View Full Version : Ronnie Fields Arrested
Sam Hill
02-18-2007, 06:34 AM
OSC fave Fields in sex assault row:
http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=8924
I saw that, I wonder if he is going to end up off the team also. Like the coach's no nonsense policy.
Minor League Man
02-18-2007, 09:58 AM
The Skyrockets are the "CBA's Most Wanted Team," I can see.
panchess
02-18-2007, 02:03 PM
..maybe they can just wear their prison numbers as their jersey numbers from now on..
rams80
02-18-2007, 02:11 PM
Not to sound mean but....
What is there to do in Minot that can get you in so much trouble?
I've never been up there, but the Skyrockets are new to that area. Any kind of arrest that one of their players is involved in can make the news, I'm sure. I don't know what kind of interest there is for tourists, aside from the local bars, but any pro team athlete is under a microscope, since they are trying to bring in fans for their games. Publicity like this can be bad for the team, whether or not it's true. It does not matter how small or big the city is, an arrest is bad news.
Minor League Man
02-18-2007, 03:18 PM
I've never been up there, but the Skyrockets are new to that area. Any kind of arrest that one of their players is involved in can make the news, I'm sure. I don't know what kind of interest there is for tourists, aside from the local bars, but any pro team athlete is under a microscope, since they are trying to bring in fans for their games. Publicity like this can be bad for the team, whether or not it's true. It does not matter how small or big the city is, an arrest is bad news.
Do you think this would be a problem had they stayed in San Jose?
Anytime a member of a team is arrested it is bad news for that team, no matter the sport, city or team(imo). Hopefully, it's just a false accusation.
sportsguy12
02-18-2007, 05:34 PM
Anytime a member of a team is arrested it is bad news for that team, no matter the sport, city or team(imo). Hopefully, it's just a false accusation.
said he's been in trouble before with the law, although it was when he was a teenager. This time, the assault was alleged so hopefully his accusing isn't fabricating it.
panchess
02-19-2007, 09:20 AM
..in the sense that you clearly see the Skyrockets are a big deal in Minot, and as a couple people mentioned, pro athletes are always under the microscope.
The Skyrockets are clearly a big deal in Minot, and in this transitional season, Minot has been a modest success in attendance, and a good franchise in the league. That is a good thing for the CBA, except when the players are charged with crimes.
If the same thing happened in Anderson, Indiana, I think the Herald Bulletin would still ignore it in the same manner they have ignored the Alley Cats all season.
one way
02-20-2007, 12:33 PM
hey I thought that in this country a person is considered innocent until proven guilty? Let us not forget the Duke Lacrosse players- all of that was a lie and they were were put through a bunch of problems. why not let him play- look at Kobe.
I thought that too, One way. But I think our society has proven to think exactly the opposite lately, unfortunately.
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-20-2007, 09:55 PM
hey I thought that in this country a person is considered innocent until proven guilty? Let us not forget the Duke Lacrosse players- all of that was a lie and they were were put through a bunch of problems. why not let him play- look at Kobe.
Please hold that thought because didn't you just recently post the following... :shock: ?
yea, it's to bad your ownership could not stay off the FBI's most wanted list long enough to have these players still playing for Gary this winter. Sour grapes ken. Get over it. P.S. lose some weight!
You elevated Jewell Harris to the FBI's most wanted list and suggested his legal problems are the reason why the Steelheads were not playing this winter. Your suggestion is a pre-judgement much like the pre-judging you described above. I guess everyone pre-judges.
BTW, yeah--I understand the FBI's most wanted list thing was an attempt at humor. :p
dkeen1209
02-20-2007, 11:33 PM
He's no hero in my book. He's the father of my grandson yet he's never paid my daughter a dime for child support. My daughter took him to court and has the papers, but he's chosen not to pay. Now that he's unemployed again, at least for now, she'll never get anything. There's a reason he never went pro, look at his history.
sportsguy12
02-20-2007, 11:39 PM
He's no hero in my book. He's the father of my grandson yet he's never paid my daughter a dime for child support. My daughter took him to court and has the papers, but he's chosen not to pay. Now that he's unemployed again, at least for now, she'll never get anything. There's a reason he never went pro, look at his history.
