Good, sad piece giving context on Valero tragedy

[dondada]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/othe ... venezuela/

Drugs, self-destruction and the old tale of people looking the other way...

[dondada]

I know we tend to cannonise the dead over here but F me, Valero sounded a right tool. Sure, he was from a poor background but he had fought his way out of that background and should have been able to maintain. 'I grew up in poverty and don't know any better' is not much of a defence.

Have you seen 'The Wire', Tel?

The tale of Marlo would interest you. It might not be much of a defence but I do think it's true on occasions. Not necessarily here, mind - taking coke all the time and drinking could make you a c*nt wherever you're from.

[dondada]

I know we tend to cannonise the dead over here but F me, Valero sounded a right tool. Sure, he was from a poor background but he had fought his way out of that background and should have been able to maintain. 'I grew up in poverty and don't know any better' is not much of a defence.

Have you seen 'The Wire', Tel?

The tale of Marlo would interest you. It might not be much of a defence but I do think it's true on occasions. Not necessarily here, mind - taking coke all the time and drinking could make you a c*nt wherever you're from.

Marlo didn't touch the stuff as far as I recall. He sold it and didn't so much as smoke. Bubs was the fiend and recall Wey Bey doing some coke and then gang buggering that girl to death in season one.

Ha ha. No mate, I just meant right at the end when he had effectively got away with it all, had plenty of money, all he had to do was stay out of the ghetto and the associated sh1t and he just couldn't manage it.

[Autobarn]

I know we tend to cannonise the dead over here but F me, Valero sounded a right tool. Sure, he was from a poor background but he had fought his way out of that background and should have been able to maintain. 'I grew up in poverty and don't know any better' is not much of a defence.

Have you seen 'The Wire', Tel?

The tale of Marlo would interest you. It might not be much of a defence but I do think it's true on occasions. Not necessarily here, mind - taking coke all the time and drinking could make you a c*nt wherever you're from.

is that the show created/written by david mamet?

[dondada]

I know we tend to cannonise the dead over here but F me, Valero sounded a right tool. Sure, he was from a poor background but he had fought his way out of that background and should have been able to maintain. 'I grew up in poverty and don't know any better' is not much of a defence.

Have you seen 'The Wire', Tel?

The tale of Marlo would interest you. It might not be much of a defence but I do think it's true on occasions. Not necessarily here, mind - taking coke all the time and drinking could make you a c*nt wherever you're from.

is that the show created/written by david mamet?

Nope, David Simon. I've got the lot (whole five series - or 'seasons' as Terry the Yankee calls them). Not the type of thing I'd watch again but fantastic first time around. Mind, you have to stick with it for the first few episodes as it's a slow burner.

[J]

im on season 3 at them moment , its great.

[Matt W]

I watched all 5 'seasons' this year. Fantastic. Especially seasons 3 & 4.

I try not to be judgmental of people but do sometimes balk at the apologists for the behaviour of some people, like Valero, Tyson to name a couple. They had tough upbringings but they also created for themselves opportunities that few are fortunate enough to have. Ultimately they are responsible for the choices they made as adults, including who they choose to associate with and what they choose to abuse their bodies with.

I'm not in any way downplaying how hard alcohol and drug dependency are to break but they have the means to get the help that few people can afford.

[Matt W]

Having said all of that, the Marlo observation is spot on.