Josh Howard, Where Have You Gone?

Josh Howard has had quite a year. Let me get this staright…after admitting to smoking weed, throwing a party on the night before a playoff game, getting arrested for going 94 mph in a 55 mph zone, and then complaining about getting negative press at a charity softball game, Josh was caught on camcorder saying this while the national anthem was being played at a charity flag football game: “The Star Spangled Banner’s going on right now, and I don’t celebrate that s***. I’m black.” GD Obama and all that s***.” This is on YouTube however I didn’t want to post it because of the language used.

What is going on with Josh Howard? Does anyone seem to know? Has he always been this troubled and we are just finding out now? What is with this implosion that has gone on the past 6 months? Honestly, Howard was one of my favorite players until all this foolishness.

I’ve been a supporter of Howards during all this. I’ve said that he’s not a bad guy…maybe misguided, but not a bad guy. He hasn’t been accused of sexual assault. He hasn’t been involved in any shooting. And to tell the truth, I didn’t necessarily think it was appropriate for a reporter to ask him questions about his admitted marijuana use at a charity softball game in ear shot of kids. However, it’s getting increasingly difficult to defend Josh if he can’t keep himself out of the news

This is how I would like to think of Josh Howard:




And I still think this is one of the funniest moments captured on YouTube where former Mavs coach Avery Johnson inadvertently slaps Howard…in an area no man wants to be slapped:




There is still an incredible basketball player within Josh Howard and the Mavs/Rick Carlisle hope they can bring that back to the fore front. In fact, they’re betting on it. At this point, it’s a gamble because if they can’t get that back out of him and he plays like he played the second half of the season last year, they’re going be on the hook for not trading him to the Sad Sac Kings for Ron Artest (which I still can’t believe went to Houston…). Here’s hoping the Mavs don’t crap out on this Howard gamble. If they do, it could be a really long year for the Mavs.