Steve Campbell

When I read last week that the UA men's basketball team may have been involved in the theft of money and candy bars during their trip to Kansas, I tried to imagine what was going through these players' minds. Don't they understand the fortunate position that they are each in? Are they really willing to give it all up over a petty crime such as this?

There was of course no guilt admitted and no guilt will ever be proven because the situation was settled when an assistant coach paid for the theft, but people will come to their own conclusions. But if they were involved, the question still begs to be asked ÷ what was going through their minds?

There you are, playing for the number one basketball team in the nation, getting ready to play what most thought would be one of the toughest games of the season, and you and a few friends decide to act like little kids. The opportunity presents itself, and you and your buddies take the low road.

I guess a free education just isn't enough. Let's not mention all of the other benefits you get as a UA basketball player · OK, let's. While I'm struggling to get good grades in a couple of tough classes, you're getting free tutoring. While I'm working one or two jobs after school, you're practicing lay-ups in the gym. While I'm standing in long lines for 20 minutes at a time to buy my books for class, you're walking straight to a register specifically designated for you because you're an athlete. And while my professors are preparing me for what I hope is a white-collar job (which will probably turn out to be a blue-collar job), waiting for me upon graduation, Coach Olson is trying to prepare you for a job in the NBA and a multimillion dollar contract.

And you want to throw all that away? What the hell are you thinking? What most students wouldn't give to trade places with you.

Don't you owe your school just a little bit more than that? Don't you owe Coach Olson more than that? Heck, what about yourself? Is that all you expect from yourself?

Take just a moment to look in the mirror and ask yourself, what would you do if you couldn't play basketball at college? If you weren't trying to get into the NBA, what kind of occupation would you see yourself getting into? Now, is that what you really want to do with your life? Well, you're on your way. Let's face the facts. The odds are against you from the jump. Very few college players go on to play professionally. Granted, more from UA than say, Middle Tennessee State, but still very few, nonetheless.

Now, you want to decrease those odds with acts of stupidity that, if caught, will undoubtedly lessen your playing time, and at the very least, hurt your reputation as a student-athlete who is supposed to have his act together.

I know, I know. It's not like the cops pulled you over and found 87 pounds of marijuana in your car, but it's a start. If you were capable of stealing less than $100 worth of snacks and cash at a time when you really didn't need it, what would you be capable of doing when things weren't going so well for you? I guess it's just a matter of what kind of character you have.

If this is pissing you off, then good. Now you know how your fans felt when they had to read that a few players from their top-ranked basketball team felt they were above having to pay 75 cents for their candy bars. They are, after all, athletes.

That's right. You read that right. I said, their top-ranked basketball team. It is the fans' team. It's not yours. You just play for them. It's the fans that pack McKale Center for every single home game. And it's the fans that put on the UA attire and go on the road to cheer for their team.

The next time you're playing UCLA at Pauley and you hear cheers when you make a shot, look up in the stands and see how many UA shirts are staring back at you, representing the university. Then take a look at yourself. You're also wearing Arizona across your chest. If you can't represent in the same manner, then take the shirt off. You don't deserve it. You obviously don't know what you've got.