I try my best to give professional athletes the benefit of doubt considering the spotlight can be overwhelming. Those who keep up with my commentary may not believe that since I have been extremely critical of Terrell Owens, Ron Artest, and other troublemakers. But, after securing two Op-ed spots where I shared my thoughts that basically blasted Michael Vick I have been accused of being judgmental by people who suddenly value biblical scripture. Therefore, I have also been somewhat closed lipped when it comes to expressing my unadulterated feelings about the behavior of a few black athletes.
Since that accusation (judgmental) I have been selective with my words of disappointment because to be labeled ‘judgmental’ can assist in credibility lost. And, we all know that a writer must be creditable. However, I am willing to put my reputation out on the limb if I am standing by what I believe to be appropriate characterizations of men who in my bold opinion do not give a damn about loyalty, family, personal character, and the law. Unfortunately, Plaxico Burress falls into this category this week. He is a reasonable target for my condemnation; and lingering frustration with black men who allow money to change them for the worst.
Plaxico is flashy. He runs routes with precision. Plaxico is boastfully outspoken. He has proven to be dependable when the ball is in the air. Plaxico is everything most fans like. He is the type of guy everyone loves. The sad point is Plaxico and the likes of him know that they are liked and loved without restriction; and they use this to ‘juice up’ their already inflated egos. Egos that allow them to make stupid decisions that put, not only their careers in the hands of a rich white guy, but their lives in jeopardy.
I keep asking myself, ‘Why would Plaxico insist on carrying a 40 caliber glock in a nightclub after he was told that he could not bring it in?’ In his persistence what he has done is injured himself, strained his relationship with a colleague (Antonio Pierce), disregarded his responsibility to his employer (NY Giants/NFL), further damaged his reputation, and added a label to the list of descriptives he has earned in his short time in the National Football League: Felon.
How stupid can these guys be? They have money, fame, and respect – but they for one reason only (ego) cannot stay away from becoming another judicial system example. I often wonder how I would respond to becoming an instant millionaire. Some will tell you that I cannot make the following prediction when and if I ever earn or come into millions of dollars:
I would not be a damn idiot!
Plaxico is in the need of our tenderly stern judgment. Someone besides the NFL Commissioner and the District Attorney of New York must. Those powers surely will in the coming days while we sit back and allow another black man to go down without culturally reprimanding him for dishonoring himself all because some outdated source (bible) tells us that it is wrong to judge.
Written by Brian E. Payne. Inspired by “judgment is not wrong if done with a sense of lovingly resolve.” I believe that, and not this: Romans 2:1.
http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2008/11/burress-to-face-weapon-charge.html
27 comments:
Torrance-
I am so glad someone else is with me. He should know better!
-Muata
Reader EJ responds:
You have not written one thing about the numerous accounts of athletes being robbed and in some cases killed because of their fame and fortune. They told Javon Walker he couldn't take his in the club either......Did you happen to hear about how badly he was beaten when he left? But I'm sure your point is well taken by a lot of people. He should have hired a body guard....oh that's a stupid idea too huh?
-EJ
Muata Responds to EJ:
Are you sure about that?
Sean Taylor??
Address the real issue:
Some of these guys have no sense of personal responsibility. None. They walk around like they are Kings when in fact they are nothing more than employees.
I say be a darn responsible employee. The fact of the matter is that they are subject to regulations on and off the field. They need to accept that and function that way.
He will learn a hard lesson considering the Man is in control (the laws of the land and for him specifically, the NFL). He is not. When will they learn that?
Just be a player without all that other crap. Like the countless professionals on the court and field. Do I need to name all of them?
If Plaxico was denied to bring the gun initially, then begged or paid a bouncer to let him pass with it, then told the managers of the club not to call EMS, then asked Pierce not to take him to the hospital, and then asked Pierce to get rid of the gun, he is a big azz Dummy. That's my initial judgment of him. Wish I could do it with love personally.
-Muata
Muata responds again to EJ:
Also, if he would taken the legal route he would not be in this mess. Now, you tell me if he should have registered the gun or not. Are your guns registered? YES, EJ. Now, why are yours registered...because you exercised responsibility.
