Josh Heytvelt missed Gonzaga's annual early exit from the NCAA tournament last year after getting arrested and charged with drug possession in February.
He's back on the team now, and ESPN's Andy Katz has the full story of the night Heytvelt got arrested, what the aftermath was like, and what he's done to get himself back in the good graces of the Gonzaga program.
"I have a lot more respect for the coaching staff and all that just because of the people they are and [because they] gave me a second chance," Heytvelt said. "That was the big thing I needed from them. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't play basketball. I don't know what I would have done if that had happened. I don't know."These stories are repeated at every level of sports. Check out this story about three Garfield High players arrested for robbery.
They all have the same storyline--player gets in trouble with law, player begs forgiveness, player allowed back on team ("it wasn't an easy decision," says coach), and the healing power of sports is applauded by all.
What's missing from these stories is any sense of perspective. What happens to the average, non-basketball playing student at Gonzaga who gets charged with felony drug possession? Do they get suspended from their activity of choice, like Heytfelt did? Do they lose their scholarship, like Heytfelt didn't (apparently, Katz doesn't say for sure).
Sports doesn't happen in a vacuum, especially on a college campus. Or does it?
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