Illinois Player Stabbed in a Bar Fight

The good news is that Martez Wilson is stable and expected to make a full recovery after being stabbed at a bar in Champaign on Thursday night/Friday morning. According to most reports, Wilson was not looking to start trouble or even caused the trouble.

Police said a "verbal altercation" began among a group of men at Fubar. When the victim allegedly went to assist another man who'd been surrounded by a group of men, he was stabbed.

The police are still investigating and they have no suspects in custody. Shockingly enough, the suspects were no longer patronizing the bar when the police arrived.

This is the proverbial cherry on top to a lousy year for Wilson. The sophomore outside linebacker was a top recruit, but has been in-and-out of Illinois coach Ron Zook's doghouse. Briefly demoted from the starting job, and suspended for violating team rules in the final game of the season. Wilson will definitely be eager to ring in the New Year.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-13-2008 @ 12:45PM

Ferrari Bubba said...

Take it from this old-timer, who has been active in, and followed College and Pro sports for over half a century.

'Nothing good ever happens between the hours of midnight and 5 am.'

Believe me, Been there, done that!

Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba

Gary said...

Great things happen between midnight and 5 a.m. if your with a woman in bed lol been there done that many times he he he

12-13-2008 @ 12:47PM

Meatwoodflac@aol.com said...

Gary, that 'babe' you were with is actually a trans-sexual. Good luck, next time-and be more selective.

ajm33771 said...

Oh NO! It can't be! Well maybe I can believe this happened. I mean, where else would this young IDIOT get the training necessary so that IF HE EVER enters the NFL the ground work has been in place for his getting into trouble on a regular basis? IF YA HAVE TO GO OUT AND RELAX, DANCE ETC, GO EARLY AND GET OUT EARLY! There is a common denominator after ALL of these incidents. The VAST MAJORITY of these incidents occur AFTER 1 AM. DING DING DING. HELLO, get brain in gear and GET OUT early.

12-13-2008 @ 12:46PM

Curious said...

Most of the incidents we hear about that involve college athletes being beaten up, stabbed, or shot seem to revolve around bars.

I thought that the majority of states have a minimum age level of 21 years old to buy or consume alcohol. Granted, the underaged are going to obtain alcohol from their older friends and teammates, but what are they doing in bars? And..., why are they being served?

Wilson is a sophmore. Unless they are "redshirted Freshmen" (a total joke promoted by the NCAA), took time off between high school and college (unlikely), or took 4 years to pass the 3rd grade (high schools hold no athletes back), most college kids don't reach the age of 21 until their junior year, and many in their senior year.

So, who is minding the store and monitoring the bars? Obviously, not the teams, the bars, or the local Alcohol Control Boards! Are the regulators being paid off by the NCAA, or the multi $B college athletic departments?

A crackdown on 1) the punk athletes, 2) the teams, 3) the bars, and 4) the regulatory authorities would reduce the number of these incidents. But then again, where would these thugs get their training for their promotion into the NFL?

12-13-2008 @ 7:02PM

Steve said...

Hey, curious, I agree with your post with one exception. It has been reported to be not uncommon for good young atheletes to be held back in Texas so they will be more mature when they are seniors.

12-13-2008 @ 2:02PM

cricket said...

Oh yeah, this guy is going to fit right in in the " felons " league. burress,vick,jones,lewis et al, aint got nothin on this bro'.

12-13-2008 @ 2:23PM

Tom Fornelli said...

Curious - In Champaign you only have to be 19 to enter campus bars. You have to be 21 to drink, but it's not exactly hard to have your friend go to the bar and get that pitcher for you.

Also, before we jump down Martez's throat, let's remember he was reportedly stabbed while trying to BREAK UP a fight.

12-13-2008 @ 2:24PM

mike said...

hey curious, incase you didnt know, most colleges let their students go in the bar under 21. that includes illinois. of course they are not suppose to drink under 21, but they can still legally get in the bar.

12-14-2008 @ 9:12PM

Lew said...

Why do people read stuff and make their own opinons about things. Just like when everybody thought it was a great thing that "Tony Romo" did a good thing by helping someone change a tire, this guy was helping somone that was out numbered and got stabbed for doing something he thought was right. But I guess if it was you regardless if it was 2am or 9pm if you were out numbered and somebody wanted to help you in that situation you definetly want the help. Get a life and stop trying to make everything out to be so negative.

12-15-2008 @ 2:44PM

regisruin said...

Stabbings, shootings, babies out of wedlock, thefts, and other criminal behaviour are assessed after the 40 yard dash. If he's 230 and runs a 4.4, we'll fix his character issues. Right. While the schools are at a reshaping of the young man's behaviour, they tell him to slow down and save gas in that Escalade he got for signing his contract for scholarship. Oh, he got that from mom? Right.