Every now and then, there is an injustice in life that is so great it cannot be overlooked. An injustice so great that it moves the very soul of a man to the point where he yearns for nothing but for the situation to be rectified. Every man gets pushed to the point where they can't take it anymore, and then it's time to push back. Now is my time.
As any fan knows, the sports world just isn't fair. Ticket prices are ridiculous, beloved players bolt for higher paychecks (or, like a former dolphin, a "higher" standard of living), good guys get hurt, owners move teams or screw over fans, and there is nothing we can do about it. These are things we don't like, but we accept it and move on. The one thing I can't accept is the plea bargain for Jamal Lewis in his drug case.
The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Jamal Lewis accepted a plea bargain that would make him serve a four-to-six-month jail sentence instead of the career-ending 10-year sentence he would face if he was convicted of the drug conspiracy charge. Naturally, he wouldn't have to serve his sentence until after the season.
I think it is absurd that Jamal Lewis should have to serve any time in jail. Didn't our legal system get the memo? Athletes are above the law. He is a pro athlete, why should he be subjected to the laws of common people?
Ty Law had a problem with the police in April, and he handled it much better. After a short jog with police, Ty said to the cops, "Don't touch me, I'm a professional athlete."
The arresting officer said that Ty decided he was above the law, and he's not, and that's why he was arrested.
Maybe pro athletes aren't above the law after all, right? Wrong. Two months later, the charges had been dropped and his bail had been returned.
Certainly, the Ty Law defense should have covered Jamal Lewis, as it has in so many cases in sports. Besides, the NFL hands down their own punishment, and they do a damn fine job of policing their own. Once the NFL lays down the law, you rarely see a player commit the same foul twice; they learn their lesson.
In 1999, Leonard Little was taking a leisurely drive after a drink or two or 30, and unfortunately ran a red light and killed a St. Louis woman. The NFL then laid the smack down on Little, suspending him for half a season. The guilt from taking a life in an incident like that would be enough to turn any normal Joe straight, and he certainly would never drive drunk again.
But this is Leonard Little, not any normal Joe, and he was picked up for driving drunk again this past spring and his court date is set for one week from today. Little should face no repercussions from the legal system, and hopefully he won't face a lengthy suspension from the NFL. His fine can't be too long. After all, he didn't kill anyone this time and he is a professional athlete.
Let's objectively look at the important facts in this case. Now I know he drove drunk again or whatever, but more importantly, he went to the Pro Bowl last year. You can't just drop the hammer on a Pro Bowler; he's too good for jail.
In 2001, Michael Pittman was arrested twice for domestic abuse. He got some probation and served a one-game suspension. Last week was his first game back after a three game suspension due to, yes, another domestic abuse arrest.
Since actions speak louder than words, to make his point during an argument with his wife, Pittman got in his Hummer and rammed her car, which had his 2-year-old child and the 18-year-old babysitter inside, along with his wife.
Pittman said his suspension was bad, but could have been a lot worse. A lot worse? Nah, come on, you are a pro athlete. Michael did say his wife was standing behind him. This reminds me of an old riddle, what does Michael Pittman say to a woman with two black eyes? Nothing, he already told her twice. She's not standing behind him, she's hiding behind him. She's learned her lesson, stay out of Mike's way, he's a pro athlete, you can't touch him.
Why is this so hard for people to understand: Leonard Little wants to drive drunk, who cares, he's a Pro Bowler? Michael Pittman wants to play demolition derby with his wife and young child, big deal; he led the Bucs in rushing last year. That Jamal Lewis trying to help out a friend (at least he's not selfish) isn't important, what is important is that he gained 2,000 yards last year.
Jamal Lewis should get some advice from teammate Ray Lewis, the perennial star linebacker for the Ravens who got out of murder charges in the year 2000. Jamal said that Ray called him when news of the arrest broke and assured him that everything would work out fine. I'm not sure what he told him, but I would bet it was along the lines of, "you're a professional athlete, they can't touch you."
Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].
October 12, 2004
Matt:
I happen to diagree with what you say in this article. Just becuase you rush for 200 yards, go to the pro bowl, or are some stud player doesn’t mean that you don’t have to follow the rules that society as awhole has set down for ALL people in it. That is like saying you can’t arrest me i’m white. It doesn’t work that way. If all things were like that then nothing would matter and we would have mass murders running around the streets because you can’t touch me I’m crazy but i know waht I am doing when I do it. So just becuase these are talented and gifted athleets doesn’t mean that they get free get out of jail cards.
October 12, 2004
mark:
It was tongue in cheek, of course athletes shouldn’t be above the law, but the fact of the matter is that they are.
October 21, 2004
Emily:
Athletes should not be above the law, but no matter what we try to do to stop the unfairnes it never works. we can’t only blame the athletes though, the people who give them deals, let them off criminal convictions and even don’t give them speeding tickets help permote the thought to the athletes heads and the people around them.