SACKED Globalport import Walter Sharpe has been hit with a P40,000 fine by the PBA Commissioner's Office for a photo that first appeared on Spin.ph showing him "intoxicated" and sleeping in a parking lot in front of a row of bars in Pasig City in the early hours of Monday.
Commissioner Chito Salud handed down the decision after meeting on Wednesday with Sharpe, saying the penalty was for "inappropriate public behavior caused by the aggravating circumstance of alcohol intoxication."
Sharpe, who played just two games for Globalport, has had a history of missing practices and team flights during his career in the NBA and other US leagues because he suffers from nacrolepsy, a neurological disorder that causes frequent sleeping attacks.
However, the fine was handed down after Sharpe admitted that he had a couple of beers with teammates in the hours before he fell asleep in the parking lot infront of a row of bars inside the compound of the City Golf driving range along Julia Vargas in Pasig City.
"As ambassadors of the league and role models to the youth, PBA players, local and imports alike, are advised to observe on-court and off-court decorum at all times," said Salud after the meeting with the former Detroit Piston.
"I take this opportunity to remind import players that the PBA's member teams have engaged their services as professionals both for the purpose of winning games and representing the values and principles these ballclubs stand for.
"While we note Mr. Sharpe's poor performance in his last game as his explanation for the incident, his conduct, caused and aggravated by the factor of inebriation that resulted in his passing out in a public premise, is considered inexcusable."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
