Body in SUV-train crash identified as former NBA star

[Poppa_Zit]

Ex-Wolves player Griffin dies in crash

By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer 

HOUSTON - Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Tuesday.

Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his tumultuous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March.

"The cause of death and manner of death, which also includes toxicology results, is pending," said Beverly Begay, chief investigator for the Harris County Medical Examiner's office.

Griffin, a five-year veteran who was the No. 7 pick in the 2001 NBA draft, had battled alcohol problems since coming out of Seton Hall. He was suspended by the league for five games in January for violating its anti-drug program.

"Basketball was never an issue with him. He needed more life lessons, and unfortunately he was never able to reach his potential," former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said.

Houston police said in a report that the driver of the SUV ignored a railroad warning and went through a barrier before striking the moving train about 1:30 a.m. Friday. The resulting fire burned the SUV and the side of a railcar carrying plastic granules, police said.

The driver's body was badly burned and there was no identification.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/basketball/5073763.html

[MP173]

He had a ton of talent when he entered the NBA but slipped thru the cracks.  I think he came out after his freshman year. 

Too bad.

 

ed 

[spbed]

Yes I heard about it this AM on ESPN

[Poppa_Zit]

It is a shame that someone with so much talent who once had such a bright future ahead of him would come to a tragic end like this.

[samfp1943]

It is a shame that someone with so much talent who once had such a bright future ahead of him would come to a tragic end like this.

It seems that this type of thing never ends--they are devoured by a system that over pays talent, and foments dysfunction individually-- a la Michael Vick, to name another currently who has managed to jump into a [hell] of their own making... What a waste of life,potential, and tallent... just my 2 cents

[MP173]

It has been a pretty sad summer for sports...Michael Vick, the NBA ref, Eddie Griffith, steroid use in baseball, doping in the Tour de France (can anyone name who won the race?, I cant).

Locally, prosecutors are investigating two college basketball players for sexual assult.

ed

[yippinyahoo]

...doping in the Tour de France (can anyone name who won the race?, I cant).

 

Alberto Contador, Team Discovery

Big cycling fan here, in spite of the doping controversies

[vsmith]

You can have a ton of talent, but if you dont have an ounce of brains to control yourself, its all moot.

Maybe I'm just a huge cynic but it seams like the days of guys like real role models like Micheal Jordan and Magic Johnson are long gone, the current crop of major league athletes (and others) to me are just a bunch of thugs with no education to speak of and very little self control that are given millions of $$$s, so is it surprising when some lose control?. So I'm never surprised when I hear someone getting busted for alcohol, drugs, firearms, gambling, assault, etc, etc. Its like a prerequesite for acceptance and the public buys into it wholeheartedly. If you aint pimp, you aint nothing.

What I cant figure is when Micheal Jordan fell out as a role model and they all started behaving more like Mike Tyson????

Afterall wasnt Micheal Vick hailed and lauded as the "future" of NFL, the future looks violent and bleak...anyone remember Ron Artest completely losing it and attacking some fans?

[blhanel]

It has been a pretty sad summer for sports...Michael Vick, the NBA ref, Eddie Griffith, steroid use in baseball, doping in the Tour de France (can anyone name who won the race?, I cant).

Locally, prosecutors are investigating two college basketball players for sexual assult.

ed

Iowa just lost two of their first-stringers for unauthorized use of a credit card- they allegedly stole someone's account # and charged $2000 worth of stuff to it. 

[BaltACD]

Anymore it seems like athletic talent is given to those that have the least intellectual and cultural abilities to be able to handle the resulting celebrity status.  In Mr. Giffin's case it would appear his way out was suicide by train, not that uncommon of a choice unfortunately.

[vsmith]

Read the folowing links. This guy was on a rocket propelled toboggan to trouble from the start...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aj_B5RFp0cUc6.TCVz7Eq73TjdIF?slug=ap-griffinkilled&prov=ap&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-griffin082207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Murphy Siding]

     From some of the info I read, I have to wonder if this was a suicide?

[Krazykat112079]

Well, Coach said he needed more life lessons.  He got the ultimate lesson: mortality.  Sucks when people skip to the end...  Hope the crew is doing ok physically, mentally, grammatically...