Walter Sharpe is the 1st pick---DJW traded - Page 16 - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

KGREG · #**151** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 12:43 AM

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Originally Posted by lurker

It sounds like your son is now on the right track. Good luck to him in college.

Some of the articles that came out last week made it sound like with the new medication Sharpe is on his narcolepsy is under control. However, I've been doing some reading on it and it's clear that it's a chronic condition to be managed, rather than one that can be cured.

If Sharpe turns out to be Pistons material, the NBA lifestyle is going to be a tricky for him, and the team is going to have a different set of rules for him to keep him ready to play. At a minimum, they're going to have to find a way for him to take a series of naps throughout the day, and break up his work into small sessions. If he can't find some routine that will let him be at his most alert during games it's going to be real tough for him to have any kind of consistency as a pro. I assume Joe and the staff have some sleep experts working with the team.

The downside is that the NBA lifestyle can be a downer for his condition. but the upside is that he has great access to the best of the best in medicine. It all depends on what he chooses to take advantage of.

brofmfa · #**152** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 02:22 AM

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Wow. Best of luck to your son! Great story and information. Thank you.

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It sounds like your son is now on the right track. Good luck to him in college.

Thank you guys, he's doing good thus far.

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. . . he has great access to the best of the best in medicine.

It's more on Sharpe himself rather than his supporting team, he has to rebuild his mindset, his body, and confidence kind of coming out of major injury. However, he has the best possible help.

kpaav · #**153** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 12:53 PM

You treat narcolepsy with amphetamine-like pharmaceuticals. Basically, the conditions is incurable, but can take drugs to "stay awake." Ritalin and other AD/HD drugs can be used and the current stimulants are not as addictive as say cocaine, speed, etc. Either way, I am looking forward to at least one-time a shot of Sharpe on the bench sleeping during a blowout game.

TaShawn · #**154** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 01:29 PM

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I like to put the ball on the floor," Sharpe said. "I'm not scared to dribble or shoot it from anywhere. I like to pass the ball. I like to do everything on the court that you can do on offense. Maybe by looking at me or reading my stat line, you might not notice that, but in due time, you'll see.

He seems confident in his offensive game, but admitted that he needs to work on his defense. At 6'9", maybe he can become a real backup to Prince in another year or so.

armygirl · #**155** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 01:43 PM

I am really pulling for Sharpe. Unfortunately everyone do not have the same tools to succeed as others based on numerous enviromental/social/economic variables.

I always like pulling for the underdog. Yes, he had some incidents in his life but so has all of us.

When my son was 17/18, he was picked up for tresspassing (a closed down mental hospital where he and his friends were trying to scare some girls), driving with bad tags (which incidentally he took off his friends abandoned car), speeding tickets.

He was young and that was 11 years ago. He is now a lawyer on Capital Hill.

A lot of things you chalk up to youthful exhuberance or youthful stupidity. You don't make judgements about someone who had some transgressions simply because we don't know the whole story.

So I think we should agree to agree on not to judging this young man on his past behavior, instead judge him on his ability to play basketball the way it is supposed to be played and learn from the vets.