Good for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He suspended Donte Stallworth indefinitely for killing a man while driving under the influence. Stallworth was sentenced to 30 days in the slammer and made a cash settlement with the victim's family. Still...
Stallworth drove drunk and killed someone. Michael Vick is suspended and he didn't even kill a person. He killed dogs. You could say Vick killed dogs in a premediated manner and what Stallworth did was not premeditated. Sure. But Stallworth chose to drink and then chose to drive drunk. That's premeditated in a way. And he killed someone. He does not deserve to play in a league which is trying to stress character. He got what he deserves.
this is why I am not a fan of the NFL. Well, not liking football probably plays a part, but I am even getting to the point at which all pro's are losing their appeal. They all cheat, break laws, hurt others, and think they can get away with it because everyone is expected to view them as heros and role models. And they usually do! We shouldn't watch them, and then they won't get all the millions that could be going somewhere more productive...but pro sports are what we need to see, and it's a high price for entertainment.
Hi Kay:
Question for you. What do you do for entertainment? I could made a case that the same goes for movie stars, tv stars, authors, singers...the list goes on and on. Anyone in a position to entertain, is in a position of power and power corrupts EVERYONE. I agree with you 1000 percent but I am at a stage in my life where I'm struggling with the questions you raise. I love to hear from anyone on this subject.
i was under the impression that it wasn't a crosswalk situation and that the guy ran out in front of Stallworth's car trying to catch a bus... obviously doesn't excuse the drunk driving or the fact that he ended up killing someone b/c of it.
you also forgot that Stallworth had his driver's license suspended for the rest of his life, 10 yrs probation, 1000 hrs community service and mandatory counseling. it's kind of discrediting when a journalist divulges less information to make it look like he got off easier (though he still got off easy) than what he really got.
this story just has too much pretentiousness to it... what would be your response if you had found out your kid had driven drunk during college? would you condemn him as someone who has bad character? who, "in a way", committed premeditated murder?
One could argue he didn't get enough of what he deserved
I like Roger Goodell's decision. What if Stallworth happened to be a baseball player ? Would Bud Selig have acted in the same fashion as Roger Goodell ?
I also want to re-inforce a quote from Charles Barkley "Athletes are not role models".
I enjoy watching sports for the spirit of competition and for the sake of rooting for our hometown teams. I am finding it harder and harder to evaluate athletes as entertainers and maybe sports and entertainment should not be mixed. If they get mixed, then we are lowering our moral standards and we might has well be watching that junk that is produced by Vince McMahon.
Maybe the NFL is waking up, as should all sports. I think it's totally appropriate. For the salaries these guys make I'd stay at a buddhist temple every off season for the duration of my career. After I retire, then I'll start shooting up clubs, and in Plaxicos case himself. After I retire I'll start doing tons of blow and going to Vegas every other weekend, I'll be in the hospital bed right next to Jeremy Shockeys. After I retire I'll go pound drinks and drive my Bentley. I understand that some people just can't help themselves but if thinking athletes should be responsible people in exchange for millions of dollars is wrong I don't want to be right.
I believe the family of the deceased choose not to go to trial for an increased punishment, instead chosing to bargin, get cash and a small penalty. This seems to be passed over so much. They could have gone to trial, gone through a lengthy and painful trial process, stallworth probably would have gotten much more time behind bars and paid money as well. And Vick didn't go to jail for dog fighting, his main punishment was for transfering money over state lines, that's why it was a federal crime. Had it just been dog fighting vick may have just gotten probation. Why do journalists feel they can ignore the facts just to make their point, if you have to do that you don't really have a point now do you?
Get off my lawn!
Don't know the details, but it's possible that the drunk driving may not have been that much of a factor in the accident. Somebody runs out in front of your car, you have no time to react and hit him. Drunk or sober, you would have hit him. Or maybe faster reaction would have avoided the man. Who knows in this case?
I'll bet 90% of our citizens have had a couple of drinks and gotten behind the wheel sometime during their lifetime. They get away with it 99.99% of the time. So if you're just a little impaired, you never think it likely that you're going to hurt somebody. It's irresponsible, it can lead to tragedy, but it's a long way from evil. So unless you've never driven with a buzz on, judge not that ye be not judged. You got away with it by pure chance.
Of course once you've had a scary incident or gotten a DUI, that all changes. You've been properly warned and if you're irresponsible enough to drink and drive, you deserve to do jail time.
Michael Vick has an evil streak. Anyone who takes pleasure in cruelty to animals has the capacity for cruelty to people. Different moral category entirely.