Who cares about any of this?
I'm sorry to hear, dkeen1209. You're daughter deserves to be paid so I hope he can get a job, but not on the court. I don't feel that anyone with an arrest record should be playing. In my mind, he is irresponsible.
one way
02-21-2007, 09:55 AM
I do not think that he has an arrest record. secondly, I think that if we would kick out everyone in pro sports with an arrest record, you would quite surprised how many athletes would be left. Lump into that pool, tax arrests as well and you would really see the pool shrink
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-21-2007, 11:30 AM
I do not think that he has an arrest record. secondly, I think that if we would kick out everyone in pro sports with an arrest record, you would quite surprised how many athletes would be left. Lump into that pool, tax arrests as well and you would really see the pool shrink
Yes, he was arrested and convicted (two years probation) for almost the same offense while still in Chicago at the age of nineteen. That's why this incident got so much press--there's a little history here. Maybe he is back to his old ways, maybe not. There are an awful lot of prostitutes around military bases like Minot (...or so I've been told ;)). If you don't pay their asking price, then you can be in a world of trouble later (I've been told, of course).
Who knows what the real deal is!?! The bottom line is that Ronnie has got to go. Minor league clubs can't afford to alienate the communities they serve. Profit margins are already narrow enough (if profits exist at all).
Letzplayball
02-21-2007, 05:53 PM
Yes, he was arrested and convicted (two years probation) for almost the same offense while still in Chicago at the age of nineteen. That's why this incident got so much press--there's a little history here. Maybe he is back to his old ways, maybe not. There are an awful lot of prostitutes around military bases like Minot (...or so I've been told ;)). If you don't pay their asking price, then you can be in a world of trouble later (I've been told, of course).
Who knows what the real deal is!?! The bottom line is that Ronnie has got to go. Minor league clubs can't afford to alienate the communities they serve. Profit margins are already narrow enough (if profits exist at all).
Ken, I agree with you, IF he is guilty he must go. Let's not hang him yet, though. I'm not saying he's innocent, but let's see how the court rules. We've got to give every person a fair chance, just in case by some chance this has all been fabricated. It's happened before...
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-21-2007, 08:41 PM
Ken, I agree with you, IF he is guilty he must go. Let's not hang him yet, though. I'm not saying he's innocent, but let's see how the court rules. We've got to give every person a fair chance, just in case by some chance this has all been fabricated. It's happened before...
Ronnie needs to go--period! The Skyrockets can call it what they want as a face-saving measure. It can be a trade with another CBA town. It can be Ronnie leaving the team to nurse an injury. It can even be a matter of him exploring coaching options. Why should Minot open themselves up to a public relations nightmare when they don't have to? Send the problem packin' (and maybe get some value out of the deal). This is the CBA. There is no players' union contract to handcuff management.
I have to agree with Ken. There should be a 0 tolerance when it comes to a player being arrested. Athletes should stay clear of putting themselves in a position of being arrested. It is their choice and we can only hope that they make the correct one. If they don't they have to pay.
Sam Hill
02-22-2007, 07:35 AM
Revolutionizing jurisprudence there, aren't you, psbf?
I don't think so, Sam:cool:
Sam Hill
02-22-2007, 01:14 PM
Uh, yeah, I think you are.
Innocent until proven guilty, that's my motto. And it should be yours.
If we just went throwing someone off teams because they got arrested (and, let's be honest, here - regardless of past history, it's ridiculously easy for a woman to accuse a man of rape), that's not going to fly in a free society.
Convicted, absolutely. Confessed? You bet. Accused? Arrested? No, that's not the way we're going to go about it.
I'm not going to get into a battle of legal minds here. But, as I said, he should not have put himself in the position of being arrested.
I would like for our society to live by innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, we don't. People are ready to crucify someone even before a trial is granted. If you can talk some sense into society about it, I'd tip my hat to you.
