Bad news about Jack Givens...
Ky58
Tony Fante
I can't imagine Jack messing with a kid? I hope it
works out for him.
tonyf
On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 15:31:49 -0400, "Ky58" <seven...@bigblue.org>
wrote:
Hank, Sr.
that the girl he allegedly molested lives in Windermere the community of
residence for Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara and several other PGA players.
If Givens is convicted should his number be un-retired by Kentucky and
should his jersey be removed from the rafters at Rupp? Your opinions?
Ky58
about his exclusion from the basketball honor roll.
tonyf
from the program. Nothing can erase the good he done while he
was a student at the university. If you had to reprimand a university
for things that people do after graduating there wouldn't be
a school in the country with any integrity. Also I tend to agree with
KY58, let the dust settle and see what the true story is. If they can
keep Benedict Rick's jersey in the rafters......well you get the
idea. IMHO
tonyf
Hank, Sr.
short hairs because of comments he made after he was arrested. At least
he did not rape the minor which means he should serve 5-6 years with
time off for good behavior if he is convicted. One thing going against
him is the girl he allegedly molested comes from a family of some
influence. Let's just hope this doesn't make the national spotlight like
the Kobe Bryant case.
Ky58
so stunning. Givens, the former University of Kentucky basketball star
and longtime Orlando Magic television analyst known as "Goose," was
arrested Monday and freed on bond Tuesday morning after being charged
with sexual battery and lewd molestation against a 14-year-old girl.
The incident is alleged to have occurred at her home June 18, just
a few days before his charity tournament at Shingle Creek Golf Club
and just a week before coaching his daughter's Amateur Athletic
Union basketball team during a tournament in Gainesville.
"I just can't believe it. I was floored when I heard this," said
golf partner, good friend and Orlando resident Bob Harvey. "That
would be completely out of character. That's not Jack Givens."
Givens, 47, is well-known in Central Florida after 15 seasons as
a basketball analyst, a pitchman for various local businesses and
a regular at charity functions.
His easy, outgoing manner, coupled with a recognizable face has
led to a myriad of friendships around town, adding to the popularity
he earned during his college days as an articulate star athlete.
Givens was the first black All-American basketball player at Kentucky,
leading the Wildcats to the 1978 NCAA title when he scored 41 points
in the championship game against Duke. That game cemented his reputation
as one of the greatest players in the history of a storied program.
He grew up and became a high school basketball sensation in Lexington,
stepping into immediate stardom at Kentucky. His jersey number was
retired shortly after he left with that national championship.
Many of the friends he had then remain his friends today. And
everyone contacted Tuesday had a very similar reaction.
"It was a total shock to me," said former UK teammate Rick Robey,
who lives in Louisville. "Jack's always been such a level-headed
person, not anyone who did drugs or drank or anything like that.
He's not that type of person."
Givens lives in Windermere with his wife (Linda) of 20 years and
two children, who both have been home-schooled. They are regulars
at the First Baptist Church of Windermere.
"In Lexington, around Kentucky basketball, he's still like a god,"
said Bonnie McNeil, a UK graduate and friend of Givens who lives
in Seminole County. "Hearing this just broke my heart, like it
was one of my kids getting in trouble."
Although Givens was a superstar at Kentucky, his NBA career
fizzled quickly. He then played professionally in Japan, where
he still returns regularly with his family to visit the friends
he made there.
"You could randomly call five people from any phone book in
Kentucky, ask them about Jack, and they would all tell you good
things about him," said Beth Lewis, who grew up in Lexington,
moved to Central Florida and remains friends with the Givens
family. "Everybody likes Jack. He makes everyone feel
special."
Givens made his reputation in Orlando as a broadcaster, but
the thought of one-day coaching his alma mater often entered into
his conversations with friends in the past couple of years. He
inquired a few times about assistant coaching jobs in the NBA.
Former Magic coach Doc Rivers often talked coaching points
with him.
"I'm still in disbelief over what I heard," said Rivers, who
now coaches the Boston Celtics but whose daughter played this
season with Givens' AAU team. "Jack is a friend. He's a religious
guy, a family guy. I'm just praying this is not true. The news
really shook me up."
Longtime broadcast partner David Steele - who also has worked
15 seasons with the Magic - was in Houston when informed of
Givens' arrest Monday night. Like everyone else, it shocked him.