-Muata
Reader LS responds to EJ:
I have been to the club in question and it is a really classy place. There is no need to even bring a gun. I don't think I would go out a lot if everywhere I went I thought I needed a gun. Furthermore, maybe he needs some lessons on handling a gun. If he did what he was suppose to do then the only issue he would be facing is contractual. He violated the team rules,club rules, the law and himself. He deserves a stiff punishment because others could have gotten hurt as well.
He is certainly the DUmmy of the year. He overtook OJ. Or did OJ do his thing last year?
-LS
Reader EJ responds to Muata:
It's so easy for you to sit in judgment. You have no clue what this man has been through. Maybe he has received a death threat...maybe he has been robbed before...maybe he was just that fearful that he felt he needed protection. (you would probably suggest he stay in the house and do nothing if things are that bad huh)...well alot of them do! Just like Mr. Taylor did....what a way to live! Check out the special they did on ESPN about the danger professional athletes face on a day to day basis. Then you may have a different view.
I would hate to be a black man facing ANY kinda of charges and you were on the jury! As the defendant it would appear that it would be a good thing to see someone who looks like you in the judging booth because you assume "he" would at least listen to the evidence....but little does he know you would lead the charge to throw him under the jail before ANY of the evidence was presented.
-EJ
Reader EJ responds to LS:
TEAM RULES? Does your job tell you how to act when you take your wife out? does your job tell you that you cant have a gun when you are on your own time? will your job show up in the nick of time when you are being robbed at gun point? And please tell me of a more classy place than your own bed? That's were Mr. Taylor was killed.
-EJ
Reader LS responds to Ej:
Mr. Taylors' incident was a tragic one. Though because he did died we tend to forget his gun waving incident. His incident was not even close to what Plax was going through.
You can argue against team rules if you like and no my job can't tell me how ti act but Mr Burris has a choice just like you do. He is employed by the NFL and if he cannot comply with it's rules or the Giants rules then he can take it up with the NFLPA. They will tell you that it is out of their hands and he will have to comply or quit.
He made a poor choice and out lives in danger when he brought a loaded gun into a place where he was not suppose to. The bouncer should be fired as well. Though Pierce really wasn't the main person I wont be shocked if he gets fined too. The no fun league has its fucked up rules but some are useful.
-LS
Muata responds to EJ:
yes, it is definitely easy to 'judge' when someone does something stupid. Like walk around with a unregistered gun.
I have said before that we (black folk) need to implement former traditional and tribal methods of judgment where judgment was rendered with love and then an elder provided mentorship.
We moved away from that because some weak source (the bible) and jack-leg preacher told us judging was wrong. We judge every single damn day. Why not do it by calling a spade a spade, and not by evading the personal responsibility aspect.
Don't make this about me either. Burress is the dummy who had to turn himself in this morning. I did not. And, let's say that I do something stupid (I often times do): I want all my boys to tell me it was dumb and then help me get on a right path.
Judging is necessary in a society where we are losing all sense of personal responsibility.
We need to be responsible for ourselves and for the behavior.
What is the appropriate path to take when you receive a death threat? What is one thing one can do if they have been robbed before? Answer those questions with something lawful.
-Muata
Muata on Team Rules...again:
Yes, team rules. If one does not like them or want to abide by them leave the job. And, my job does have an 'away from the office personal conduct policy'. I can't get a DUI. I can't smoke weed or carry an non-registered gun. What is the difference?
It is so hard for you to say when one of these guys are wrong. Why, EJ?
-Muata
Reader TM responds:
I agree w/ u. If I had got
a felony, it'll be a PERMANENT mark on my U4 & work history. In many professions, u are a reflection of ur employer- even when away from the office. If Plexico was so concerned about his safety- then why in the hell is he hanging out at night clubs in NY? And why can't he carry a gun that's registered?
-TM
Muata responds to TM:
I am tired of these players suddenly having issues with the rules.
They don't view playing the game as a job. That in itself is a huge issue. They are freaking employees!
-Muata
Reader EJ responds to Muata again:
This shyt really isn't worth talking about. Nobody got hurt and nobody died.....You could have made a choice to talk about the mess that's going on in India or you could have talked about the courage it took for our president elect to put together such a brilliant team of leaders to fill his cabinet...BUT NO.....we chose to talk about one black man who made a mistake on one night. ALL of this!!!!!!!! It just blows my mind how some of ya'll (BP and Larikus) sit around like some PUSSY CATS waiting to pounce on the first negative story dealing with a black man. I choose not to give it any more energy because it's alot more note worthy shyt going on.