Letzplayball
02-22-2007, 01:55 PM
Uh, yeah, I think you are.
Innocent until proven guilty, that's my motto. And it should be yours.
If we just went throwing someone off teams because they got arrested (and, let's be honest, here - regardless of past history, it's ridiculously easy for a woman to accuse a man of rape), that's not going to fly in a free society.
Convicted, absolutely. Confessed? You bet. Accused? Arrested? No, that's not the way we're going to go about it.
Right on Sam, nice to see some common sense here. This is America, right guys?
Ken, you say an option is to trade Ronnie to another CBA team. That's kind of ironic to your opinion of he must go. What, you think that will solve the problem if he moves to another team? Or that'll help straighten it out for Minot, Ronnie, and the league? How is that accomplishing anything?
If he is guilty, he will be suspended, hopefully forever by the league.
Another what if: What if Ronnie is innocent? Is it right to dump him at this point?
None of us really know what happened. The Skyrockets have done the right thing, so far. Let's let them and league work it out.
NUF SAID
one way
02-22-2007, 04:38 PM
Pittsburgh fan says that Fields never should have put himself in the position where he could be arrested. I read the article and really, two people were in a hotel room at 3:30 in the morning. That can be considered pretty commonplace. I think that this is a case of he said- she said.
Sam Hill
02-22-2007, 06:05 PM
I'm not going to get into a battle of legal minds here. But, as I said, he should not have put himself in the position of being arrested.
I would like for our society to live by innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, we don't. People are ready to crucify someone even before a trial is granted.
As you are when you said there should be zero tolerance when it comes to a player getting arrested. Getting arrested is not the same as getting convicted.
I'm a staunch Republican, but I'm going to go all ACLU on you here and say I'm concerned about the erosion of our civil rights. And you apparently want to make it worse.
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-22-2007, 07:40 PM
...Ken, you say an option is to trade Ronnie to another CBA team. That's kind of ironic to your opinion of he must go. What, you think that will solve the problem if he moves to another team?...
Yes, I think shipping Ronnie off to a different area code will solve Minot's obvious public relations problem. It's not about Fields being innocent or guilty. It's about running a business. A business where Ronnie Fields is an employee.
Let's use the Gary Steelheads as an example again. The former owner, Jewell Harris Sr., was indicted on federal charges. However, he has not been convicted of anything. The Steelheads bent-over backwards to emphasize Harris is no longer associated with the team. Why? It's just smart business--that's why.
Letzplayball
02-22-2007, 10:08 PM
Hmmmm...
And just wondering, what does it say about the team that trades for him, or picks him up?? Does that have anything to do with "smart business"?
Get real Ken.
preeths
02-22-2007, 10:21 PM
Come on, people, there's more than one way to look at this thing, and there's no need to get personal. Yes, you can question what the player was doing in that situation. That doesn't mean you're convicting him. No one here has that power. He is indeed innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty, but that doesn't mean his employer can't axe him anyway for the embarrassment he's caused the organization, either by doing something criminal or by putting himself in a bad position.
FrozenUpHere
02-23-2007, 12:00 PM
Yes, I think shipping Ronnie off to a different area code will solve Minot's obvious public relations problem.
Just wondering where you get your evidence that Minot has an "obvious" PR problem... remember it's easy to think you know it all when you read stat sheets and websites. I would also remind you that Minot is 2nd in attendance, has one of the smallest area populations in the league, and is an expansion team.
And this isn't a "personal" attack... just trying to bring you back down to earth.
one way
02-23-2007, 12:34 PM
do not get to upset with ken- he always has had a bowl full of sour grapes now that the Steelheads are gone. By the way, I remember Ken cheering for darrin Hancock ( along with me) when hancock was arrested numerous times on numerous charges before he joined the Steelheads. It did not seem to bother ken then.
preeths
02-23-2007, 01:08 PM
One way, did you miss the part about not making it personal? However you choose to characterize it, having one of its players arrested does cause a problem for the team. Let's see how they choose to deal with it.
