Audio-

http://www.nbl.com.au/_content/audio/00000075-source.mp3

Is this that huge a deal? Perhaps a inhouse fine, a warning or something? Wasnt like the results had to be made public. Fans didnt have to find out.

Bailey was a great spark for the Wildcats and a very colourful character too. What he did to Wollongong in the Playoffs was brilliant

The AFL really does seem to have the best drug policy of all our National Sporting Leagues.

They arrange couselling at the first offence if the drug is a non performence one such as cannabis, ectasy, coke etc.

We have seen in Rugby Union in the last few weeks Wendel Sailor give a postive test to cocain, which will see him suspended most likely for 2 years, pretty much forcing him into early retirement.

Now this with Bailey.

However, would Baileys visa have anything in it about drug use that could force him to leave the counrty?

Sacking a player of his calibre seems to be a high price to pay for smoking cannabis. I agree with Kobe8 that it should have been kept quiet and dealt within the club. If it was a habit he could not kick, then the option would be to sack him. If a warning was enough to stop him using this drug, then life goes on with little effect.

He actually seemed like a pretty cool guy too.
A few of the Seals chatted to him after the last game they played here.
We had been giving him heaps all game. A lot of 'Watcha talkin bout Willis' which he said said he has basically been coping for about 10 years now so was fairly use to it. Even gave his head band to young 'speedy'; one the the younger sixer fans.
He seemed quited down to earth though.
I would hope another team may pick him up.
Who is still looking for a quality guard? Sydney maybe?

As a Wildcat fan, i would be disappointed if we sack him to see him in another NBL uniform

He couldve been the next Ricky Grace for Perth

What makes these fools of Athletes want to do stupid things like this?

What makes these fools of Athletes want to do stupid things like this?

Good question. Probably never find an answer though.

Could be from boredom/lonliness. I have no idea what Baileys day to day life was like but apart from his team mates would he have any friends or Family in Perth? I would imagine it would be hard for any import to come out here (pretty much as far from the US as you can get) and not know anybody. Lonliness can lead you to do things you probably wouldnt normally. Dont be to quick to Judge the man.

Vlahov is quoted saying they have a 1 strike policy. Do people think Bailey would have been aware of this? If he was aware, perhaps it was a ploy to get out of his contract, which I believe he still had 1 year remaining on.

Cannabis is an illegal drug. End of story.

He was detected having consumed an illegal drug. He was sacked from his job.

A bus driver turns up for work undet the effects of smoking cannbis - would you like to be on that bus? Or driving on the road in front or behind it?

Your doctor had a quick joint before opening you up for some delicate surgery - happy with that?

No, of course you wouldnt. Bailey was probably more than aware of the drug policy, which I am sure would be no different at any other club. He is a professional sportsman, and has an obligation to his club to maintain himself at peak fitness to do his job to the best of his ability. He didn't, so he was sacked. Quite justly.

I dont think its been stated that he played any games or even trained while under the influence of the drug Yogee. Nor has do I beieve it has effected his ability. They stated the test was taken late in the season and the man played his best ball at the end of the Season, especially during the playoffs. So comparing him to a driver or a doctor while they are doing their job is pointless.

How long does it take to get back a drug test? It turns out the Wildcats only resigned him 6 weeks ago. They say they got the results 3 days later and took action imedietly. So why is this not revealed for a full month later.

I think there is more to this story.

Yogee, people drink alcohol at the weekends when they attend parties, it doesn't mean they show up for work Monday morning under the influence. Nowhere does it state that Bailey played under the influence of drugs. If he had performed as well as he did under the influence of drugs, then one might argue that a Doctor or a Bus Driver can perform just as well. I am not condoning Drug use, but cannabis is so common these days, the penalties are not that harsh. It may be a crime but then so is speeding. People don't lose their jobs when caught speeding, they just pay a fine and lose some demerit points. They continue to drive a car.

EC - SA has very liberal drug laws in relation to canabis for personal use - meaning it is decrimalised and you can get a fine in the same way you get a speeding ticket. It however is not the case in other states and canabis possesion/use is still a criminal offence. Try having a copper find you with a joint in Qld......lots of fun!

While I agree with other posters that there is possible more to the story - if the Wilcats have made it clear that they have a 1 strike policy as Vlahov has stated, then good on them for standing by their policy and acting on the positive test results

Anonymous (#85106) is 100% right. Bad luck sunshine, smoke the weed and get caught and sacked, price you pay, you know the rules.

I find it funny that these sports people are chucking away thousands and thousands of dollar and potentially their lively hood for the simple sake for a joint or a line of coke. Dumb.....

Dell has lost around $750k for a night on the goey, and all I can say is 'suck sh*t'.

Over here in the East, the NRL clubs are in strife for booze related incidents. Is it really that hard to stay off the juice for 6 months, behave yourself, don't be a d*ck and collect your $100,000 plus a year at the end?

