “up”, gravity takes over).
Tdawg
July 9th, 2010
5:38 pm
how2fish I have me a great big pile of rocks to toss. So DaLiar is already in trouble. Dawg fans don’t you just love it. Don’t get all riled up there Vol fans, I hear that papa Nance already has him a lawyer. Johnny Chocran I hear. Say what? He is? When? Oh well never mind. Any way it couldn’t happen to a better school. Don’t you Tennessee people know by now that you can’t give Georgia kids alcohol. Or is it you can’t give the Indians alcohol. Any way congrats with your pain in the a$$ player. He should fit right in with the Vols. Don’t ya just love it?
Bye Joe
July 9th, 2010
5:41 pm
MB, your words would be wise in a different context. But you’re forgetting that you’re a sports writer talking about college football. Part of the fun of it all is gloating at the misfortunes of rivals and having to deal with your own team’s misfortunes. The ups and downs, the smack-talking, the rivalries–all this makes things fun. UGA fans: gloat all you want. Obviously,we’ll have similar situations that will cause fans of other schools to gloat. WHO CARES? THIS IS WHY IT’S FUN TO BE A FAN!
Lee Dawg
July 9th, 2010
5:41 pm
I agree Bradley, but at least it shuts the Vol fans up for a minute! They can stop the red pantie comments. They need to pull the splinter from there own eye first!
papadawg
July 9th, 2010
5:42 pm
After all the CRAP I’ve read and heard from Vol fans about the DAWGS past problems you think I’m not totally enjoying Da Thug being arrested. HAHAHAHAHA
and how about the lady that....
July 9th, 2010
5:44 pm
Owns the bar ???…..LMAO !!!!!…What a way to spill the beans. lol…in detail too. That’s an ncaa violation and it definetly won’t look very good on them. SO.. Remember one thing UT …..YOU’RE NO SAINT AND YOUR ATHLETIC DEP THOSE SHADY DEALINGS !!!! so don’t act like you don’t do anything illegal, “BECAUSE YOU DO”. It’s just hard for you to get caught. but eventually you will get caught with your hands on the cookie jar.
Tech cant block Rudy
July 9th, 2010
5:45 pm
Mark Bradley! You get on my nerves, but I like the heck out of ya. Georgia has their own problems, but the karma is great.
jerry
July 9th, 2010
5:45 pm
I go way back to the times you very seldom heard of a college football player getting into trouble. It wouldn’t be politically correct to opine as to why it is different now.
doggoneit
July 9th, 2010
5:46 pm
Better to lose your athletic director than one of your star players!
Greg
July 9th, 2010
5:47 pm
Agree with atlvol and sympathize.
It is a tragic situation which is all too common now in our society especially among the youth. This is a thug mentality and disrespect for all authority.
Mark, you are certainly correct with your advice…and maybe you should remember this advice when UGA is on the other end. You try to minimize this episode as an old fashioned ‘barroom brawl’ like it was the good old days.
I won’t use this unfortunate event for UT as a cause for celebration, but you must admit far less severe episodes at UGA are blown out of proportion, especially by the AJC. Anything half this explosive would be dealt with by expulsion and I can give examples. The Myles kid has a court date Aug 12 for the very same charges incurred in April.
These thugs don’t make UGA look any better, but Coach Richt certainly does!
klazz
July 9th, 2010
5:49 pm
What a THUG. Nice pics on ESPN DEADSPIN. http://deadspin.com/5583404/da-rick-rogers-prized-vol-recruit-lover-of-ladies-who-bite-arrested-for-brawling
ScoutDawg
July 9th, 2010
5:49 pm
Doggoneit, now that is funny! You are right. AD’s are a dime a dozen, but a good 5 star RB is hard to find!
