"How many of the people who claimed to know Eddie and to care about Eddie really did?" That's what Rockets guard Mike James told me today when reacting to the loss former NBA players Eddie Griffin. Griffin's charred remains were found in his vehicle that crashed into a train late last week. Word of his untimely death came out Tuesday night.

I talked with a number of players and former players today and all were saddened by the loss. Griffin was a first round draft pick by the Rockets back in 2001. Former coach Rudy Tomjanovich told me," I am saddened by the news about Eddie. He was a very talented young player who was trying to conquer his troubles off the court. My prayers and condolences go out to his family."

One of the people who has mentored Griffin in the past was former NBA players and coach John Lucas. "Ya know I was shocked but not surprised. I loved Eddie Griffin and I choose to remember what was good about him. It was untimely what happened to him but I think he's in a better place now," said Lucas.

Former NBA player and Houston resident Mario Elie knew Griffin well. "I got a chance to know him by working out with him, of course he was part of the Rockets family for a little while. When you surround yourself with a lot of negative people, you see that going on with PacMan and Michael Vick, I lot of these young guys don't get it. I just thought a lot of his off the court issues had a lot to do with his death."

Longtime NBA security man Delton Carter knew Eddie the best. "It's very shocking to me. He's a good kid. I've worked with him. He's a talented kid and what people don't realize is that he was a good father. He cherished his daughter," Carter told me. His daughter is 4 years old. Eddie Griffin was known as a guy who kept a lot of things to himself. Some of his friends thought that was his biggest downfall .... not being able to share his concerns with others.

Griffin was suspended for 5 games in January for violating the NBA's anti-drug program. He spent time at an alcohol-treatment center in 2003-2004. He was also suspended for the first three games of the 2004-2005 season after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.

When he was alive he seemed to always have plenty of buddies who wanted to party and spend his money but as Mike James says, "How many of those people really cared about him?"

Griffin was only 25 years old.

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