why no one started a thread about this. :waitasec:
I was starting to think we had NBA members here that would take offense and nobody wanted to open that can of worms. :chicken: Teeheehee
I disagree that he intentionally shot this man. No way. There is not motive whatsoever and no scenario that would make sense in an argument for intentional shooting. The prosecution would have pursued that path... GUARANTEED... if they had even one witness that himself believed the shooting was intentional.
Did he aim the gun at Gus? Absolutely. Did he intentionally pull the trigger? No one has made a compelling case for that theory. Did he know the gun was loaded? I'm not sure. But... did he know the gun was loaded, AND... intentionally aim it at Gus, AND... intentionally pull the trigger anticipating a shotgun blast that would blow a hole in a man he just met and had no motive to kill? No way. Jayson loved HIMSELF too much.
What troubles me about this case is the lack of the ability of TWELVE men to "do the right thing". I believe some of them were APPALLED. Some may have been in shock initially. I believe Victor, Jayson's brother who placed the 911 call, didn't even KNOW what happened. He took his brother's word at face value. I will truly be interested in seeing if he is called to testify.
Mostly though, I feel terrible sadness for Gus Christofi, and of course for his family left behind. He was a short, stocky, older man surrounded by tall athletic basketball players, a personal trainer, and much younger men. He was starstruck, brought a disposable camera in hopes of just getting a picture, and totally non offensive and non threatening to anyone. He handled himself completely professionally and I believe his better judgement told him to NOT go in that house. He was talked into entering the house by well meaning friends of Jayson that genuinely liked Gus. I think Gus gave in and went inside out of curiosity about the house, a desire not to offend the men that asked him to, and a need to feel that Jayson Williams was indeed the great selfless person portrayed by the press. Gus' experience at the restaurant had shown him otherwise. I think he felt that maybe Jayson did just have an odd sense of humor and that Gus would find that Jayson was really the great guy he'd read about. Gus was a huge sports fan and Jayson was a favorite local son.
I'm amazed at the real study in psychology that compelled all these men to cover for Jayson Williams, despite some of them KNOWING the police would be able to tell right away the story was not plausible. I believe some were genuinely good friends of Jayson who did not want him to get in trouble. I believe some really just wanted no part in getting involved with the whole incident and believed they were more likely to be left alone if they didn't "rock the boat". My greatest curiosity is in the actions of the Harlem Globetrotters who had no motive to cover for Williams, no need to feel as if their life would change significantly if he were held accountable, and no particular loyalty to him.
I anxiously await the testimony of Curly "Boo" Johnson who had no prior connection to Williams and job security with the Globetrotters. I believe he will tell the most compelling version of the truth.
As far as the dog shooting incident... NO ONE has substantiated that rumor at all. It was never noted as an incident when it supposedly happened, and no one can even swear he owned that dog. I'm inclined to believe this is an urban legend.
On the periphery, I believe Jayson Williams' wife is obnoxious, offensive, and certainly NOT an asset to him in any way. She either needs to stay home and watch the coverage on Court TV, or shut the hell up. And her website is a disgrace and a total defiance to the gag order.