Beasley+Boat+Beer=Bad Mix

Unfortunately, this is what you get when you no longer receive the benefit of the doubt.

Heat forward Michael Beasley learned a hard lesson Saturday, if things actually played out the way the team, Beasley and others caught up in Beer Boat Gate say they did. Beasley again found himself in the middle of a controversy that had nothing to do with whether he should start at power forward ahead of Udonis Haslem or slightly out of position at small forward.

There was another camera. There was Beasley. There was a naughty substance that happened to find itself sitting on a table with Beasley in the vicinity. And, of course, there was the Internet, which was used to spread this potential cocktail of disaster across the world faster than Beasley can release a jump shot.

This latest incident could be easily dismissed. Beasley was aboard a chartered fishing trip after an Oct. 10 practice he had no desire to be on, but was encouraged to go by his counselor from that drug rehab stay in Houston. Instead of casting, Beasley found a soft spot for napping. It just so happened to be the wrong spot, a place where there was a table with a bunch of open beer bottles resting nearby as well.

Say cheese. Flash. It was that easy to put Beasley in another uncomfortable spot. TMZ.com did what TMZ.com does. And it ran a story with all kinds of not-so-subtle suggestions about how Beasley was drifting into temptation again. Needless to say that Beasley remains in the league's substance abuse program for missteps dating to weeks after the 2008 draft, when he was caught in a New York hotel room with women amid the smell of marijuana.

The kid has no more wiggle room when it comes to off-the-court stumbles. If he fails, he falls into a potential 5-game suspension. So that made this current situation a bit tough to fathom - even for Beasley.

Beasley is one of the most likable and approachable guys in the Heat locker room. He's got an easy smile, and infectious laugh and a hilarious jab or two to deliver to any teammate or team employee at any given second. No one is off limits. He's still very much a 20-year-old kid having fun at an age when life is supposed to be all about fun.

Except, he's a high-profile professional athlete with a checkered not-so-distant past now. So even if Beasley did absolutely nothing wrong in this latest boat photo flap other than fall asleep on the wrong couch, he's a victim of circumstances his previous actions helped to create.

It's unfortunate. But it's true. The thing about Beasley is that he's not going to let this incident send him into a shell. He loves to go out. He lives right around the corner from AmericanAirlines Arena. And he's never met a stranger. So if you've got a camera phone and Beasley is nearby, he'd welcome the company.

"If you're not doing anything wrong, you shouldn't have to worry about (anything)," Beasley said Saturday. "I don't mind taking a picture with someone. A few seconds to me could make their whole day."

That's fine. But aren't you concerned about perception at this point? Don't you fear being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time after everything that's gone on? Can you even take that chance?

"I don't think you should have to be aware (of your surroundings at all times)," said Beasley, who is still underage when it comes to alcohol. "That's like going into a bar and telling them to shut down the bar just because you're near me. I think that's part of growing up and being mature."

Beasley admitted that he never drinks and that he doesn't smoke. At least not anymore. He's been sober, he says, "since 8-6-09." That was right around the time of his initial stay in Houston as part of the drug treatment program. He then violated a rule and had to check into an in-patient facility.

But that's behind Beasley now. And that boat has sailed. At least that's the case until the next camera phone flashes. Then, he'll have to go through all of this again. Beasley may well have earned a starting job this season. But it'll be a while before he earns the benefit of the doubt in matters off the court. Innocent or not.

And that's unfortunate. Especially in cases when he's clean.

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Comments

[Inquiring minds want to know]

if things actually played out the way the team, Beasley and others caught up in Beer Boat Gate say they did.
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What do you mean? You don't believe them?

[Inquiring minds want to know]

Beasley again found himself in the middle of a controversy that had nothing to do with whether he should start at power forward ahead of Udonis Haslem or slightly out of position at small forward.
=======================
If SF is slightly out of position for a PF then let us put Haslem there. Beasley is a much better PF than Haslem will ever be. Nothing to lose by playing the better player there and we can use Haslem as a stop gap at a slightly out of position SF.

[lequeenLames]

inquiring minds say it like it is.I cant wait for beasley to start the season to shut up the haters and if he doesnt work at the 3,then i want to see the excuse of haslem still playing as a starter over bease

[dmt]

re: Posted by: Inquiring minds want to know | October 24, 2009 at 06:20 PM

Beasley's a tweener, Haslem ain't (or, to the extent he is, he leans more towards [an extremely undersized] Center than the other way [towards Small Forward]).

Not that I would be against Haslem coming off the bench if Beasley learns to do his job well (not just scoring, or even scoring and rebounding, but defense [team and individual], passing and leadership). Basically, I'd probably start Beasley at PF this season and let him learn his job. Unfortunately, that would leave quite a hole a SF. If he can handle the SF spot, then that might actually be best (as none of the platoon of other SFs on the roster are really starter material).

[curmudgeon]

People should get off Beasley's act, and let him play basketball. I walk past some wine bottles on a shelf in my house every day, but that does not make me a wino. And if he happened to sip someone else's beer a few weeks before his 21st birthday, would he be the first one to do that. It's completely ridiculous and should be forgotten; truth is, it's not even a story worth the few electrons it takes to put it on the Internet.

[murhen]

what is wrong with U people....everybody drinks....focus on your own damn life instead of others.

