Have you ever wanted a do-over? Stephen Locke could use one right about now. He already went through a tough 2006 when he had to go through elbow surgery. Florida Gators senior baseball pitcher Stephen Locke was arrested Saturday after being charged with a DUI.
The 22 year old was driving on W University Avenue just a little past 2 am. Locke was stopped by the Gainesville police after going 10 mph under the speed limit. Police recognized an armband Locke had been wearing from a local bar in town called the Grog House, and alcohol was also smelt from under his breath. Locke drove across the double yellow line which caused an oncoming vehicle to swerve to avoid a head on collision.
Locke had an incredible 2008 season after starting 12 games with a 5-2 record and a 3.17 ERA. Locke was a huge piece of the puzzle for this 2009 baseball club but this one silly mistake did not only hurt him, but it hurt the whole team. It was very impressive how he battled back through his elbow injury in 2006 and threw it away just because he chose to drink and drive. You expect your seniors to set the example. Locke not only failed to do that, he did the opposite. He showed the younger players what not to do. He paid the ultimate price, and now his baseball career at the University of Florida is over.
Hopefully coach Sullivan will use this as a reminder to the team. No matter how much work you put in on the field, you have to do the right thing off the field too.
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It’s just not fair how this has ended up. Locke is a great person with a great future ahead of him in whatever he does. Everyone makes mistakes in life…it’s just his was publicized. I just hope all sports treat something like this the same way. We all screw up and have to learn from it and take responsibility and prove ourselves again each and everyday…as should stephen be able to do.
Why do you people get pleaure out of publishing stories that that hurt someone who has already gone through enough? Because of what he did he is no longer aloud to play ball. I don’t know how whoever wrote this sleeps at night knowing that obviously he is a good kid, made a stupid mistake, and he is being punished for it, but yet you still want everyone to know about it??? Doesn’t make sense. I would think you would get pleasure out of writing positive things about people. Just want you to imagine being that person who is being put on front street about something that is ruining his college career. Maybe you’ll think twice before publishing such a harsh article next time. Or maybe you’ll get the DUI and someone else will get to have fun with your misery!!!
As of this writing, I hope all that are predisposed to “rush to judge” student-athletes (or any person for that matter) have read the Gainesville Sun’s followup story (which, by the way, once again only gives the authorities perspective). For those who have not; on Saturday (3/7/09) the Alachua County State Attorney dismissed the charge of DUI (the only offense this student-athlete was charged with). It seems that after the police officers report was eagerly published and his subsequent “sworn” testimony given, the States Attorney reviewed the police officers own squad car video and came to the conclusion that this officer was being (I”ll be kind here) “less than truthful” as none of what the officer maliciously accused this young man of doing ever occurred. Substantial damage has no doubt been done to this young mans reputation and I hope for his sake that his accusers, and those that would inflict harm, will now be speak out on his behalf and reverse the damage that has been done, which includes unnecessary legal expenses.