East St. Louis-born Darius Miles stepped down the red carpet at last Sunday’s premiere of “The Longest Yard” at The Tivoli with rapper and film star Nelly’s mom n and then proceeded to trash the metropolitan area with an idiotic comment or two.
Miles told a television reporter that he was glad that Nelly brought the premiere to St. Louis because The Lou is “boring” and there isn’t anything to do here.
It seems the last time the greater St. Louis area heard or saw Miles while off the court, he was face-down on an East St. Louis street in a neighborhood laced with drug dealers and the accompanying fine furnishings.
While he was not charged, the sight of him on the ground telling the police that he is indeed Darius Miles of the NBA was shameful.
However, the area did not hold it against him. There were no outrageously condescending columns or articles condemning him in the St. Louis American or any other newspaper. Columnist James Ingram literally begged the man to grow up and begin acting responsibility, but that was about all the negative editorial comment he received.
Miles repaid the area on Sunday by making it sound like Bug Tussle, home of the Beverly Hillbillies.
While he spent the first two years of his career riding the bench in Los Angeles, the last five were split between Cleveland and Portland. Those cities are hardly L.A., Chicago or New York.
His near arrest at gunpoint probably won him favors with many of his Portland teammates, who have faced a litany of charges the past 18 months ranging from marijuana possession to cruelty to animals based on illegal dog fighting.
Maybe he thinks he’s hot stuff since he averaged a career high 12.8 points a game this season. Move over, Michael Jordan.
Also, Miles will not be 23 until October 9, which means he has been 21 for less than 500 days. So, how much of the world has Mr. Miles seen to declare St. Louis as “boring”? If he has been doing the town for more than a year, he’s been doing it illegally.
The next time there is a major event in St. Louis, make sure the invitation list does not include one Darius Miles. The SportsEye is certain he can find something better to do that evening. I’m sure there’s a good dog fight going on somewhere.
Soccer it to them
As the 14th annual U.S. Africa Sister Cities Conference draws to a close, a U.S.-Africa soccer match will be played at Washington University at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29.
The conference, which is called “Bridging the Waters,” will draw hundreds of representatives from the United States and Africa and will feature a business summit and a myriad of cultural activities throughout the St. Louis area.
A highlight will be the soccer game, and the St. Louis Gateway Classic Foundation has stepped up as a sponsor and has arranged for each of the participants to receive a medal.
For a schedule of events in addition to the game Sunday, visit the www.USAfricaSisterCities.org website.
