Larry Sanders

[GooooMarquette]

Not surprising, but sad to hear.  Hope he gets things sorted out.  Depression sucks.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12380418/larry-sanders-says-received-treatment-anxiety-depression

[Eldon]

Here's another, longer article

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/larry-sanders-explains-his-exit-from-the-nba---right-now-------it-s-not-there-for-me-181808329.html

[Groin_pull]

Here's another, longer article

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/larry-sanders-explains-his-exit-from-the-nba---right-now-------it-s-not-there-for-me-181808329.html

"It" wasn't there for him...but you know what was? A fat NBA buyout. Must be nice to get paid millions to go away.

[brandx]

"It" wasn't there for him...but you know what was? A fat NBA buyout. Must be nice to get paid millions to go away.

Ah.... so he only got depressed to game the system. 

[Groin_pull]

Ah.... so he only got depressed to game the system. 

You know what's really depressing? People who struggle with depression and aren't afforded the luxury of a golden parachute. Sanders was paid millions to play a little boys game...then paid millions more to go away when he completely failed to live up to his obligations.

[GooooMarquette]

You know what's really depressing? People who struggle with depression and aren't afforded the luxury of a golden parachute. Sanders was paid millions to play a little boys game...then paid millions more to go away when he completely failed to live up to his obligations.

It is depressing when people can't afford to get the treatment they need.  But that still doesn't justify ripping a guy who struggles with depression and does happen to have money.  

If you're depressed, life sucks.  And no amount of money makes you feel better.

[Markusquette]

It is depressing when people can't afford to get the treatment they need.  But that still doesn't justify ripping a guy who struggles with depression and does happen to have money.  

If you're depressed, life sucks.  And no amount of money makes you feel better.

Absolutely.  If anything, I respect Larry for this decision.  It shows he isn't all about money and wants to pursue some more enriching hobbies to make him happier.  I've met/worked with Sanders in person and he's a really nice, soft-spoken guy.

[wadesworld]

Absolutely.  If anything, I respect Larry for this decision.  It shows he isn't all about money and wants to pursue some more enriching hobbies to make him happier.  I've met/worked with Sanders in person and he's a really nice, soft-spoken guy.

Sorry, but the guy made $23 million to play 50 games.  That doesn't exactly fit the "it's not all about the money" bill.

[JWags85]

Sorry, but the guy made $23 million to play 50 games.  That doesn't exactly fit the "it's not all about the money" bill.

If he got cancer, it went into remission, and he chose to step away from basketball to paint, take up the cello, live by the shore to put less stress on his body and improve his overall health so the cancer didn't return, would you have the same take?

The man has a condition, just because he has a gift that allows him to be paid well with guaranteed contracts doesn't change that.  If you quit a 9 to 5 to deal with a condition but had the option to receive all the salary you would have made in the next 2 years, would you forgo it?

And for the record, I think he handled himself unprofessionally many times in his Bucks career and think he is very fortunate to be able to have the freedom to battle his illness in the ways that he can, but I don't begrudge him his illness or accepting the money from a guaranteed contract.

[Skitch]

The people who have a problem with the fact that he walked away with all that money need to focus their anger on the system that allowed it to happen.  The NBA and NBAPA allowed it.

[wadesworld]

If he got cancer, it went into remission, and he chose to step away from basketball to paint, take up the cello, live by the shore to put less stress on his body and improve his overall health so the cancer didn't return, would you have the same take?

The man has a condition, just because he has a gift that allows him to be paid well with guaranteed contracts doesn't change that.  If you quit a 9 to 5 to deal with a condition but had the option to receive all the salary you would have made in the next 2 years, would you forgo it?

And for the record, I think he handled himself unprofessionally many times in his Bucks career and think he is very fortunate to be able to have the freedom to battle his illness in the ways that he can, but I don't begrudge him his illness or accepting the money from a guaranteed contract.