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-23-2007, 01:25 PM
one way,
Darrin Hancock has been arrested? I didn't know that...well, he kept his nose clean during both stints in Gary. I do know last season the center Gary had before Chris Alexander was arrested in a rather public incident. That center (whose name escapes me at the moment) never suited-up again for the Steelheads and was traded to Albany for Carl Mitchell and Chris Alexander.
Gary got the better end of the deal, IMO. However, if I remember correctly--Albany was happy with their acquisition too.
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-24-2007, 05:41 PM
I noticed Ronnie Fields did not play last night (Friday, 23rd) against the Patroons. Does this mean the Skyrockets' ownership (Apex) agrees with my line of thinking? Or is this just a coincidence and Ronnie will be back in the Minot line-up as soon as possible?
one way
02-24-2007, 10:58 PM
i heard that he was signing with Gary for the USBL. Ken- if so, are you still going to be a Steelheads fan???
According to the CBA webcast, he was listed with the Skyrockets tonight, but he did not see any action.
Ken, Steelheads fan
02-25-2007, 03:25 AM
i heard that he was signing with Gary for the USBL. Ken- if so, are you still going to be a Steelheads fan???
I'm not sure if you mean Darrin Hancock or Ronnie Fields. If you mean Darrin Hancock, then I don't understand how Darrin Hancock relates to the public relations problem Minot is having with Ronnie Fields. Hancock was a model citizen while playing for Gary. If you mean Ronnie Fields, then I don't understand how Minot's PR problem with him relates to Gary. If Fields comes to Gary (and that's a HUGE if) carrying excess baggage, then he will be gone. It's that simple. Remember, the Steelheads are the same organization that released Oliver Miller for insulting a courtside season ticket holder.
In my humble opinion, there will be a lot of high quality ball players available near the beginning of the USBL season. Gary won't sign a potential headache when they don't have to. The Steelheads get a lot of press coverage as you may already know. Why gamble on negative press at a time when they're trying to put a positive face on the franchise!?!
To answer your question: It's not about me. It's all about public relations. I'm always a Gary Steelheads fan as long as their home schedule does not conflict with the Gary Railcats schedule. Otherwise, I'll have to cut the indoor boys loose in favor of the outdoor sports scene (see below).
http://www.railcatsbaseball.com/images/photogallery/HotTubDeck.jpg
Letzplayball
02-28-2007, 09:54 AM
At the Pittsburgh/Minot game last night, Ronnie Fields was in uniform and on the bench. As of today, Minot has activated him, and he should be playing tonight. A nice crowd again last night, but tonight could be different. We've got a large amount of snow coming in, cancellations have already began. I suppose they'll still try and play the game due to the fact Pittsburgh is already here.
is your definition of 'a nice crowd'? I read the article in the Minot paper but no numbers were given.
Minor League Man
02-28-2007, 12:54 PM
Am I the only one who thinks they should have stayed in San Jose?
no reason given, that I'm aware of, as to why they left San Jose for Minot. But I am curious as to what the average turnout was in California last season and what it is in North Dakota this year.
rams80
02-28-2007, 02:01 PM
Am I the only one who thinks they should have stayed in San Jose?
All other things equal, the travel's easier in Minot. Good reason as any to move.
kg21obf
02-28-2007, 02:39 PM
Not to mention the cost of living in Minot is a massive saving, i am sure you can score quite a deal on rooms at the Holiday inn in the dead of winter.
Good points, about the travel. However, I'm still curious about the attendence averages of San Jose and Minot.
panchess
02-28-2007, 04:10 PM
..and particularly if there was a snowstorm in the area, that would be a nice crowd.
Minot is averaging about 1,300 a game. They have every game attendance on the CBA web site, though the Minot reporter rarely, if ever, includes the attendance or box score in the story. I am guessing the layout of the paper is that all box scores are on the scoreboard page,
I don't think Apex could build a cluster of teams in Northern California. I believe they tried Reno and it didn't work, and when SoCal dropped out for this year, they didn't have a travel partner.