[jpejeff]

You mean to tell me that Beasley is not seen drinking in the picture and he has too listen to this crap. Whoever took this picture,reall y didn't have a thing to do.With that much time on there hands, you would think they could have taken a more damaging picture.I mean a 20 year old guy drinking a beer on a fishing trip should have been enough to put him away for a long time.There seems to be a national campaigne to damage this young man for life.He hasn't shot himself or carried a gun in a airport,haven't been charged with rape,attitude is good towards practice and working hard,and lives in Miami.Thats what the problem is. Small problems get blown up into Mental illnesses in Miami for some reason.The guy says he doesn't dink or smoke.I wish i could say the same for the one guy that think Spro is gonna be coach
of the year in the ESPN predictions and NBA awards section.Can someone say rehab.

[stefan]

considering his counselor was on board, I highly doubt he was drinking. But even if he was....SO WHAT?!?!. Are we really that naive as a society to think that under 21 professional athletes should not be drinking?? Who didn't drink when they were 18,19 and 20??? Granted, there are some that don't but probably over 80% of the population has partaken in underage drinking. Give this kid a break. So what, he's smoked some weed, he might drink...big deal. The facts are that the kid is always in shape, clearly works hard with the Heat staff and has not been linked to doing any real damaging, hard drugs. Looks to me like the dude is getting a bad rap that he doesn't deserve.

[black the trucker]

well this is just another jab that someone will be able to take at mike, at this point maybe a change of place might be better for mike, let him go be an all-star for another team.. we need to consintrate on other things and not on what this kid is doing with his personal life and if he doesn't see that then maybe this will end up like another micheal ray stories that just is a waste of talent that went #2 in the draft and messed it all up.. you might try to overlook this but i think you just can't.. at this point after you get put in rehab you just can't let yourself slip for anything,.. so shop him now and see what is out there...

[reginald noel]

people can we stop with the beasely at power forward stuff. can we trust the professionals in this matter. also, lets take power forward. "POWER". Whats powerful about beasely's games. he is a finesse player. let him do him at small forward. plz.

[jpejeff]

Its one thing to slip up,but its another to be rail roaded. Stories like this continue to lower Mike's trade value(if he has any at all now)and you wont get much in return while losing a potential future all star.It's funny to me how a Marburry can go to Boston and all the negitive press can stop while he's playing
there. I have no dobt Rasheed will be a model citizen while with Boston this year and still lead the league in techs.This is a Miami vandetta.My job gives me a opportunity to travel around this great country of ours and I spend a lot of time in sports bars.I tell ya there is a animosity towards Miami. It's a love/hate city with no middle ground.Soon as you trade Beasley,all these BS stories will die and he would still have the benefit of doubt until you actually see a picture of him with a beer bottle in his hand.Even then the story would be a kid being a kid.Where do we draw the line. The young man was on a boat with a bunch of people who was allowed to drink and took a nap.What's next a picture of him walking to the bathroom in a resteraunt with beer bottles in the background on tables.What a bunch of crap!

[Greg Gembe]

"Where do we draw the line"

There's already been lines drawn, there's been second and third chances. When you accept those heavy pay checks, I believe part of your responsibility is to act like you deserve it.

This one picture alone is harmless. But we are not talking about Eddie Jones or Alonzo Mourning here. I can't be the only one who sees a pattern developing. 5 high schools in 4 years. Questionable behavior at the rookie class. Pictures with background activity that he needs to avoid.

Come on man. If you want to have him be the future face of the franchise, all I can suggest is, set your sights a little higher. His talent alone is not enough to make us forget his personal life shortcomings. I mean, if your micheal jordan, the gambling and adultery get washed under the rug, but beas hasn't come close to being an all-star or a champion.

Hey Greg Gamble, remember he was drafted #2. Does that mean that Derrick Rose is a better player than beas? Does that mean bron, melo, and bosh are better players than D-Wade? After all, they were drafted hight than D-Wade.

How about we leave that draft number die in the past, with all of supercoolbeas' past disgressions? No more mention of draft #'s and no more mention of how big an idiot people can act like when they don't respect what they've been handed in life. Who's on board.

Miles Austin - undrafted out of Monmouth College in New Jersey...LEADS the NFL in receiving. (I'm definitely NOT a cowboys fan)
Undrafted and putting up bigger numbers than Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Ocho Cinco, etc...

So draft number means what again?

[UD's biggest fan]

"POWER". Whats powerful about beasely's games. he is a finesse player. let him do him at small forward. plz.

Posted by: reginald noel | October 26, 2009 at 01:04 PM
======================================
What exactly is powerful about Haslem's game?
What is powerful about Dirk's game?
What is powerful about Duncan's game?
What is powerful about Pau Gasol's game?

Power Forward doesn't mean he has to break rims.

[JPEJEFF]

Lines have been drawn and when he crosses it he needs to face the consiquences.But when he hasn't crossed it and is getting undeserved criticism,than a line need to be drawn to protect our investment.I mean come on a pictur
e of Bees sleeping next to MT beer bottles with a bunch of other adults on a boat don't mean squat.It's far from Michael phelps taking
a picture with a bong(which no lines has seemed to be drawn).I don't care if the guy went undrafted,it is wrong to create problems
where they don't exist In this case They don't exist if you don't see any small(that's all you need with Mike right now)evidence.Cou
ld he be a little more careful? Absolutely,bu
t to think he can control other's people drinking is unfair.Next time maybe he will tell some1 to clean up the MT bottles so he can take a nap.

[taheati]

Geez.

If you blame Beas for some creep who wanted to "be" somebody to the sleaze at TMZ, then why not say Erin Andrews was "asking for it" when some creep invaded the privacy of her hotel room?

Fuhck that.

Beasley's done a bunch of stuff he's accountable for.

This AIN'T one of them.

It's a non-story now story ONLY because sites like TMZ are must-see carwrecks for rubber-necking voyeurs.

And we're just as creepy for clicking them.

E pluribus creepum.