I'm glad Larry is seeking out the treatment he needs to beat an illness.  I'm also glad his lawyer wrote a nice script for him to read and that his agent found someone to make a good professional video and a website that would share it with the public in order to make Larry look like the victim.  I'm just not going to say this proves that Larry isn't all about the money and that it proves that Larry isn't at fault.  Larry didn't walk away from being a millionaire.  He played 50 games and makes $23 million for it.  I wish I was in the position to take $23 million and walk away being "not all about the money."  Larry's issues go well beyond anxiety and depression and they have for a long time.  He wasn't welcome back at VCU.  Depression and anxiety didn't cause him to punch someone in a club that resulted in a broken hand, requiring surgery.

I know a number of people who battle depression and still get up and go to work every day.  Everybody fights battles in life.  I'm not saying every case of depression is the same or everybody's battles are the same, but to say that Larry's decision to "settle" for $23 million is admirable is simply something I disagree with.  I hope he finds his own inner peace, just like I hope that for everyone.

[reinko]

I'm glad Larry is seeking out the treatment he needs to beat an illness.  I'm also glad his lawyer wrote a nice script for him to read and that his agent found someone to make a good professional video and a website that would share it with the public in order to make Larry look like the victim.  I'm just not going to say this proves that Larry isn't all about the money and that it proves that Larry isn't at fault.  Larry didn't walk away from being a millionaire.  He played 50 games and makes $23 million for it.  I wish I was in the position to take $23 million and walk away being "not all about the money."  Larry's issues go well beyond anxiety and depression and they have for a long time.  He wasn't welcome back at VCU.  Depression and anxiety didn't cause him to punch someone in a club that resulted in a broken hand, requiring surgery.

I know a number of people who battle depression and still get up and go to work every day.  Everybody fights battles in life.  I'm not saying every case of depression is the same or everybody's battles are the same, but to say that Larry's decision to "settle" for $23 million is admirable is simply something I disagree with.  I hope he finds his own inner peace, just like I hope that for everyone.

Ummm, last time I checked Larry was not forced to sign the contract.  Methinks the Bucks took a calculated risk on a known guy with problems, and they crapped out.

[wadesworld]

Ummm, last time I checked Larry was not forced to sign the contract.  Methinks the Bucks took a calculated risk on a known guy with problems, and they crapped out.

Agreed.  I hated the deal from day 1.  It was a joke.  Even if he had no risks involved whatsoever, he was nowhere near worth $11 million/year.  But he "wanted" to be here, so hey, let's build our franchise around the equivalent of Juan Anderson (if you take away all the character issues).

[4everwarriors]

Ummm, last time I checked Larry was not forced to sign the contract.  Methinks the Bucks took a calculated risk on a known guy with problems, and they crapped out.

That's what a franchise does when they're desparate, hasn't done their due diligence, or pretends problems don't exist or will go away.

[JWags85]

I know a number of people who battle depression and still get up and go to work every day.  Everybody fights battles in life.  I'm not saying every case of depression is the same or everybody's battles are the same, but to say that Larry's decision to "settle" for $23 million is admirable is simply something I disagree with.  I hope he finds his own inner peace, just like I hope that for everyone.

For the record, I never called the "settling", for $$, admirable.  Rather him facing his problems head on, especially something as misunderstood as depression.  As I said before, most people facing depression are not fortunate enough to set their lives on hold to get the treatment/take action the way that someone like Sanders can.  Again, this is the fault of the current structure of the NBA, not him.  You can have a job you love that you do and its "not about the money", but you aren't gonna do it for free as a result. 

He's had his issues, but I'm not gonna hold any of this recent activity against him.

[4everwarriors]

I think just about the entire Sanders' story is bullchit. Rumors are out there a plenty includin' harder drug use. He's got 23 million reasons to play the victim card, ai na?

[MU82]

I thought this was going to be about the old HBO show with Garry Shandling.

That Jeffrey Tambor was really something, eh?