Polka Guy
July 9th, 2010
5:50 pm
Don’t punch people in the nose if you wear glasses.
klazz
July 9th, 2010
5:51 pm
Glad he stayed away from ATHENS, GA. He would have redshirted anyway with #8. He’ll fit in perfectly wearing the worst colors in the entire nation -Bright hunter Orange
sogadog
July 9th, 2010
5:51 pm
OK, I have tried my best to curb my enthusiasm and not laugh at DaRick, but I just saw he and his pal run a 4.2 40 to the black sedan with the orange T and speed off from the jail with Larry the cable the guy at the wheel and I saw pictures of DaRick with a very rotund gal and I cant stand it anymore.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!! I feel better.
And who is the genius that sends a car with an orange T on it to pick these guys up at the jail with cameras rolling? Why not have the band there to play rocky top and a few cheerleaders to boot?
mike
July 9th, 2010
5:51 pm
The problem with Damon, Da’rick, and Mr. Myles is…….”They just can’t help it!” Poor things!!!!!! Don’t start believing your own press!Here endeth the lesson. GO DAWGS!
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2010
5:51 pm
As I sit here reading this on my 52nd birthday, waiting for my wife to get ready so we can go out for geritol and prune juice cocktails, that the point MB is making is: karma can kick the crap out of you. Procede with caution. Now I’m going to go out and gum a chopped steak dinner. The MightyQuinn abides!
Larry Tucker
July 9th, 2010
5:53 pm
You can’t spell “THUG” without “UT”.
klazz
July 9th, 2010
5:54 pm
Sounds like he is on the fast track to wearing PRISON ORANGE which by the way is the same awful color as university of TN orange. He might need to change his number. I hear they use a combination of numbers and letters.
DDPO
July 9th, 2010
5:54 pm
He was originally going to UGA, right?
Excellent article MB
Yeah Buddy
July 9th, 2010
5:54 pm
ScoutDawg – He’s a Wide Reciever for now until he adds to his Prison Portfolio.
Bawney Fwank
July 9th, 2010
5:55 pm
It’s dat cracka’ George Bush’s fault!
Nash Nance
July 9th, 2010
5:55 pm
Don’t you worry Da’Wreck……Daddy will get you out of this one just like all the others.
Just sayin.....
July 9th, 2010
5:55 pm
If anyone has doubts about DaRick’s character then I suggest you make a trip to Calhoun or Rome and ask some of the locals about his “time” in those communities and schools. I say “time” because it’s like a juvenile rap sheet. He was about to be tossed out of Darlington (how did he afford that private school) when he “transferred” to Calhoun.
Now it all makes sense...
July 9th, 2010
5:56 pm
@ Jerry
You can opine all you want, but the news didn’t have as much access back in the day.
The schools also had more influence over the media and police.
And don’t worry about being politically correct. It’s much better to let your true feelings show. I would much rather know your true self than some politically correct version.
BravesFan79
July 9th, 2010
5:56 pm
If it had been a Taxi full of WHITE men slapping a black couple around in Athens, or 10 WHITE men beating down a black police officer, the NAACP would organize marches and demand “hate crime” charges! Im not racist, i just believe in EQUALITY!! Something i see very little of in todays “lets celebrate diversity and ignore facts” society.
DaFreak Rogers
July 9th, 2010
5:57 pm
where my bail moneys be at? i got jobbed. its a plot by da man to hold me down.
Clubbin' Lang
July 9th, 2010
5:58 pm
Sooooo. Is that his attorney hunkered down in the back seat behind Larry the Cable Guy?
Bull
July 9th, 2010
5:58 pm
Mark Bradley, please just shut up about UGA
DaFreak Rogers
July 9th, 2010
5:59 pm
BravesFan79, dit you say diversity? man, i was goin back to diversity when i went in da bar. i shoult have stays out of da bar and jes went back to diversity and gone to bed. dat way da man could not hold me down.
They should of brought the "ORANGE PUKE
July 9th, 2010
5:59 pm
PRIDE” Ladies to greet those thugs from leaving jail to heading back to ” The other Orange Puke jail” and have that ugly “Blue Thick Hound” keep an eye on them while they get inside the car with “Bob the Builder” and his orange puke checkerd shirt !!!! CLASSIC !!!!
