Posted: Friday, October 23, 2009, 3:51 PM | 13 comments |
 

Christmas released
options
 

I just spoke with Dionte Christmas' agent, Andre Buck, who said his client was released early this morning. Buck said that he spoke with Christmas briefly and plans to see him later today. Buck said that the next step in this process is a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

If you need the details of this story, click here: Dionte Christmas arrested.

Buck said that it's "hard to convey" how is client is feeling, but that he's OK. Buck said, as of right now, Christmas' basketball options remain intact.

"We were and will continue to evaluate some of the opportunities that he has," Buck said. "There was nothing so immediate that we would have been leaving today or yesterday, but we are going to evaluate everything ... the lovely part about our great country is innocent until proven guilty."

"Things happen in life and we'll deal with it. He's dealt with a lot -- nothing of this nature -- but he's a positive person."

Sixers still have no comment about Marreese Speights' role in this situation.

--Kate

 
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 3:51 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:12 PM, 10/23/2009
    What an idiot.
    — McShea25
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:29 PM, 10/23/2009
    wrong place, wrong time.. dwb victim
    — flamediddy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:40 PM, 10/23/2009
    I know this won't fly on this board (flamediddy has a point,and I'm white); and I'm no lawyer, but except for Christmas driving without a license, I don't see a crime. It's Speights car,(he probably didn't know Christmas didn't have a license,Christmas probably didn't know there was a gun in there) the firearm belongs to Speights and it's legally registered to Speights. I'm sure Christmas will have to pay a fine or something for the license , but that's about it.
    — drbob1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:49 PM, 10/23/2009
    I hope he doesn't get in trouble for this. If the car and gun were Speights' Christmas should hopefully be OK. Speights should step up.
    — Ballgame
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:55 PM, 10/23/2009
    How can you call someone an idiot without knowing the full story? Geez Louise!!!
    — sima_down_nah
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:08 PM, 10/23/2009
    how can you cry racism without knowing the full story? 1) the cop could be black. if cop was white, sorry, but just because a cop is white doesnt make him racist. 2)it is not christmas's car= a major problem. 3)a loaded gun under the seat that does not belong to christmas=major problem. 4)christmas does not even have a license=obvious wrong. even when it is obvious that christmas did a lot wrong, racism comes into play, and once again its blame the white cop 'cause after-all....its Driving While Black. excuse after excuse. amazing how people have no sense of right and wrong.
    — bill on the hill
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:35 PM, 10/23/2009
    Bill , I believe my point was about if you look at your points 2 and 3; and Christmas obviously didn't steal the car then it doesn't = major problem, at least not for Christmas, and if it's registered legally, not for Speight's either. Speight's has apparently already told the police it's his car and legally registered gun so only point 4 is something for which Christmas would likely face conviction. So really not =major problem.. I have no problem with them arresting him until the facts came out, but once they did, having a felony gun hearing this week, to me , is a waste of taxpayer money.
    — drbob1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:21 PM, 10/23/2009
    The dwb comment has foundation since the car was not pulled over for a good reason- driving erratically, what the heck is that? One question remains: does Christmas not have a license or was it just not in his possession at the time?
    — incog69
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:26 PM, 10/23/2009
    Regarding bill on the hill, my first thought about people who use the phrase 'cry racism' is that they are bigots (I'm white btw). The fact that the car did not belong to Christmas is definitely not a concern. My best (obvious) guess is that Christmas and Speights became freakin friends- dah. The gun is registered to the owner of the car- that is definitely not a problem for Christmas. If he does not have a drivers license then he is wrong for driving and deserves a small fine for that minor infraction. End of story. Good luck Dionte.
    — incog69
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:41 PM, 10/23/2009
    incog69: You're absolutely right... that was my point.. and I hadn't even thought of the last point you raised, if he just didn't happen to have the license with him , and he is a licensed driver, then all he would get is a small fine. I have a problem with people that want to interpret this story according to their own bigoted agenda, and Bill seems to have done so.
    — drbob1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 PM, 10/23/2009
    Christmas is being released by everyone this week
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 PM, 10/23/2009
    its wrong to use race in this issue.if christmas drove the car erractically,and the cops stopped him,he should be thankful ,1st,he could have caused an accident,and hurt himself,and others.2nd,he KNEW he did not have a licence,and drove a vehicle,3rd did he know there was a weapon in the car?...all wrong decisions on him.well hopefully, things will work out ,and u all gotta stop with the race card.this young man just might have his life saved by the cops.
    — t_darb_56
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 PM, 10/23/2009
    its wrong to use race in this issue.if christmas drove the car erractically,and the cops stopped him,he should be thankful ,1st,he could have caused an accident,and hurt himself,and others.2nd,he KNEW he did not have a licence,and drove a vehicle,3rd did he know there was a weapon in the car?...all wrong decisions on him.well hopefully, things will work out ,and u all gotta stop with the race card.this young man just might have his life saved by the cops.
    — t_darb_56


13 comments
About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.

Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.

ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI

Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.

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