Based only on the memory of boards from last year, the San Jose SkyRockets drew 300-500 a game. The SJ SkyRockets site is still up at www.sjskyrockets.com.
Just my opinion, but I remain unconvinced that big city locations work for independent minor league teams. Minot may be too small, but I think smaller cities where you can get some buzz and media attention generally work better.
Too bad the CBA couldn't have gotten Des Moines. They would have fit well.
With a comparison like that, then the Skyrockets were making the move for the better.
As for smaller cities, that depends on what you consider small. Of course, the CBA won't work if you look at a city like NYC or Philadelphia. But I'm glad that Pittsburgh has the Xplosion, I don't consider this to be a big city. The Xplosion do not get the media coverage that say, Minot gets. But it does take time and I am starting to see a difference.
bomber29
03-01-2007, 11:16 AM
Minot drew 1300 on Tuesday, and 1,000 last night. But Minot got about 5" of snow on Wednesday, that hurt the crowd. Also the Skyrockets games have been sandwiched between high school boys and girls tournaments to go to state. So there has been a lot of competition for them, and they have drawn ok.
What's up with Pittsnogle sp? He was terrible in the 2 games.
I know. Pittsnogle was great in our last home game. I was hoping the Xplosion would continue that in their trip to North Dakota. It seems that the WVU alumnus preferrs playing here, but he will have to step up on the road sometime.
I saw that Shawn Hawkins was doing well in the first half. Too bad he only scored 4 points in the second half. But the Skyrockets obviously have something important to shoot for(playoffs), as we are only playing for pride. The X still have much learning to do, but I think Jackson is doing a good job with what he has(some good talent here). I'm just enjoying watching them end the season and looking forward to next. In the meantime, I hope the X can learn to win on the road again. They will get their share of wins before the season ends, though. Unfortunately, we are still inconsistant.
Ken, Steelheads fan
03-01-2007, 11:35 AM
I would prefer the quietly get him out of town option:
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3431293
Why? If you trade him for a player of equal value now and if he is found innocent later, then everyone saves face. The bonus is that Ronnie is now in a town that probably doesn't know about the incident. However, If you keep him (which is what the Skyrockets are doing) and if he is later found guilty, then the Skyrockets organization comes across as being insensitive to the Minot community. No bonus here. Ronnie Fields and the Skyrockets risk backlash from the accuser and the accuser's family.
Yes indeed, it will be quite interesting to see how this scenario unfolds.
bomber29
03-01-2007, 11:53 AM
I like that Jackson, a lot of energy on the sidelines, team seems to respect him in the hudle. It was fun watching him.
I like the improvements that I've seen in the team, since Jackson has been here. Pgh. fans need patience but we will be rewarded in time.
Letzplayball
03-01-2007, 09:26 PM
psbf
I enjoyed watching Jackson too. He was on the floor alot during play, I kept waiting for the refs to get on him, but they left him alone. Pittsburgh would play a tight game, but then totally fell apart at times. Pittsnogle looked terrible, and he didn't get into the game much. Doesn't he and Jackson see eye to eye?
they seemed to. Jackson prepares the team prior to the game, he is on the court with the players and he has worked some with Pittsnogle.
The WVU grad did well in his first game back, but I don't know what happened in Minot, why he went so bad. Maybe the injury was catching up to him. But I don't know what happened with Shawn Hawkins in the second half either. As I said, the team needs more time. For whatever reason, they are still inconsistent. But I believe Jackson knows what he is doing.
Cazzzmo
03-02-2007, 11:36 PM
Everyone - the team and the community knows the accusations against Fields are trumped-up. He's hurt right now and not playing which keeps him under the radar a little bit so to speak but I think you'll see the team stick beside him through this. I wouldn't be surprised to hear the charges get dropped next week. Minot had a nice crowd tonight - they announced 1,500. It was the loudest and most enthusiastic crowd of the year quite easily as Minot sqeaked-out a win in a high-scoring affair vs. Butte. Butte had about 7 dunks and Minot had 4 or 5 also. Very good game with the exception of the shorter official constantly blowing his whistle. (He really hurt Pittsburgh on Wednesday too).