Just sayin....
July 9th, 2010
6:00 pm
He wouldn’t have a job if he didn’t harp on UGA, Bull.
atlvol55
July 9th, 2010
6:00 pm
Somebody on here mentioned the legal drinking age in Tennessee is 18. That is untrue, it is 21. However, some bars allow 18 and up to attend as the case of BAR Knoxville.
As a UT alum and former Knoxville resident, this BAR Knoxville is know as white trash and a more ghetto spot.
Don
July 9th, 2010
6:01 pm
Mark Bradley considers 7 to 10 guys beating up one guy and kicking him while he’s on the ground a Barroom Brawl? You are the same knuckle head that suggested the the GT Athletic Director was the right man to take over at UGA. You now have achieved the same level of credibility that Terrence Moore had!
Drago
July 9th, 2010
6:02 pm
I think it is pretty clear that Knoxville is just not a safe place for Georgia High School Graduates.
Larry the cable guy with his Tabasco sause...
July 9th, 2010
6:05 pm
checkerd shirt !!!! ummmmmm ….NOW THAT’S UUUUUUUUUUUGLY YA’LL !!!!
Jimmy
July 9th, 2010
6:05 pm
I agree. Bad things happen at every school. However if it happened at UGA you would be writing a negative piece about the incident.
Stupid Lame Name
July 9th, 2010
6:07 pm
YES I WOULD JUMP OFF A BRIDGE…..I CAN SWIM.
The Cynical White Boy
July 9th, 2010
6:07 pm
There will be nothing to laugh about anyway, because all of this will be made right…..and in a hurry…
Obama has invited Duh-Rick and the Security Guard up to the White House for a beer.
They will join in a rousing chorus of Kum Ba Yah, followed by a touching man-hug (no homo).
The ceremony will conclude with Obama being awarded yet another peace prize. And all will be well.
NCAA infractions? Obama’s government will have taken over the NCAA, too, by that time.
Bob Horner
July 9th, 2010
6:07 pm
Da’rick screwed UGA….now he screwed up…it’s funny….and I’m laughing…and I have no regrets…end of story
SWGADAWG
July 9th, 2010
6:09 pm
I can hate on DaLoser if I like…..
that qb kid who rode da'rick's coattails
July 9th, 2010
6:09 pm
should work his butt off to keep this fella out of trouble
Polka Guy
July 9th, 2010
6:10 pm
Don’t throw boomerangs without getting hit in the mouth.
savannadawg
July 9th, 2010
6:10 pm
Mark, shut the F up. Your the biggest judge of them all. How dare you tell US not too judge. You A**. You need to keep your opinions too your self and just report and let us decide what we think. You’re a screwball. As far as those Tenn. players. All i can say is that I’m glad they are not at UGA. The long road for D. Dooley just got longer. UT fans i can’t say i really feel bad for ya’ll. But, you did have a pretty good coach in place. He wasn’t going to stay down forever. Just like Richt won’t. Just saying!!!!
do the hostesses wear orange panties?
July 9th, 2010
6:10 pm
that’s what I want to find out
Bob Horner
July 9th, 2010
6:10 pm
Where was whitey the qb kid that sux at qb..?? I thought they were “best friends”….LMAO….
Now it all makes sense...
July 9th, 2010
6:11 pm
@Stupid Lame Name
You probably would idiot, but not all bridges are over water!!
Things that make you go hmmmm....
July 9th, 2010
6:12 pm
Bob Horner
July 9th, 2010
6:10 pm
He was probably at DaRick’s condo (that his dad purchased) cleaning it for him.
Polka Guy
July 9th, 2010
6:12 pm
If you walk around with a big sign on your back that says ‘Kick me’, don’t be surprised to find a boot on your backside.