[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Sports/1223456.html

The Halifax Rainmen are taking a chance on a former NBA first-round pick with a troubled past.

The Rainmen have signed Kirk Snyder, a six-foot-six small forward who was the 16th pick in the 2004 draft by the Utah Jazz.

He went on to play for the Jazz and the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, where he started 45 games in 2005-06, as well as the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. In 211 career games, he averaged 16.8 minutes and 6.3 points.

He will join the Rainmen for their road game today against the Kentucky Bluegrass Stallions.

But Snyder, 27, has a criminal history that may preclude him from entering Canada.

The former University of Nevada star was convicted in Ohio last year for breaking into a couple’s home in the Cincinnati area and assaulting a man in his bedroom. A jury found Snyder guilty of aggravated burglary, felonious assault and assault.

However, Snyder pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was being treated for mental illness at the time of the 2009 incident. Since the conviction, he’s received permission to resume his basketball career in the U.S.

Rainmen owner Andre Levingston said Saturday that Snyder, who now has a handle on the mental health issues, is worth a second chance.

“Everybody makes mistakes, but I don’t think they should be crucified for the rest of their life,” Levingston said. “You pay your debt to society and you humble yourself and you learn from your mistakes. So everybody deserves a second chance, maybe a third chance.”

Levingston saw Snyder working out with a coach while the Rainmen were on the road in Dayton, Ohio earlier this month.

“I don’t think he missed a shot,” said Levingston. “Then I looked at him hard and realized it was Kirk Snyder. I knew his background from when he played in Nevada and in the pros and I knew he could flat-out play.

“The guy working him out said he would like for him to come and play for us and I said I would take him right now.”

Levingston, who accepts the seriousness of Snyder’s actions but believes he should never have been convicted, said the Rainmen have letters of recommendation from his trial judge, his doctor and his lawyers. He hopes that can help his immigration case.

“He had a mental breakdown. If he had been on his medication, this isolated event would have never occurred. And the doctors and the lawyers all state this. But it’s something that happened and that he’s trying to put in his past and resume his career. Hopefully, he’ll get the opportunity again to play in the NBA which is his dream. Hopefully, we can give him an opportunity in Halifax.”

In a statement released by the Rainmen, Snyder thanked the team.

“I am very grateful to the Rainmen organization for giving me a second opportunity to live a life doing what I love, and to work toward my dream of returning to the NBA. I will work as hard as I can to bring a championship to Halifax, and hope that the city will welcome me as I prove that I can and will be a positive role model.”

[McDunkin]

Wait we signed Kirk? Awwww that can only mean one thing……

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_zaiHHIdME

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