Anyways, back to Fields --- I think he'll be cleared of all of this . . . there's certainly no sign that the team or Coach D. is very worried about the situation..... Minot's a small city but the fans are wise to this type of thing . . .. its happened before..... Daleo is well-liked in Minot and there's a trust factor with him already..... if he hasn't booted Ronnie by now I doubt it will happen which is good . . . . . because the charges are bogus.
I'm sure you are right about him being retained by Minot.
But I'm still skeptical about him, after hearing that he is not paying for child support. Whether or not the abuse is true, the non payment of paying his wife for their child still sounds like irrisponsibility. That's what stands out, to me. That fact that he hurt the Xplosion in leading the team to a win does not help matters(imo), while I view head coach Chris Delao(I hope the spelling is right) as a class guy.
panchess
03-03-2007, 10:21 AM
..is the correct spelling.
I think he earned some capital booting two guys off the team early in the season as soon as they got arrested and the charges turned out to be true.
He has known Ronnie Fields for years. Maybe that is shading his judgment, but I am guessing the perception in Minot is that Coach Daleo is a straight shooter who will take the appropriate action.
FrozenUpHere
03-03-2007, 05:40 PM
Anyways, back to Fields --- I think he'll be cleared of all of this . . . there's certainly no sign that the team or Coach D. is very worried about the situation..... Minot's a small city but the fans are wise to this type of thing . . .. its happened before..... Daleo is well-liked in Minot and there's a trust factor with him already..... if he hasn't booted Ronnie by now I doubt it will happen which is good . . . . . because the charges are bogus.
I think Cazzzmo has got a good handle on the situation in Minot, the talk around town is that the charges brought up against him just don't add up. The team and the town are very much behind him in my opinion. I look to see him on the court as soon as he is healthy. The crowd was amazing last night, the best I have heard/seen all year. There is definitely a playoff atmosphere in the Magic City. I guess nobody told Minot that the skyrockets have a PR problem. :-D
lightning fan
03-13-2007, 08:09 PM
Innocent until proven guilty.
I put my trust in Daleo. He knows what he is doing and will react the proper way at the proper time.
I wish the best for all involved.
Man, with all this talk of excited crowds in Minot and playoff atmosphere, I am really missing the CBA in Rockford right now.
indy legend
03-13-2007, 08:28 PM
:wink: If found guilty Fields would fit the new direction of the Indiana Pacers perfectly.
Ken, Steelheads fan
03-13-2007, 10:54 PM
Innocent until proven guilty.
I put my trust in Daleo. He knows what he is doing and will react the proper way at the proper time.
I wish the best for all involved.
Man, with all this talk of excited crowds in Minot and playoff atmosphere, I am really missing the CBA in Rockford right now.
Innocent until proven guilty was never an issue, IMO. I question keeping a player with such a dark cloud over his head on the team. Especially a player with a nagging injury (perfect excuse for getting someone out of town)...even if that player is Ronnie Fields. The issue is thumbing your nose at the community. The situation can still blow-up in the face of the Skyrockets' organization, especially if the accuser is considered respectable in Minot.
This situation reminds me of the ABA Buffalo Silverbacks and their original racially offensive logo (albeit, the Minot situation is far more serious). Why take a chance on angering the community you intend on serving? Buffalo changed their logo (as they should have). It's smart business 101. You would NEVER find a Northern League baseball team handling the Ronnie Fields affair like Minot is handling it.
...but then again, Northern League baseball is wildly successful while minor league basketball is currently--well, is currently just wild!
Cazzzmo
03-14-2007, 01:08 AM
trust me on this one. R Fields will not be convicted and hence there will be no 'backlash' in the Minot community. The S'Rockets are handling this just fine. Minotians know your innocent 'til proven guilty and they know the type of person that has made these (false) accusations. this 'situation', or lack thereof, will just go away sooner than we all will realize . . . . .
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