Im surprised you haven't talked about Vick again.
-EJ
Reader LS responds to EJ:
I responded to the story that was sent to my email. No one was hurt but if you run a red light u get a fine because you put lives in danger.
I wouldn't call Barack's team of leader such a couragoues choice. It's politics as usual. He just has smarter people than Bush has but they are all from the Kennedy school or some similar place. He promised some changes. It's the same people recycled all over again.
BP wrote it because he felt it needed to be addressed. I responded because I was in Canada and all the Canadians didn't understand why he would do such stupid stuff.
-LS
Reader EJ responds to LS:
So now you speak for the Canadians? Let them know that you wouldn't be the one to explain it to them. And you must have bumped your head or something....because the team Barack assembled is representative of change. The majority of them have served on different sides of issues and now will be forced to work together for a common cause. These are some of the most well respected and talented people in politics. You are a funny dude.
-EJ
Muata responds to EJ:
My commentary is abundant. I write about everything. You don't read all of it thus the reason you have this view, which appears to basically come from an inability to say when a black man is wrong. That's your issue. And, I don't expect you to read all my stuff (I truly don't).
I write about international affairs, the environment, politics, relationships, health, fitness, love, hate, religion, spirituality, the economy, the poor, racism, civil rights, positive role models, etc. It is all recorded at muatatruthteliing.blogspot.com. You know this.
Also, not once in this communication did you address the real issue: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Not once. What you did was defend wrongful/rule breaking/unlawful behavior.
And, if India is so important to you, why don't you share with me who was responsible for the terroristic actions? I really want to know since I am not up on the news. Man, you tripping, all I do is listen and watch the news. I am addicted! I just selected to call a spade a spade today!
Also, a superstar white house cabinet will only help America a little. What we need is personal restraint and the courage to be accountable for our stupid personal decisions. We are part of the problem, it was not just Bush and his cabinet.
Vick was a dummy too. Dunn, McGrady, McNabb, G. Hill, and others are not.
-Muata
Reader LS responds to EJ:
I was the only American in the group.
Hillary Clinton, Volcker, Gates, Summers, the list of those people, mostly dems that have been in the Clinton white house b4 is impressive. They are all highly intelligent but what do they bring differently? They are spenders. The only appointments I liked were Attorney General and Commerce. Though I think Richardson has less conflicts of interest and could do a great job at sec of state. I like his ideology. He is a former Clinton Aid as well so the change he spoke of is still not here.
They may be forced to work together but does that mean they will do it well? They have mean Emanuel to keep them in line I guess. Barack is a smart guy but surrounding himself with strong personalities and people who tabbed him as inexperienced could be a shot in the foot. Did you see Joe Biden in the primary's trashing him? Do you see how Hillary was the first to attack his pedigree? Now they are just gonna hush and let the inexpereinced boss tell them wht to do? It's gonna get worse before it get's better and he could have his cabinet members quitting on him after 4 years like GW did. He has a team of centrists which could be ok. But the centrists were in the Clinton white house when we tried to solve everything with pacifism. Hey I wanna be wrong but like I said unless they change the list looks like the Yankees Roster. A crap load of talent but too many personalities.
-LS
Reader EJ responds to LS:
Different isn't the objective LS. Shyt he could have chosen us to satisfy that criteria. Im gonna let you think about what his objective is.
-EJ
LS responds to EJ:
His objective is to get the valedictorian type cabinet of the smartest people centrists in govt. That sounds like a good idea for one of the more liberal guys in govt. He does need some more conservative liberals but at the same time he needs some liberal conservatives that aren't necessarily centrists. The people he has chosen look good on paper but then again so did the Vikings with Moss, Culpepper, Carter, reed, robert smith and Gary Anderson.
It has to mesh and its going to be a tough job for him to get this to work in the midst of one of the worst financial crisis ever. He has alot of work to do. It's great that he has people that won't just say "sure" but it seems the criteria is educated elite where you got your degree. The point is are these people agents of change? Can they bring about new ideas or will they help Barack to govern as usual? They are seasoned politicians mostly from the old boy network. If anyone can do it, he can but his choices thus far does not represent or embody the change idealogy.
-LS
Reader Response:
It is a risky move to select people who want/wanted your job. Who did everything possible to discredit you.
