Missouri should give the boot to Clemons

The lesson Ricky Clemons is teaching the University of Missouri is that for some people, there is no rock bottom, at least not one on this earth.

Elson Floyd, president of MU, justifiably thought that a 60-day jail sentence, a one-year loss of playing privileges and widespread public scorn was rock bottom for Clemons, the Missouri basketball guard. Floyd, naively but understandably, thought there was no way Slick Ricky would lie, certainly not about the stipulations of his work-release program.

Why lie? Why risk more trouble when everybody but a few school officials, your coaches and your teammates have given up on you? When the hope of a positive tomorrow is dangling by the thinnest of threads, why not protect yourself and play by all of the rules?

It's not because Ricky is spoiled and pampered. It's not because his ability to knock down an open 20-footer has always righted wrongs.

It's because in Ricky's mind, there is no such thing as rock bottom, not when you've been a child and homeless, not when you've been betrayed by one of your childhood mentors.

Not the worst thing

Ricky Clemons has seen worse than a halfway house and public ridicule. In his mind, he has probably even seen situations worse than the one he's in now.

Last week a judge ordered Slick Ricky to report to jail within two hours of his release from the hospital, where he was recuperating from a terrible ATV accident that occurred at Floyd's home well after Ricky's work-release curfew.

Clemons has a head injury, a punctured lung, broken ribs and 42 days left on his sentence from a domestic-violence case.

He'll do all 42 of those days behind bars. No more 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. passes. And no more President Floyd family holiday dinners.

Ricky's in a tough spot. If it were you, you'd probably think you'd hit rock bottom. You'd wake up today determined to walk a tightrope of model behavior. You'd have your tail home before the streetlights came on. You'd apologize to President Floyd, Quin Snyder and your teammates for causing further embarrassment.

We have no idea what Ricky's going to do. Some people think so little of themselves that rock bottom is a casket, a life sentence or running off all the people who try to love them.

Old enough to know

You can make fun of Elson Floyd. He's a big boy; he can handle it. You can criticize him for being naive and foolish. Maybe he should have made himself aware of the details of Clemons' work release. Maybe he should have been more skeptical of Clemons' story.

But given Clemons' situation, it's understandable that Floyd would think that Clemons wouldn't lie.

I'm sorry. I'm not going to blast Floyd for reaching out and trying to show Clemons that the people of Missouri actually care about Clemons beyond his jump shot. To me, a man can't pay another man more respect than offering him a seat at his dinner table with his family.

Clemons returned Floyd's respect with a slap. Floyd is a victim. He had nothing to gain by extending Clemons a hand.

My gut reaction is that Missouri should immediately sever its ties with Clemons. He's caused enough headaches and embarrassment for 10 players. Clemons can't get away with making a fool out of the president. If he can't abide by the rules while incarcerated, he won't follow them when he's free.

It's appropriate that Missouri hold off on booting Clemons while he's in the hospital recovering. Clemons has trouble controlling his emotions. His injuries are serious.

After Clemons regains his health, his prolonged stay at Missouri will only fuel speculation that Snyder and his coaching staff are holding onto Clemons because they're afraid of what he might say during his "exit interview."

I don't buy that speculation. Missouri had an easy out when Clemons initially declared for the NBA draft following the season. The coaching staff talked Clemons out of that foolish decision.

Missouri just wants to do right by Clemons. Too bad he won't allow it.

Jason Whitlock is a columnist for the Kansas City Star.