A lot of money and a lot of spare time are a dangerous combination.

One thesis I read from a sports psychologist spoke about athletes and drugs. He said most elite athletes are told from a youg age how great they are and many are afforded certain exemptions in life just for being talented at sport.

He wrote about the high experienced by performing at an elite level, the rush of winning a game or race, the buzz of adoring fans and cheering crowds, that the only way to experience that off the court/track is drugs. The athlete gets addicted to the natural high of elite performance, but you can't perform like that all the time, so need to replicate it with the unnatural highs of drugs.

Get over it folks, think about it carefully...i would rather a canabis user than a regular alcohol user was, a friend..a staff member..a team mate...an elite athelete.

More damage is done by the evils of alcohol than ever will be done by canabis.

I would like to see the holier than thou clubs..stand up and say they will impose 1 strike rules for alcohol use/abuse..instead, they support the manufacturers and dealers. stupid double standards.

sorry forgot.... just take a listen to "The Streets".. "the irony of it all"

All should be clear

Simple you USE you LOSE

Yogee, what a stupid exaggeration of an example! A typical stereo type response from an idiot!

In your logic then, it is fine for a doctor to get drunk before performing surgery on you then because its Legal?! Happy with that?

If you're questioning his performance then as someone else stated it stays in your system for 3 months, the season starts in more then 3 months! So to use an example indicating that he was doing it during the season is wrong and shows ignorance.

Obviously using it pre-season would hinder his fitness however so would players over indulging in alcohol but you would just turn a blind eye to that because is sociably acceptable?!

I would imagine Bailey would work probably as hard as anyone in his team and to achieve the things he has at his size shows how much dedication he puts in. So to question his performance is unjust. I would be happy for a guy of that talent to play for Adelaide if we required an import point guard.

If there is a strict no drug policy in his contract, then he obviously breached it and deserves to lose his job. but to use outrageous examples is unfair on Bailey!

My point was the fact not being under the influence, and the examples I used were probably poorly taken.

My main point was the fact, as pointed out, cannbis use/posession is illegal in every state apart from SA, where it is purely de criminalised.

Cannbis is recognised as a performance enhancing, and illegal drug. I am sure there was a clause in Baileys contract that states he is to uphold the laws of the land, and also anti-doping rules in place.

He didn't - he paid the penalty.

Actually overheard a phone call to the Wildcats today

Caller asked to speak to David Bailey...the reply....













"Dave's not here maaaaaaaaaaan"

?
?
?

Im Sorry Yogee.

Was that a joke?

?
?
?

Anyone over the age of about 25 would get it.


Maybe you need to hire out some old movies skip...look for the old Cheech and Chong movies....gee you could probably get most of them on your iPod (well the albums they released)

Actually Skip Ill back Yogee up there....even though its something I normally try and avoid...

but that IMO was worthy of a little basketball!

Seen several Cheech and Chong films Yogee.
Still dont find it funny tho. Strange.
Maybe its just you, I dunno.

Oh, also I was born in the Seventies so Im pretty sure ive already celebrated my 25th Birthday. Not sure, I was drunk in some small European country I think at the time. Also never owned an Ipod but would love one if you are offering.

Strange that you would streotype me when you are probably the most stereotype person on this forum.

HA - now thats a comeback!

"When I'm the most sterotype person on the forum"??? Huh?????? I'm guessing a typo has rendered that devoid of any meaning.

I didn't stereotype you at all skip...I worked on an assumption from your original post that you didn't have any clue what the "joke" referred to, and therefore were probably younger than 25, as that seems to be where C&C humour seems to get lost.

I'm sorry if you didnt get my intended humour. Guess thats what makes people indivisuals. They work on different levels of humour and personality. Me, personally, wouldnt resort to personal attacks on an internet forum, once again I guess showing where we differ.

Im so sorry you feel that you have been attacked.
Its not my intension to attack someone in their what....mid to late 30's?


Too stereotypical yogee??

Whats steroetypical about naming my age range?

I'm 36 if you must know. I dont see your point, and quite honestly, I'm sure people have better things to do than read inane banter between us.

And i thought this was a basketball forum...lol

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard that Bailey had been signed to another year's contract. 3 days later it came to the attention of the club that he had used cannabis post season. Doesn't this mean he used it during the time he was NOT under contract. If that is the case, how do the Wildcats get away with pushing their drug policy against someone who is not their employee?

Skip and Yogee - relax, you're reading into things.

EC, the test was done late in the previous season, while he WAS under contract, I assume.

Yogee everytime I read a topic that you have posted on there seems to some disagreement take place.

You bore me!

hehehe....i dont know any of the people involved..but..i also read something...

Yogi..is "smarter than the average bear".

aahhhahahahaha, sorry i thought it was funny..or maybe i was high.