OT/Bummer: Eddie Griffin

by MN exile on Aug 21, 2007 11:50 PM CDT

Eddie Griffin, former MN Timberwolves center/forward, was killed in a collision with a train last week, according to this article:

http://tinyurl.com/2qte2d

Now, Eddie Griffin was a talented, yet troubled guy. Had lots of brushes with the law, difficulties with alcohol, and more. Still a bummer, though. And I do remember he could light up a game - he was a three-ball monster when he wanted to be, and a very good shot blocker.

I guess it caught me a little more maybe for this reason - I'm pretty sure I shot one of the last interviews ever with another former Wolves player, guard Malik Sealy, not long before he was killed by a drunk driver in a head-on collision a few years ago. He was looking forward to getting back to NY and getting involved with his recording studio, and was very happy, beaming in fact, because his wife had just bought him a bass.

Rest well, Eddie - sorry you never found peace in this life.

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Big Big East fan

Griffin was a talented player who never should of left Seton Hall after his freshman season.
Drafted 7th over all when he came out, money, hype and night life ruined him.
Shame, NBA has to many players that come out early from school that aren't ready for ball and life. But, you can't deny people from making a living, some handle it and some don't.

by Johnny Callison was a Cub on Aug 22, 2007 12:11 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah...

They gave him the locker next to KG (damn, we're going to miss him this year!) to see about Kevin being a steadying influence - apparently, even KG couldn't help him adjust.

True KG story: Morning shootaround interviews, one of the players (no longer with the team) brought his young son - maybe 5 years old - and when a bunch of the other Wolves were in another part of the locker room roughhousing and cussing it up pretty much, KG tells them to "knock it off while the little guy's around" - twice, to no effect. Since we were one of the first interview teams in, he looks at me, standing there with the camera on my shoulder, and says "roll some tape on them!"

They quieted down...rather quickly.

Gonna miss Kevin, he was a standup guy. If only more of the rest of the youngsters around the NBA were stable like him, even when he was first out of Farragut.

Pity Eddie G never caught on...

by MN exile on Aug 22, 2007 12:19 AM CDT up reply actions

very sad

only 25 years old . . . rest in peace

by CZ38 on Aug 22, 2007 1:45 AM CDT reply actions

This WAS a suicide right??

I can't find it written anywhere, or even alluded to other than in other people's 'comments' on other websites.....but this wasn't an accident, right? What a scary way to kill yourself....I mean....aren't the chances that you survive a little higher driving into a train? Maybe if it's one of those 150mph ones it's not....

I don't know the REAL details...anyone closer to the city/sport/team know?

by iluvryno on Aug 23, 2007 8:21 AM CDT reply actions