Post by vufan75 on Nov 2, 2006 7:18:58 GMT -5
From today's NW Indiana Times:
Putting the past behind
Jailed last summer and charged with misdemeanor theft, former VU basketball player Jimmie Miles looks at life differently now that he has a family
CHICAGO | The remorse in his voice is evident as Jimmie Miles looks down lovingly at his 3-month-old son, Cameron Jermaine, in the arms of his wife, Leah.
The former Valparaiso University basketball player appears to be a changed man.
If nothing else, Miles' life has undergone a dramatic change since the middle of last July when he was jailed and charged with misdemeanor theft after being accused of picking up and delivering packages of fraudulently obtained cellular phones.
Suspended from the team following his arrest, Miles transferred in late summer to Robert Morris College, an NAIA power in Chicago.
"The whole experience gave me a different perspective,'' Miles said following an exhibition loss on Tuesday at Loyola. "I look at life differently now. I'm a father now, so I have to. I've got to take care of my family and provide for my son. I've just got to keep working hard and stay right.''
Miles, who was married June 10, said he learned a valuable lesson from getting mixed up with the wrong crowd.
"I learned that all money isn't good money, and I learned that people who say they're your friends aren't necessarily really your friends,'' he said. "I learned you have to pick and choose your friends more wisely. I learned that it's my fault that I made the decisions I made, and I have to live with it.''
The case against Miles still has to be resolved. He has a Nov. 28 court hearing with Porter Superior Court Judge David Chidester.
Robert Morris coach Al Bruehl -- who's known Miles since the guard was a sophomore at Rich Central High School -- claims he did some checking and decided to give Miles an opportunity to play for the Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NAIA poll and by Street and Smith's Magazine.
"We saw him play in high school and with AAU and city teams,'' Bruehl said. "You don't ever think you're going to get a guy like that. Jimmie is a good kid and comes from a good family. He's sorry for what he did. I think everyone makes mistakes, but I think it's important to learn from those mistakes, and I believe he's done that.
"I think he'll be a good fit for our program. As long as he stays on the right track, he'll be fine. If there are any problems, he'll be gone.''
Bruehl is sure Miles can help make the Eagles even better than they were a year ago, when they finished 31-4 and reached the NAIA Fab Four for the second straight season.
"Jimmie has been well-coached,'' Bruehl said. "He has a real good understanding of the game. He's easy to coach and makes good decisions. He has the ability to score and plays good defense.''
Miles started at shooting guard for the Eagles in a 71-67 exhibition loss to the host Ramblers, finishing with eight points, six assists, three rebounds and a steal in 31 minutes.
His departure from Valpo was something Valparaiso coach Homer Drew, director of athletics Mark LaBarbera and Miles said "was mutually agreed upon.''
"When it came down to it, the best decision for me was to transfer,'' Miles said.
The former Crusader still stays in contact with Drew.
After practice a couple days ago, Miles found a message on his cell phone from Drew.
"There are no hard feelings between us,'' Miles said. "I keep in contact with him, and he keeps in contact with me. Coach wished me all the best. He asked me how everything in my life was going. It made me feel real good that he still cares about me.''
Drew plans on keeping in touch with Miles as much as possible.
"We're still very close,'' Drew said. "I talk to him about every couple weeks. Jimmie is still part of our family, even though it did not work out for him to finish his career here.''
Putting the past behind
Jailed last summer and charged with misdemeanor theft, former VU basketball player Jimmie Miles looks at life differently now that he has a family
CHICAGO | The remorse in his voice is evident as Jimmie Miles looks down lovingly at his 3-month-old son, Cameron Jermaine, in the arms of his wife, Leah.
The former Valparaiso University basketball player appears to be a changed man.
If nothing else, Miles' life has undergone a dramatic change since the middle of last July when he was jailed and charged with misdemeanor theft after being accused of picking up and delivering packages of fraudulently obtained cellular phones.
Suspended from the team following his arrest, Miles transferred in late summer to Robert Morris College, an NAIA power in Chicago.
"The whole experience gave me a different perspective,'' Miles said following an exhibition loss on Tuesday at Loyola. "I look at life differently now. I'm a father now, so I have to. I've got to take care of my family and provide for my son. I've just got to keep working hard and stay right.''
Miles, who was married June 10, said he learned a valuable lesson from getting mixed up with the wrong crowd.
"I learned that all money isn't good money, and I learned that people who say they're your friends aren't necessarily really your friends,'' he said. "I learned you have to pick and choose your friends more wisely. I learned that it's my fault that I made the decisions I made, and I have to live with it.''
The case against Miles still has to be resolved. He has a Nov. 28 court hearing with Porter Superior Court Judge David Chidester.
Robert Morris coach Al Bruehl -- who's known Miles since the guard was a sophomore at Rich Central High School -- claims he did some checking and decided to give Miles an opportunity to play for the Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NAIA poll and by Street and Smith's Magazine.
"We saw him play in high school and with AAU and city teams,'' Bruehl said. "You don't ever think you're going to get a guy like that. Jimmie is a good kid and comes from a good family. He's sorry for what he did. I think everyone makes mistakes, but I think it's important to learn from those mistakes, and I believe he's done that.
"I think he'll be a good fit for our program. As long as he stays on the right track, he'll be fine. If there are any problems, he'll be gone.''
Bruehl is sure Miles can help make the Eagles even better than they were a year ago, when they finished 31-4 and reached the NAIA Fab Four for the second straight season.
"Jimmie has been well-coached,'' Bruehl said. "He has a real good understanding of the game. He's easy to coach and makes good decisions. He has the ability to score and plays good defense.''
Miles started at shooting guard for the Eagles in a 71-67 exhibition loss to the host Ramblers, finishing with eight points, six assists, three rebounds and a steal in 31 minutes.
His departure from Valpo was something Valparaiso coach Homer Drew, director of athletics Mark LaBarbera and Miles said "was mutually agreed upon.''
"When it came down to it, the best decision for me was to transfer,'' Miles said.
The former Crusader still stays in contact with Drew.
After practice a couple days ago, Miles found a message on his cell phone from Drew.
"There are no hard feelings between us,'' Miles said. "I keep in contact with him, and he keeps in contact with me. Coach wished me all the best. He asked me how everything in my life was going. It made me feel real good that he still cares about me.''
Drew plans on keeping in touch with Miles as much as possible.
"We're still very close,'' Drew said. "I talk to him about every couple weeks. Jimmie is still part of our family, even though it did not work out for him to finish his career here.''