Billy East

[izne1home]

Ex Buchanan standout Billy East passed away yesterday.  I know his family, and had the pleasure of getting to know him during the City County All Star Game.  Great kid, a natural leader, loaded with potential. 

No cause of death yet.   

[laidback]

How old was he? When did he play?

[izne1home]

Class of 2013.  I think he committed to West Point, then started making poor decisions and wound up playing at Azusa Pacific.  Tried to transfer a couple of times but his battle with addiction kept him down.

4.4 40, 325 bench, 10.9 100 meters..., and brains to play for Army.   Billy transferred from Buchanan to Kingsburg, then back to Buchanan.  Set off quite a firestorm of debate on this website.

 

[bksflddan]

Class of 2013.  I think he committed to West Point, then started making poor decisions and wound up playing at Azusa Pacific.  Tried to transfer a couple of times but his battle with addiction kept him down.

4.4 40, 325 bench, 10.9 100 meters..., and brains to play for Army.   Billy transferred from Buchanan to Kingsburg, then back to Buchanan.  Set off quite a firestorm of debate on this website.

Drug addiction! My heart aches for his family.

And drug dealing is not a serious crime!!!!! BS, a dealer pulls the trigger every time he places the bag in someone's hand! Life w/o parole or death second conviction ...

JMO ...

[diesel]

Drug addiction! My heart aches for his family.

And drug dealing is not a serious crime!!!!! BS, a dealer pulls the trigger every time he places the bag in someone's hand! Life w/o parole or death second conviction ...

JMO ...

Has anyone been watching Snowfall on FX? Great show!!

[izne1home]

Drug addiction! My heart aches for his family.

And drug dealing is not a serious crime!!!!! BS, a dealer pulls the trigger every time he places the bag in someone's hand! Life w/o parole or death second conviction ...

JMO ...

I agree.  Public execution.  On the same corner they were dealing.  Then hang the body from a lamp pole. 

[Just_A_Fan]

I agree.  Public execution.  On the same corner they were dealing.  Then hang the body from a lamp pole.

That might actually solve the problem...on second thought, not probably, it definitely would. 

[The Eye in the Sky]

Read this on Pag's twitter. Didn't want to post because I didn't feel it was my place to. Only had breif interactions with him, but came off as a very well rounded young man. Damn shame. Prayers for him and his family.

[Just_A_Fan]

Read this on Pag's twitter. Didn't want to post because I didn't feel it was my place to. Only had breif interactions with him, but came off as a very well rounded young man. Damn shame. Prayers for him and his family.

Dittos...too young and too much in front of him, breaks your heart to see this.

[Bronco]

  Drug addiction is - by far - the hardest battle I ever had to fight for kids the entire time I Coached, You can win a lot of them  but "speed" is BY FAR the hardest thing I have ever battled to try to help a kid. It seems to engulf there very soul & they no longer care for ANYTHING else - no matter what you do or say. They seem to hit bottom & are forced to change or they die before that happens, I guess oxy is just as bad now - and our medical system supplies them with that now !!???????!! " Hi kid -want to have some fun" : ((

[izne1home]

... It seems to engulf there very soul...

In addition to robbing you of all that hold dear, that's exactly what these powerful drugs do.  My experience is that it takes more than an environmental change, new friends, a 30-day program, some meetings, or a 'higher power.'  A lot more.

It takes faith and hope.  A total restoration of the soul.  Restoration of relationships.  New beginnings.  Healing at a spiritual level. 

I've walked through this for years.  I've seen every rehab program out there.   I've made the mistake of thinking money or modern medicine can solve the problem, and solve it quickly.  I tried tough love, and read every self-help book out there.  Unfortunately, it takes hitting bottom before these kids earnestly cry out to God.  That is the point where true healing can begin.

We are blessed in the Central Valley to have two Teen Challenge centers.  The new center in Reedley, on the same grounds as the Immanuel Sports Complex on the Kings River, is the fastest growing Teen Challenge center in the country.

Billy went into TC a year or so ago, but left after a couple of weeks.  He hadn't hit bottom yet.  Billy was a very endearing, confident young man.  He was also holding out hope that he could do it on his own and secure a football scholarship somewhere.  He couldn't wrap his head around staying in the program for 12-months.

TC is a 12-month residential program, and it is free of charge, which is good because most addicts don't save money for rehab.  If any of you know anyone who is struggling, or if you'd like to know more about TC or take a tour of the Reedley or Bakersfield campuses, PM me. 

[bksflddan]

In addition to robbing you of all that hold dear, that's exactly what these powerful drugs do.  My experience is that it takes more than an environmental change, new friends, a 30-day program, some meetings, or a 'higher power.'  A lot more.

It takes faith and hope.  A total restoration of the soul.  Restoration of relationships.  New beginnings.  Healing at a spiritual level. 

I've walked through this for years.  I've seen every rehab program out there.   I've made the mistake of thinking money or modern medicine can solve the problem, and solve it quickly.  I tried tough love, and read every self-help book out there.  Unfortunately, it takes hitting bottom before these kids earnestly cry out to God.  That is the point where true healing can begin.

We are blessed in the Central Valley to have two Teen Challenge centers.  The new center in Reedley, on the same grounds as the Immanuel Sports Complex on the Kings River, is the fastest growing Teen Challenge center in the country.

Billy went into TC a year or so ago, but left after a couple of weeks.  He hadn't hit bottom yet.  Billy was a very endearing, confident young man.  He was also holding out hope that he could do it on his own and secure a football scholarship somewhere.  He couldn't wrap his head around staying in the program for 12-months.

TC is a 12-month residential program, and it is free of charge, which is good because most addicts don't save money for rehab.  If any of you know anyone who is struggling, or if you'd like to know more about TC or take a tour of the Reedley or Bakersfield campuses, PM me.

I know about the bako campus ... very successful.

[bksflddan]