Like everyone else around the nation, I was saddened by the news of Charlotte Hornet basketball standout Bobby Phills being killed in a three-car collision last week while leaving a morning workout.

I remember Phills having some great games against Alcorn when he played at Southern University. He led the nation in 3-pointers (4.4 a game) as a senior in 1990-91.

He led the Jaguars to a 113-78 win in his final game in 1991 against the Braves, netting 26 points.

More importantly, Phills apparently was one of those guys who made no enemies and everybody seemed to love.

He gave freely of his time to charities and loved his family.

But like almost tragedy, there is a lesson to be learned here.

Police now say the reason Phills is no longer with us is because he and teammate David Wesley were racing at more than 100 mph when Phills lost control of his Porsche and was killed.

Phills, traveling 107 mph, was behind Wesley, at 110 mph, when his car spun and crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with an Oldsmobile last Wednesday, according to a new police report.

Police originally estimated the players were racing at more than 75 mph in the 45 mph zone.

According to the Associated Press, the latest report says Phills and Wesley were driving in an ”erratic, reckless, careless, negligent or aggressive manner,” and the men were ”involved in a speed competition” before the collision.

The speeds are estimates calculated using the length of tire marks, the amount of damage to the cars and other factors measured by investigators, police said.

The report is just one element of an investigation that will be presented to the district attorney’s office late this week or early next week. Prosecutors will decide what charges, if any, to file.

Wesley, driving with a suspended license at the time of his teammate’s wreck, has declined comment.

Certainly the burden of being involved in the accident has to be punishment enough.

One of my first thoughts after seeing several news reports and footage of the cars after the accident turned to playing fields of all kinds around the Miss-Lou.

I know of times when young men leaving football, basketball or baseball practice would take off in their vehicles like there was no tomorrow, some even challenging others to be the first out of the parking lot.

I don’t know if it’s a matter of the testosterone still kicking in from practice or just that male ego thing. I’ve actually seen the same thing in the theater parking lot after watching one of those &uot;Men who love to watch movies about men,&uot; flicks that they now show on TBS.

When you are young you certainly don’t think about death knocking on your door and you sometimes think you are invincible.

And those watching are surely thinking ,&uot;So-and-so drives like that all the time and nothing every happens to him. And everybody sure thinks it’s cool.&uot;

Unfortunately it takes a tragedy such as Phills’ for us to realize how fragile life is and how carelessness and showing out can lead to something you cannot change or take back.

I certainly doubt there will be any Charlotte Hornet players putting the pedal to the metal when leaving practice in the future.

It’s a costly lesson that left a wonderful family without a father. Let’s just hope it’s a lesson well received.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.

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