Berry – I often agree with you, but I think you’re off the
mark with your comments here. You wonder why Jermaine Gresh-
am would be upset that you (and others) went public about
his arrest? Hey, if I were a kid that age and you did that
to me, I’d be a bit steamed, too. And, if he doesn’t want
to talk to the press, that is his prerogative. Some report-
ers just don’t understand that they have no absolute right
to make a person talk to them. Remember Steve Carlton? Hey,
if the guy doesn’t want to talk to you or other reporters,
he doesn’t have to. And you need to honor and respect that.

Can’t blame him. Seat belts? FRICKIN SEAT BELTS?!?!!?

Gresham is a public figure because of his position on the OU football team. Therefore, any warrant for his arrest is public business. Why? Because he blew off the law. Warrants are issued when you blow off the law. Folks in Oklahoma don’t take kindly to athletes or high-ranking officials thinking they are above the law.

I cannot believe that wearing a seat belt or not could make a warrant… I think it should only be a fine. if a person wants to endanger their life by not wearing a seat belt it should not cause a court date, just a fine owed to the city…

Actually Cindy, I have a friend that knows Gresham’s mom, and his car broke down, he took it into the shop and forgot that the ticket was in the car. He had forgotten about the ticket entirely (out of sight, out of mind… we’re all guilty of that sometimes), and by the time he remembered, it was too late. He was not being arrogant, “above the law”, or anything that you were suggesting. Just forgot. There’s nothing there to justify a witch hunt.

So, cut the guy a little slack. I go to OU and happen to know that he’s a really great guy. He’s always polite, courteous, and kind to everyone that pesters him for pictures, etc. Unfortunately, people have not given him the same benefit of the doubt in this situation that he gives to others. But, oh well. I suppose it’s bound to happen when you’re under the microscope.

Ps. This friend that told me this story is a die hard Texas fan that currently attends OSU (haaaates OU), and even she said she felt sorry for him… which is really saying something haha

It seems to be a mountain out of mole hill getting a warrent for someone because of a seat belt violation! What a waste of our government and judicial system. Let’s go after Criminals!

He’s pouting. Which is childish. Texas Fight!

I wouldn’t have paid the ticket for a seat belt violation because I feel the seat belt law is a violation of my rights. I also see no need for anybody to publish the fact that someone ignored such a stupid law. It wasn’t news when it happened, it wasn’t news when he didn’t pay. Leave the young man alone and let him play football for the best team in America.

Gresham did NOT get the warrant because of not wearing a seat belt, but because he blew off the ticket, didn’t pay it (it isn’t even a moving violation, more like an equipment ticket, such as a broken tail light.) Pay the damn ticket, kid! And to say he “forgot” about it??? Give me a damn break, he just blew it off. He is an arrogant jerk.

Wow at calling him an arrogant jerk. That’s a little harsh considering you don’t know him personally. He is actually a very nice kid and not the least bit arrogant. He is constantly showing that he has great humility about his football prowess and leadership saying that others on the team are the true leaders and stars. That doesn’t sound arrogant to me.

I think making a big deal out of the warrant for a seat belt ticket is pretty ridiculous. I can understand if he was wanted for a major crime, but making a news story out of a traffic ticket that does not involve endangering the lives of others is petty. He is a kid for Pete’s sake! Not to mention that it is already made public in the section of the newspaper that covers warrants and arrests if I am not mistaken. Do you make a story out of everyone who gets a speeding ticket and doesn’t pay it? And don’t forget all of you unforgiving types, he has a lot of other pressures on him considering he is in the spotlight more than any of us will probably ever be, and all in just a handful of years.

I agree he needs to pay his ticket but to call him an arrogant jerk seems way overboard. Not to mention it makes YOU come off as an jerk, arrogant or otherwise.

By the way, Berry, use a grammar check program, you are a major media figure and saying things like “So he may very well HAS spoken for the last time as a Sooner” reflects badly on someone who makes a living on his words.

There I type about someone’s usage and sure enough, I typo “an” instead of “a”. Thankfully my reputation does not hinge on my ability to write or type coherently, I’m in health care. Everyone knows our writing is horrible. Just very irritated at the public making such a big deal of this when we have people killing law enforcement officers and fathers killing their spouse and children and so on.

Wow, I’m going to have to agree with John. I’m not entirely sure why you are steadfast in your disguist of someone, I assume, you do not know or have probably never met. The thing that people forget on these boards is that, whether I’m right or completely wrong (and he really is an “arrogant jerk” that thinks he’s above the law), I was respectful. I didn’t make any digs at other schools or other people, didn’t curse those that disagreed with me. I simply stated what I had heard (because I know that a lot of people did not know his side of the story) in an appropriate way. So, whether I am right or wrong, at least people can respect the way I stated my opinion.

Bob, even if you are 100% right, you’re still are coming across in a very negative way. You seemed to insinuate that I was incompetent to believe the story that his mom told to a good friend of mine. I know people get personal online when it comes to college athletics, but save your digs for someone that plays that game. Otherwise, you just sound foolish.

Being a retired police officer, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on this subject. The fact that he was a football player for the University of Oklahoma, is “THE ONLY” reason he was arrested on this warrant. Normally, warrants are issued when a defendant fails to appear. “Normally”, the warrant goes into a file cabinet and the only time these type of warrants are served are if an officer comes into contact with a person who has an outstanding warrant. Basically, the warrant was served as soon as someone saw who the warrant was for. It’s a bunch of garbage for law enforcement to waste time/effort & energy to serve these type of warrants. That’s why they “Normally” don’t serve them. But in this case, they made an exception. Don’t get me wrong. He should have paid the fine and put it behind him.

Gresham is probably upset because the arrest ended up making national news, including being one of the story links on espn. Thus reflecting negatively on him and OU, and possibly affecting his draft status and $$$.
William says he is a retired officer and that this type of a warrant is usually only enforced if the subjuect encounters an officer randomly like on a subsequent traffic stop. So, THE REAL STORY is apparently about the PD. A follow up story should be done by NEWSOK. They could investigate how common it is too proactively arrest someone for not paying a seat belt ticket. And try to figure out how much the citizens ended up paying for this unnecessary and non SOP arrest. Good day Sir !