Enough is Enough

The death of Sean Taylor has added to the long list of off the field tragedies that have involved star athletes. Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, and Sean Taylor have all had controversial pasts. Unfortunately it has come back to haunt all three.

We all know the story of Jones and Vick, but Taylor’s is an interesting one. He was a star at the “U” (University of Miami), and later was the 5^th overall draft choice for the Washington Redskins. But his first few seasons in the league were rough ones. He was arrested twice, once for a DWI and the other for assault. He had rifts with Head Coach Joe Gibbs, and opted out of off-season workouts to stay in Miami. But that was all in the past; in the last 18 months since the birth of his daughter he has been a new man. For one, I believe this was a young man who was smart enough to realize it was time to be a grown up, and clean up his act. Since the birth of his daughter, he has been a model citizen and a leader on the Washington Redskins. It is absolutely tragic that a player can change so much and still be on the losing end. It’s a shame that someone would devise such a plan to end the life of someone who has made great strides to be a better person. Some may say it’s too little too late. Not me. I say there will also be those people out there who will do anything to see the successful FALL.

We have seen both Pacman Jones and Michael Vick get into trouble due to the crowds and friends they associate themselves with. Jones has been suspended for the year by the NFL, and Vick is facing significant jail time stemming from dog fighting charges. But they did not loose their life, they still have time to change.

Athletes, more than ever, are targets because of their social status and their financial success. Antoine Walker, Eddie Curry and Phillip Buchanan have all had their homes vandalized. Bryan Pata and Darrant Williams were both murdered. All of these athletes seemed to have no conflicts whatsoever and were simple targets due to their money and/or success.

It is time for athletes to associate themselves with better crowds and make better decisions. Athletes are not normal citizens and for that they will always be targets. Too many athletes have lost their lives or have had trouble with the law because of the people around them making bad decisions, and worst of all being targets of the jealous.

-Paul Schackman