Walter Sharpe shot in Birmingham

[TideRoller]

From the Breaking News Section of the Birmingham News:

Sharpe Shot

"Ex-Parker, MSU basketball player injured in shooting
A former Parker High School standout and Mississippi State basketball player was shot in Birmingham today.

Police found Walter Sharpe, 19, sitting on a curb outside the gates at Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens on Cotton Avenue just after 1 p.m. with a gunshot wound in the lower left abdomen. Sharpe was sitting up and talking to police, after he initially denied he’d been shot.

Authorities said that while his injuries didn’t appear life threatening, the nature of his wound — a small caliber bullet still inside him — could quickly change.

Sharpe, a college sophomore, was kicked off the Mississippi State roster this season after a series of suspensions for team rule violations which included missed practices and classes, repeated tardiness and a missed team flight to a game in California.

The shooting is under investigation. Sharpe told police he was in Loveman Village public housing community when he heard gunfire and started to run. He said he ran as far as he could, which was more than a half mile, before he stopped and police found him.

Officers who were told to be on the lookout for a gunshot victim saw and questioned him. He was holding his left arm over the wound, and had it covered with a bloody towel.

When paramedics arrived, Sharpe tried to stand up and said, “I’m OK.” Paramedics said, “No you’re not,” and ordered him to sit back down until the ambulance arrived. He was taken to UAB Hospital."

Didn't we have a UAB fan on this site actually proclaiming Walter Sharpe as a positive addition to UAB? Walter will be lucky to be alive in a few years...

[BamaMan34]

That is unfortunate and not to make light of the situation but how could he possibly be eligible to play anywhere next year considering his shaky academic record and hanging out in Birminigham on a Monday afternoon?

[BEATtutorsee]

	Quote:	TideRoller
	Didn't we have a UAB fan on this site actually proclaiming Walter Sharpe as a positive addition to UAB? Walter will be lucky to be alive in a few years...

Yes we did, and I agree with you, with his past history I don't see how he'd be a positive addition to any program. People can change, but he hasn't shown a willingness to change as of yet.

[TIDE-HSV]

if you remember my reply - "take Sharpe and Keeling..." Sharpe's recruitment became such a tawdry circus that Bama withdrew fairly early, although NCAA rules prevent making that a public announcement - sometimes, you really wish that that an announcement could be made. Long after Bama had decided we didn't want to be a part of the picture, the Bulldogs were crowing (well, "arfing-arfing,") about how they had stolen a prize recruit right out from under our noses. I remember reading that terminology and thinking "that's not that far off...." Seriously, I hope the kid can get his life put back together. It doesn't look god for him...

[POWERLINEMAN42]

Sharpe may be trouble but just because he was hanging out and got shot doesnt mean he's trouble. Grew up in a housing project and had been shot at a few times and I wasnt even doing anything

[TIDE-HSV]

a whole lot more to the Sharpe saga. In fact, there's a lot to be read between the lines of this incident, if you want to read the account closely...

[bamablood6]

I played some basketball in Loveman village years ago when I was growing up and it was not a nice place back in 1984/85 so I cant imagine what it is like now( I have basically been gone since 1990 from the state other than to visit family and BAMA). But back then I always had a basketball and would travel anywhere to play regardless of what anyone thought. To say the least I was not welcome until I threw a couple dunks down and bombed a few long distance shots form the parking lot. Luckily I didnt get shot---but I think a few guys wanted to take some shots at me.

[TIDE-HSV]

years ago, the guys (lilly white, except for one guy) I was playing with were playing at the Dallas St. armory gym here, a city facility within walking distance of some of the projects. One Thursday, nobody called me to tell me we weren't playing. Only I showed. To my surprise, I got chosen to play, based on my jumper, I guess. I made a couple of steals (the PG on the other team, an AAU team, had a habit of sort of hanging the ball out to the side, when he'd start a drive - each steal, his coach was on the sideline yelling "Don't let him do that to you!"). One one steal, I got out front, but a taller guy was catching up to me. I went up as if to lay it up and passed behind my back to my trailer. Instead of taking it in, he looked shocked and stopped and made a weak little jump shot, missing. When we finished, I started looking a little more closely at the style of play. Nobody passed off. It was like a point of honor or something to take the ball to the hoop, no matter how many people in the way. No wonder he looked shocked...