Isaiah Rider: Sombering Reminder What Happens to some Athletes During Retirement

According the the website TMZ, former NBA Dunk Champion Isaiah Rider was arrested for violating his probation this week. However, when he was in court being brought up on the charges he was facing, he had no clue as to why he was there.  

But court documents are telling a different story. Rider’s probation officer, who was assigned to his case after Rider was arrested last year when he allegedly assaulted his wife, paints a picture of a former athlete who thinks he’s above the law. 

The probation officer has reported to the courts that Rider has missed 90 of his court ordered 100 hours of community service, completion of domestic violence classes, submitting to a urinalysis test and paying fines.  

The courts also believe that Rider is a risk to leave, keeping him in jail until his next court date October 11th.  

However, Rider’s wife, the same one that he allegedly assaulted, has taken to TMZ to tell a different story. TMZ spoke with Vanessa Rider, saying that Rider's probation officer is, "abusing her power and has been blocking his efforts to complete his probation, and that's why he was arrested this week.” She also believes that her husband is a victim of a probation officer that is a, “she-devil, man hating probation officer who has been out to get her husband simply because he’s famous.” 

Is this a case of a retired athlete who’s life is spinning out of control? Or a case of someone trying to get some power over someone who has made more money in one year than that person will ever see in their life?  

Either way, Rider’s case is one that so many former athletes find themselves in when they are done with their careers. 

For many athletes, once the cameras are off of them, and they aren’t in front of thousands of screaming fans adoring every single move, it makes for a sad and lonely time for them.  

They go from those adorers and to others never saying “no” to real life where they are on the same level as the person serving you a Big Mac.  

Rider will be back in court on the 11th of this month. His wife believes the judge will see Rider’s side and let him out of jail.  

Otherwise if, the Judge agrees with the probation officer; Rider will be sent back to jail where he’s no longer a former NBA player but an inmate with a number.