"Jack is like a brother to me. I love him," Steele said. "It
felt like someone punched me in the stomach when I heard."
Harvey and Givens have spent countless hours together on the
golf course - and with each other's family. Every year, the two
drive to Gainesville together to watch Florida play Kentucky
in basketball.
"I've got a picture of Jack and his daughter's team on the
wall of my office," Harvey said. "Some of the girls on the team
worked at the charity golf tournament. Right now, I just don't
buy what I'm hearing."
Ky58
star Jack Givens yesterday expressed shock and disbelief at the news
of Givens' arrest in Florida on charges of molesting a 14-year-old
girl.
Givens, 47, who was released from jail in Orlando, Fla., yesterday
on $25,000 bond, declared that he is innocent.
"That is absolutely not true," he told reporters. "Nothing happened.
My character and my reputation speak for itself."
Givens, a Lexington native and an All-American on UK's 1978 NCAA
championship team, was arrested at his Orlando home late Monday on
charges of sexual battery and lewd molestation of a 14-year-old girl,
according to the Orange County Sheriff's office. Deputies also seized
a computer at his home.
According to an arrest affidavit, the alleged incidents took
place June 18 at the girl's home. Givens went there to give the
girl a basketball lesson, the document said.
The girl pulled away from Givens when he touched her in the
swimming pool and later when he came into the girl's bedroom
where she had gone to change her clothes, the affidavit said.
The girl's grandmother, who was at the home, called the girl's
mother twice at her work to report what she thought was inappropriate
behavior in the swimming pool and later called the girl out of her
bedroom out of concern for her well-being, the affidavit said.
Later that day, Givens sent an instant message by computer to the
girl, stating that he had "used bad judgment," according to the
affidavit.
A week after the alleged battery, Givens told the girl in a telephone
conversation monitored by detectives, "Whatever I did that was wrong...
in your mind, I'm very, very sorry...This is very serious so we might
just need to talk to your parents about it," the affidavit said.
Givens has been a popular color commentator for the NBA's Orlando
Magic since the late 1980s, and also has worked as a basketball analyst
\for various TV networks, including Turner Sports, Jefferson Pilot, NBC
and ESPN. He and his wife, Linda, have two teenage children.
Former teammates were stunned yesterday to hear of his arrest.
"It took my breath away," said Kevin Grevey, another former UK star
who was a senior on UK's 1975 NCAA finalist team. Givens was a freshman
on that team. Grevey said he and Givens have remained close and often
visit when Grevey is in Orlando on business. Givens and his wife Linda
were introduced to each by Grevey.
"There's no better people than Jack Givens, that's for sure," Grevey
said. "All I know is what I read in the paper. We just hope that this
is all a mistake or an error."
Rick Robey, who starred with Givens on the 1978 team, also said he
couldn't believe the news of Givens' arrest.
"When I found out, it was a total shock to me," Robey said. "I haven't
seen Jack in four or five years. But he's always been such a level-headed
person, not someone who does drugs or drinks or anything.
"He's not that type of person. It was totally surprising to me. But,
no matter what, I'm afraid he's pretty much ruined."
Magic spokesman Joel Glass said the team wouldn't comment on the
arrest.
"The matter is in the hands of the proper authorities and we are
concerned for everyone involved," Glass said in a statement.
Givens starred at Bryan Station High School before going on to
UK, where he played from 1974-78. He was the first African-American
basketball player to become an All-American at UK, and he still ranks
as the third-leading scorer in UK men's basketball. During UK's 100th
basketball season in 2001-02, a panel of experts voted him one of
the school's top 10 players of all time.
Jason Williams
months shy of 40 -- don't get in ANY situation with a teenage girl where an
accusation like this could come out. Why, why, why we he go swimming alone
with her?
Jason in Garden Grove, CA
"Ky58" <seven...@bigblue.org> wrote in message
news:GMGdnVdxReU...@giganews.com...
> :-(
>
> http://www.wftv.com/news/3472041/detail.html
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Hank, Sr.
Florida. So, he can move to Miami where the "Goose" can play golf with
the "Juice".
Brock Allen
do the right thing, i would suggest, '' erasing all Jack Givens records
and forfeit all games mr Givens participated in''. At least success
their ''1978''titile. Sounds like the proper thing to me.
Brock Allen
Brock Allen
replied, ''i don't know, i couldn't hear her with my hand over her
mouth''.