Lawrence Phillips dead at 40

[lou v]

I had a feeling that the next time we heard Phillips' name would be in a story about his death.

A very sad life comes to a very sad end. I still regard him as one of the greatest college running backs I've ever seen. He was big, strong and fast, but he couldn't outrun his past. What a tortured soul.

Phillips found dead in prison

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

Good riddance.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Sad story. Have to wonder if sequelae from the concussions he likely experienced playing football at Nebraska and/or elsewhere were a trigger for his anger management issues that led to his criminal conduct. There certainly does not seem to be anything premeditated about any of his crimes.

 

[Hungry Jack]

IIRC, he has been in trouble since his adolescence. He was a foster child. Without knowing much beyond that, I only wonder about the effects of a child growing up without a stable home, an engaged father, and parental love. Maybe he did have these things, though my suspicion is that he did not, and that it played a role in his eventual decline.

Before my son was born, I studied the role of parenting and the critical need for engagement during the early years. The parents set the tone for the child's life early, and their engagement impacts how the brain develops. It was very moving to learn of this before my son was born, and prompted me to change my career plans a bit.

I can only hope that Phillips is in a better place.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

who knows what went on in his mind.
After watching Concussion, it isnt out of the question to do an autopsy to check on some things.

 

[lou v]

IIRC, he has been in trouble since his adolescence. He was a foster child. Without knowing much beyond that, I only wonder about the effects of a child growing up without a stable home, an engaged father, and parental love. Maybe he did have these things, though my suspicion is that he did not, and that it played a role in his eventual decline.

Before my son was born, I studied the role of parenting and the critical need for engagement during the early years. The parents set the tone for the child's life early, and their engagement impacts how the brain develops. It was very moving to learn of this before my son was born, and prompted me to change my career plans a bit.

I can only hope that Phillips is in a better place.

Here's a great story about Phillips by former SI writer Lars Anderson, written last year, after Phillips' cell mate was found dead. It spans 20 years and talks about Phillips' troubled upbringing and many arrests and off the field issues. I encourage everyone to read it. A sad, tragic tale...

Phillips' demons beat his angels

 

[Hungry Jack]

Here's a great story about Phillips by former SI writer Lars Anderson, written last year, after Phillips' cell mate was found dead. It spans 20 years and talks about Phillips' troubled upbringing and many arrests and off the field issues. I encourage everyone to read it. A sad, tragic tale...

Phillips' demons beat his angels

"He was basically abandoned by his mom, and his dad wasn't around, so that caused a lot of anger in Lawrence"

As a son and a father, this breaks my heart. Truly does. This is terrible way to go through early childhood and adolescence.

I am imagining two persons inside of Phillips: the child who still wants to love and be loved, and the angry man who could never come to grips with his own sense of loss, pain and impaired self-esteem.

I truly believe that pretty much all of us have a choice in who we become. I don't have a lot of sympathy for alcoholics, drug addicts and the like. And I am particularly scornful of otherwise able people who claim to be victims of situations where they did have a choice, and made a bad one.

But the Phillips story makes me feel much more pity and sadness than scorn. 40 years and I don't think he ever rested or felt truly at peace. I hope he is resting peacefully now. I think he is.

 

[SockpuppetCat]

Good riddance.

That's pretty harsh...

 

[Hungry Jack]

That's pretty harsh...

I get the sentiment. Phillips was a monster to several people as an adult. He could not cope with his own anger--with very serious consequences. He needed to be in prison.

But his story reinforces what I learned about early childhood, and how tragic it is when kids grow up like this.

 

[willycat]

I get the sentiment. Phillips was a monster to several people as an adult. He could not cope with his own anger--with very serious consequences. He needed to be in prison.

But his story reinforces what I learned about early childhood, and how tragic it is when kids grow up like this.

The fact that Nebraska coach Osborne let his illegal actions slide because he was needed to win games, surely also led to his decline. To bad.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

He was a despicable person, who's horrific actions were allowed to slide by selfish enablers because he was good at football. Osbourne should be ashamed of himself for letting him back on the team after he dragged a girl by her hair up a staircase.

At least our tax money won't go his direction any longer...

 

[Cat In The Cradle]

He ruined many lives, including his own.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

That's pretty harsh...

Good. Then I was clear.

But you're right, I should probably give him a second chance.

 

[Hungry Jack]

The fact that Nebraska coach Osborne let his illegal actions slide because he was needed to win games, surely also led to his decline. To bad.

It certainly reinforces bad behaviors when young adults are not held accountable and do not suffer the consequences of poor choices. I just wonder if it would have impacted Phillips significantly. He might have learned enough from being held accountable to control his impulses, but given the repeated nature of his events, I think his problem required much more than life lessons in accountability. He really needed intensive counseling to teach him to cope with his sense of loss and pain.

Wrassler knows a thing or two about this stuff.

I don't feel bad for Phillips the adult. As I noted, he's probably finally at peace. I mourn for Phillips the child, and any child who has suffered parental neglect and abandonment. I honestly think it might be one of the worst things that can happen because it leaves a lifelong legacy that can be destructive.