From an article called 'Ten Questions with Steven Coleman', Oct. 20th, 2008-


What is the best advice you're ever received?
It's pretty simple: Don't do drugs. That stuff can only hurt your chances of accomplishing your long-term goals.


oh, irony.


http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/10200...

How do we know this was totally his decision to quit the team?  Once the recordings were released for download his destiny was written.   

 

I highly doubt the nation’s second ranked party school would allow a star student athlete of a highly visible program to actively promote illegal drug use with profanity laced rhetoric. 

 

Once this music hit the internet; I don’t see how he had any other option but leave. 

very true, this has actually been out for a couple months, so this decision likely has been made for a while, we are just seeing it now. 

How many of us actually know this kid?  It's disturbing that we all jump to conclusions about him with out hearing his side of the story.  Of course Groce acts blindsided but they have beeen acting funny towards him for a while now when all he needed was support.  There is no need to pass judgement on him at all.  He is one of those kids who is good at whatever he tries, so why not support him? If it doesnt work out I'm sure he'll figure something out and be productive in whatever he chooses.  However, if any of you were really up to date on modern music, you probably would appreciate it a lot more, but it isn't your style.  He doesn't pass judgement on your likes or dislikes so why do that to him?  He gave Ohio U everything he had and was still always in question, so if he chose to move on why not just accept it and support him?  Four pageso f blogs is a little much damn

Steve's twitter says "hi" to us.

http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/main.asp?SectionID=1&s...

Is this giving it all he's got for Ohio University?

If I had a group of random old men talking about me and the decisions I made when I was a 20yr old at OU I'd be giving y'all the one-finger salute too. I hope Steve realizes that a) don't listen to the music critics on a sports message board, most of these dudes aren't your target market anyways and b) as odd as it may seem, we're venting our frustration with your decision because we actually care, even if we don't know you personally.

Now, we may be a little selfish about why we care about your decision, we're big fans of Bobcat Basketball and we were really excited about watching you win games for us for the next 3yrs, but that's what fans do. And also know that most of us are on here because we're proud graduates of OHIO and hope for the best for anyone associated with our alma mater, past or present.

Although I don't agree with your decision, its not mine to make. Best of luck to you and good luck with your music career, when you put out a CD I'll buy one.

A number if us did - Sad it was so easy to see it happening.

I disagree. Is this a big loss? Sure. But guard is a position we are very healthy at right now and there are lots of capable guys willing to step in. If he was a big then I'd be a little more concerned but the fact is that Johnson and younger Kellogg are highly touted guards who are going to play at a high level. Also Freeman and now Sayles are going to add experience to the freshmen. This could also possibly open up an opportunity for Hall this year as well. The situation sucks and shouldn't have happened but all in all this isn't a reason to not expect this is going to be a top 3 team in the MAC at the least this coming season.

You know what? I kinda am. Takes guts to give up opportunities to pursue other opportunities. 

The only thing I have against Stevie Fresh is him using the word Fresh in his name. As far as I am concerned, there is only one Fresh, and that's Doug E. Fresh. He's the true star of The Show. By using the name of the innovator, you come across as a perpetrator. Word.

Take this how you may, but I have a few students from the Space Coast who are familiar with $tevie Fre$h.

Alright Steve, I know you're reading this stuff so don't get mad that I've decided to say somethin, cuz I'm just tryin to defend you a little bit.

You all seriously need to give the guy a break. I understand that you're upset because you felt he was a talented kid and he could have really helped your team this season, but you also need to realize that if his heart wasn't in playing basketball for OU, or any college for that matter, wouldn't it be best for him to choose to head out and do his own thing? I am a friend of Steve's and I support him in his decision to leave the program, whether I am happy about it or not. All of you condemning his music need to understand a few things first:

1) He isn't targeting the majority of you on here, as most of you are probably older males in at least your 30s.
2) He actually has some pretty good stuff on his mix tape, which if you listen to the whole thing, is actually pretty  eye-opening when it comes to what he has gone through in his life. I have known Steve for a little over 7 years now and he isn't exactly the type that shares really anything that is going on with his personal life, so while I knew a little bit about him and his past, some of these songs towards the end were pretty deep and actually pretty good.
3) I do agree with some of you in that I wish he would have thought he could continue to play basketball while still pursuing his music dreams, because he is a damn good ball player and I have seen some of the amazing and somewhat effortless things he can do on the basketball court first hand. Kid is extremely talented and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if he wants to continue to play ball sometime down the road in Europe, he will definitely be able to achieve that goal.

To jump all over the kid and criticize his music is kind of childish though, don't you think? Especially when, as many of you have admitted, it isn't your particular brand of music. This really is his first mixtape and while there are a bunch of references to things on there that I think he could do without, there is still some really good material on it.  If you want to listen to it with an open mind and not judge him based on the cover of his CD he made or the first song you listened to for 20 seconds, try listening to his songs "The Family" or "Hard Times". I personally have turned his "M.V.P" song into a ringtone for when he texts/calls me. There is some really good stuff in there.

Like I said, I wish he would've chose to come back to OU and continue to show the world his talent on the basketball floor, but if he chose to pursue his dream of making music, why should that really be any of your business or concern? If a kid left the program because he felt like he had a job opportunity doing something else he didn't need a degree for and he felt that he might be able to make some money doing it, would you all have jumped all over him like you have to Steve?

Steven Coleman is my friend and I will not let people come on some basketball forum and rip him based on pure conjecture. I don't have all of the details and I especially know that none of you have all of them, so wish him luck on his pursuit in finding what he deems more important in life and move on.
 

To all of you that haven't ripped him and have wished him luck, thank you for not judging my friend and wishing him well. He appreciates it.