NY Giants receiver, Plaxico Burress, accidentally shot himself in the leg this weekend, while at a nightclub in Manhattan with his teammate, Antonio Pierce. (Another player was possibly with them as well.) Article here.
Is this a joke?! We are talking about a multi-million dollar player here. And he doesn't get paid because of his sharp mind, but because of his body and his athleticism. No pun intended but he just shot himself in the foot! Why would he go into a nightclub packing heat? If he is so concerned about his safety he should A) not go to that club and/or B) hire security for protection.
Put aside the issue of possibly hurting others. Let's look at why he would do something where he could risk him hurting HIMSELF and that multi-million dollar body of his. Oh wait, this is just another example of how many athletes think the rules don't apply to them and they are invincible.
NFL Condones Criminal Behavior
The reason why many (not all) players develop the narcissistic and G-d complex is because the NFL condones immaturity and bad-boy behavior.
Did you know Plaxico has been fined between 40-50 times by the League? Did you know that Plaxico was suspended for 2 weeks earlier this season? Did you know that he was allegedly involved in two domestic disturbances this summer? Clearly, this most recent incident should have been expected.
And recently, Kansas City Chiefs player Larry Johnson was suspended and fined by the NFL after he was arrested for assault after spitting a drink at a woman. (Link to story above.) That wasn't Larry's first run-in with the law. In February 2007, he was arrested for pushing a woman's face at a bar. In September 2005, he was arrested for domestic abuse assault after getting into a fight with his girlfriend. Allegedly, he has been arrested a 4th time in the past 5 years as well.
Then there's Tank Johnson - the Bears player who was arrested twice on gun charges before being released but then picked up by the Cowboys. And how about the other Cowboys player, Pacman Jones, who is the worst symbol of professionalism in the league. His record is too long to even discuss.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal printed an article "Why the NFL Spies on Its Players." Really? Where were the "spies" when Plaxico and A.P. were out on the town? I mean, if it should by spying on anyone, it should be the players with behavioral issues like Plaxico!
Instead of spies, why doesn't the NFL set up safeguards for its players? How about a portion of the players' dues going into a driver service or security service? I've heard of certain teams telling the players to call their coach or the trainer for a ride if they are too drunk to drive, but that's plain silliness to think the players would call their coach. That's like a 15-year old kid calling his mom to tell her he's been drinking at a party. Sure, some kids may do it, but most won't. The NFL needs to do more to protect its players if the players are not going to protect themselves. As it is now, the system is designed for failure.
Athletes as "Role Models"
I've had plenty of conversations with athletes over the years about the great, and often unrealistic, expectations that society places upon athletes. A friend recently said to me that "society should not make an athlete a 'role model' because he plays well but because he has 'role model behavior.'" Well that sounds good but it's not reasonable. Part of the job is accepting that you are a role model. And it's not like these players all-of-a-sudden become role models upon being drafted into the NFL; most of them have been role-models their whole lives. And, keep in mind, when they sign a contract, there are clauses in the contract, i.e., a Personal Conduct Policy, that outline behavioral requirements. They know that part of the job description is to be a role model, to go to autograph signings, to show up at charity events, and to stay out of trouble. They know better. We are talking about grown-men here: men who see their teammates get into trouble (from Michael Vick to Ray Lewis) and who are clearly capable of making decisions not to engage in criminal behavior.
Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) mug shot
Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons) mug shot
Actually, there really is not a heightened level of scrutiny, when you think about it. All we are asking is for athletes to follow the rules and abide by their contract. If they can't do that, they should get a different job. It's par for the course. Every employer requires its employees to adhere to certain standards and refrain from certain behaviors. We aren't asking them to behave any differently than anyone else in our society. If Plaxico wants to be a gun-toting badass, then he should quit his job with the NFL and apply for a job with the local police department.
To be continued...let me gather my thoughts...
www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 07:20AM 
Plaxico Burress (AP)