Barack has the honorable and best intentions - but is he sure these selections want the same "change" he desires? Will he spend his time looking over his shoulder?
Why not get good people who are experienced but who are not full of immediate ambitions to be in charge?
By the way, Susan Rice is a great pick.
-CJ
Article:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress is done for the year.
The New York Giants fined and suspended Burress on Tuesday for four games -- the rest of the regular season -- after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub. The team also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means the wide receiver couldn't come back for playoffs, either.
The team punished Burress a day after he was charged with illegal weapons possession, which carries a penalty of 31/2 to 15 years in prison if he's convicted. Burress is due back in court again on March 31, unless he reaches a plea agreement.
Burress arrived Tuesday morning at Giants Stadium, and met individually with Giants president John Mara, general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin. He left for a medical test and returned in the afternoon for another brief session with team officials.
Even as they suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team, Giants officials expressed concern for Burress, who caught a touchdown pass from Eli Manning that gave the Giants a 17-14 Super Bowl win over New England in February.
"As we have said since Saturday morning, our concern is for Plaxico's health and well-being," Mara said. "This is an important time for him to take care of his body and heal up and also deal with the very serious legal consequences and other issues in his life. When I spoke with Plaxico he expressed great remorse for letting down his teammates."
Police and prosecutors still want to talk to a pair of Burress' teammates, Antonio Pierce and Ahmad Bradshaw, who were at the club when the shooting occurred but insist they did nothing wrong.
Neither Burress nor his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was immediately available for comment.
Dr. Scott Rodeo, a team physician, examined Burress and told the Giants that the gunshot wound would have sidelined the 31-year-old player for 4-to-6 weeks anyway.
"I had two conversations with Plaxico today, and it was obvious that he understood the magnitude of this situation," Reese said Tuesday. "He knows that we are here to support him and help him get healthy."
This is the second time the Giants have suspended the troubled receiver this season. He missed the Oct. 2 game against Seattle for missing a team meeting. He also has been fined dozens of times since 2005 for violating team rules, and he was hit with a $45,000 fine by the league this season for abusing an official and throwing a ball into the stands during a game.
"Our concern all along has been for Plaxico the person, not Plaxico the player," team chairman Steve Tisch said. "We are here to support him and his family as he recovers from his wound and deals with some serious issues."
Burress is fourth on the team with 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns. He has caught 244 passes for 3,681 yards and 33 touchdowns since joining the team in 2005 as a free agent.
"When you lose a player of Plaxico's ability, it is incumbent that everybody step up and fill the void," said Coughlin, whose team is 11-1 and a win away from clinching the NFC East. "In the last two seasons, this team has done an outstanding job of that. We made it clear to Plax today that we are here to support him in any way possible."
Fines in the NFL typically mean a player loses a paycheck for each game he misses. In Burress' case, that would mean roughly $206,000 per regular season game. He also was due to receive $1 million from his signing bonus on Dec. 10. It was not immediately clear whether the team still had to make the payment.
The player's latest woes began in the wee hours Saturday morning when he shot himself in the VIP section of a club called the Latin Quarter, where he went with two teammates.
Police want to know what Pierce did moments after the shooting and whether he took part in a cover-up. They also plan to interview the people at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, who treated Burress and did not report the shooting, as required by law.
Pierce's lawyer said Tuesday he contacted prosecutors as soon as he was hired by the linebacker on Monday.
"After the events in question, Mr. Pierce did what any other reasonable person would do under the circumstances, he hired counsel," attorney Michael Bachner said. He said he hasn't been notified that Pierce will be charged.
"Mr. Pierce, given the extraordinary circumstances of that evening, acted responsibly in trying to save what could have been the life of a friend," Bachner said.
The episode has frustrated police from the start. Officers said they were promised by NFL officials Monday that Pierce would appear for questioning, but he still hasn't.
Police said Tuesday that the Giants did send two trainers and an official who deals with player issues, who provided information about the shooting. That includes Charles Way, the team's director of player development, and trainer Ronnie Barnes. But police are still waiting to speak to more informed witnesses.
Pierce declined to answer questions about the shooting on his regular Tuesday afternoon spot on Sirius NFL Radio. "It's not appropriate with the police being involved. ... I've got to be strong," he said.
Bradshaw's attorney, Charles Stacy, said his client wasn't suspected of any wrongdoing.
