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Im watchign the Wiz-Laker game, and the announcers started talking about Caron Butlers very troubled childhood, he was arrested and served time and the age of 15 for Drug Charges. His Uncles were into drugs and he idolized them and got in it with them in his teen years, and they were saying that his mother would visit him daily and bring him a bible in hopes of him turning his life around.

I never knew of this, and to be honest was shocked, thought this was a feel good story, and anyone else knows anything else on this feel free to post.

a little off topic, but i find it funny that Eddie Jordan and alot of his players have a straw chewing habit, chew them on the sidelines lol

He also spent time in solitary confinement, where he obviously had a bit of time to sort his thoughts. I think I remember reading an article where this is when he really got his head on straight.

his mom sounds like a real winner.

Well, it's kinda old news.

His background was a very big reason why he fell as far as he did in the 2001 draft.

Yeah man, he's even appeared on Oprah to talk about his troubled past.

I read a terrific article about Caron in Sports Illustrated a few years ago, this guy has been through a lot.

Edited to add: He also chews straws during basketball games.

Good for him to turn his life around

I knew he was busted for coke at one point and it hurt his draft position (in 2002, will) but wow. I guess it's not that much of a surprise, which is sad.

I read this in SLAM before he started his rookie season, he said that he was busted for having guns and other stuff in his locker in highschool but he said it wasent his and he didnt want to snitch on anybody so he took the blaim.

Also said how 23 hours in the cell a day can make you think a lot about things.

I remember seeing him cry on oprah, too. Dude had a rough upbringing, so it says a lot about his inner character that he's the player he is.
Watching the Wiz game today, I realized Tough Juice is my favourite player in the league.

i watched him chow down an entire straw today while they talked about him. But yea he has had it rough and is one of the real feel good stories of the nba

I first heard about his childhood years ago... and plenty of times since.

He has one of those life stories where the phrase 'basketball saved my life' really rings true.


The Raptors' own Juan Dixon had a really hard childhood as well. Both his mother and father were drug addicts, and both died of AIDS-related illnesses before Dixon was 17 years old. He was headed into the wrong direction as well until his grandparents/aunts/uncles helped.

Butler said he first got really serious about basketball after his time in jail as a teenager. He said they'd play for their desserts and he realized he was the best player and he always had the most cupcakes. Sounds like a joke, but he was serious about it.

good find, i didnt know this about caron

here's a nice clip about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArDcm1ovqYI

bigjabroni wrote:Butler said he first got really serious about basketball after his time in jail as a teenager. He said they'd play for their desserts and he realized he was the best player and he always had the most cupcakes. Sounds like a joke, but he was serious about it.

Even cupcakes is a better nickname than "Tough Juice"...

Caron is the exact player we are missing. Perhaps the most complimentary player in the L for us.

Get 'er done BC.

I knew his past was tough but my goodness, he's a real class act. This guy deserves everything that comes to him. These are the things people should look to in the NBA, not the fools and low class acts that ruin the game. There are so many people that are saved through this game and that's the beautiful thing

he was arrested and served time and the age of 15 for Drug Charges.

Wow, if he did prison time at 15 that's ridiculous!! unless ur referring to juvie

either way, I never heard of his upbringing but it now makes much more sense that he went so low in such a weak draft.

O'DEAN_MAGNUM wrote:

he was arrested and served time and the age of 15 for Drug Charges.

Wow, if he did prison time at 15 that's ridiculous!! unless ur referring to juvie

either way, I never heard of his upbringing but it now makes much more sense that he went so low in such a weak draft.

In Wisconsin where he was his offence was treated like an adult. He brought an unregistered weapon to school as a freshman, as well as 2 pounds of coke and other drugs. He was kept with other teens being treated as adults in a maximum security prison.

When he got into jail, he got in a fight with a rival gang member and that put him in solitary confinement, 23 hours a day for 40 days.