Eddie Griffin should know, never race a train to the track..

.... because if its a tie, you lose.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgQWcjGJ79hWO8fYyJOpHOk5nYcB?slu...p-griff

Former Timberwolves forward dies in SUV-train crash

By CHRIS DUNCAN, AP Sports Writer
August 21, 2007

AP - Aug 21, 8:40 pm EDT


HOUSTON (AP) -- Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin
died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight
train in a fiery crash, the Harris County medical examiner's office
said Tuesday.

Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began
his tumultuous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was
waived by the Timberwolves in March.

"The cause of death and manner of death, which also includes
toxicology results, is pending," said Beverly Begay, chief
investigator for the Harris County Medical Examiner's office.

Griffin, a five-year veteran who was the No. 7 pick in the 2001 NBA
draft, had battled alcohol problems since coming out of Seton Hall. He
was suspended by the league for five games in January for violating
its anti-drug program.

"Basketball was never an issue with him. He needed more life lessons,
and unfortunately he was never able to reach his potential," former
Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said.

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Houston police said in a report that the driver of the SUV ignored a
railroad warning and went through a barrier before striking the moving
train about 1:30 a.m. Friday. The resulting fire burned the SUV and
the side of a railcar carrying plastic granules, police said.

The driver's body was badly burned and there was no identification.

"I was able this afternoon to get some dental records from the one
dentist he had gone to see in Houston, and they were able to use that
apparently to positively identify him," said Derek S. Hollingsworth,
an attorney who has represented Griffin in criminal cases.

Hollingsworth said he spoke with Griffin's mother, who was devastated
by the news.

"Everybody tried to help him from the top to the bottom of the
organization," said Casey, who coached Griffin for 1 1/2 seasons. "He
just couldn't get it straight. It's a tragic ending for a beautiful
kid. He had a beautiful heart."

Casey said he hadn't talked to Griffin in five or six months but he
knew that Griffin was spending the summer trying to get back in shape
to play in Europe next season.

Casey said he regretted not having reached out to Griffin in the past
few months.

Griffin had a series of suspensions, court dates and missed practices
during his first two years in the NBA with Houston and New Jersey. He
spent time in the Betty Ford Center for alcohol treatment in 2003-04.

Hollingsworth said he found Griffin to be kind and gentle -- behavior
inconsistent with how the player was described in police reports.

"He had a problem with alcohol, and I think that was a medication for
him, and I think that led to a lot of issues," Hollingsworth said.

Griffin, who played forward and center, signed with the Timberwolves
as a free agent before the 2004 season. He showed enough promise as a
shot-blocker and rebounder to be signed to an extension, but was
waived in March after playing in just 13 games last season with the
Wolves.

The Wolves put his locker right next to star Kevin Garnett, hoping the
former MVP could help straighten Griffin out.

Griffin put up some big numbers on occasion with the Wolves, but
continued to get into trouble off the court. He pleaded guilty last
season to inattentive driving after he hit a parked car while out late
one night in Minneapolis.

Associated Press writers Matt Curry and Thomas Peipert in Dallas and
AP sports writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis contributed to this
report.



Updated on Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 10:01 pm, EDT