<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> The lessons are little more than common sense, covering any number of situations that could cause grief and trouble for an NBA player.</p> Watch who you associate with, watch where you go and when you go there, avoid those who want information not available to the public and if nefarious types try to ingratiate themselves to you, don't fall for their pitches.</p> It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what athletes should do and what they should avoid, but the league takes a chance every pre-season to hammer home the lessons.</p> After all, history shows the constant reminders are necessary and as the Raptors gathered in the Air Canada Centre yesterday for their annual talking-to from league officials, they listened intently.</p> "We do these meetings every year and somebody still gets in trouble every year so we've got to do it," was how coach Sam Mitchell summed up the mandatory session.</p> The league, ever mindful of the embarrassing situations and unlawful exploits some of its players get involved in every season, takes a dim view of such antics and ensures that players are told every year what kind of pitfalls await them.</div></p> The Toronto Star</p>