Both players said they were planning to speak with the district attorney's office in the near future.
Authorities are also upset that the hospital didn't report the shooting. Hospital officials said "take this very seriously, and are conducting a thorough investigation into why this gunshot wound was not reported to the police department in a timely fashion."
Hospital spokeswoman Kathy Robinson said Tuesday an individual has been suspended in connection with the case, but would not say if the person was a doctor or hospital staff member.
A person familiar with the case said a doctor who was not a staff member came to the hospital shortly after Burress arrived there around 2 a.m. and treated him. The doctor's privileges to work out of the hospital have been suspended, according to the person. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out again Tuesday, saying he talked to Mara and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He told them the law says "you see something, you got to call the cops. That's the thing you should do."
The Giants say they have been cooperating with authorities since they learned about the shooting.
EJ responds again:
Just a side note for you "I cant wait to hear something negative about a black man" dudes. Although this has nothing to do with right vs wrong but Steve Smith Plaxico's friend and team mate was robbed 3 days prior at gun point in his drive way. Im not saying Plax was right or even smart....but that fact would definitely play on my psyche.
-EJ
Muata responds to EJ:
It would play on mine too - but there is a right and wrong way to do things. Plaxico did it all the wrong way. Starting when he left his pad with an unregistered handgun. That is the simple fact of the matter. As a result of that decision he is done for the year. Also, I may be wrong _ but I bet you Plaxico did not think about a consequence. Plenty of professional athletes believe they live in a bubble. The rules/laws apply to us all. Especially a black man. Does not matter if he caught the winning touchdown in the Superbowl last season. I just hope a lesson is learned. I plan to talk with Judah again this weekend about consequences. Our men are not getting the message. Why do you think they are not? That's a serious question.
-Muata
LS responds to EJ:
Plax almost never choses the right course of action. Look at how he handled almost everything this season and in the off season. Luckily for him Dallas, Washington and the Raiders will take any troubled player. I won't even throw it out there about him being black. I will just say this simply. You can't take an unregistered hand gun into a club and have it go off. That is a fast track to jail for blacks and white. Granted he might get a stiffer penatly because he is black but he opened the door of injustice when he committed and unjust act.
I had this conversation with my wife the otehr day. I hate my boss and she never seems to say the right thing. She came up to me the other day and said, " Wow you are on time. You struggled in the past few meetings" It was not only rude and uncalled for but others heard her. If I had not ever been late she wouldnt have had the ammo to make to untactful remark. Point being Plax for whatever reason made a mistake. Now he gives da man a chance to decide his fate.
My uncle was shot and killed and in the same week my cousin was robbed at gun point. Did I start carrying a gun? No way.
Fate is but the consequnce of action or inaction. His actions sealed his fate and now he must face that head on. He is rich and famous so he will get less time than the average Joe but sometimes you need a healthy slap on the ass so you can see that you are no above the law because you are in a high tax bracket and you can catch a football. No one cares how good your skills were when you are behind bars. He probably will get a fine and probation but he deserves more.
-LS
EJ responds to Muata:
Have you ever been a professional athlete? NO! Out of all of the professional athletes in the USA a FEW do stupid shyt and hear you are making broad generalizations about them. What about the wall street THUGS, do they fit this profile? What about Doctors and Lawyers who have committed similar crimes...do they fit? Now this 28 year old man who has never been convicted of a crime before in his life now "according to you" feels that the law doesn't apply to him. What about all the first 28 years of his life? You sound like the Christians you hate so much!
-EJ
Muata responds to EJ:
No one is dismissing the corporate types. This is about a poor choice. Why can't you understand that? Bringing up other folk like doctors and high paid lawyers indicates to me that you have a huge problem addressing the real issue here: Plaxico made a poor decision. Also, you know and I know that money to some degree changes people. Some for the worst. Some for the good. Plaxico is a victim of stupidity. It is that simple, and believe me the time that I picked up a former girlfriends gun because I wanted to retaliate on a guy who jumped me: I WAS WRONG and it was a dumb azz decision. Just stupid! I was not licensed to carry a gun in DC. You know what the consequence would have been if a DC cop would have stopped me and found a gun in my possession: mandatory 5 years. Now, please put responsibility on the person and their stupid azz decisions PLEASE! I just did on myself!
-Muata
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