Earth to Plaxico
It was with great shock - yeah, right - that I heard a report Wednesday about the dear, departed Plaxico Burress being suspended by his current employer, the New York Giants. It seems Plaxico decided he didn't have to join the other 52 members of the team in some meetings. This is the same guy who just signed a new contract that will pay him about $35 million, with $11 million guaranteed. ESPN's Sal Palantonio (one of the best sports reporters in the business, by the way) said Burress and his agent, the ultra-despicable Drew Rosenhaus, were told during negotiations on the new contract that if Plaxico got his millions, the Giants would no longer put up with his past shenanigans, which mainly involved Plaxico doing whatever Plaxico wanted to do, which very often was nothing. This guy was a pain in the ass during his years with the Steelers, so I shed no tears when he took his act to New York. Some of the blame for this mess is on the Giants. They had to have known what kind of person Burress was when they initially signed him, and then, after dealing with his act over the past few years, they shower him with more millions. Stupid is as stupid does. Burress is a poster child for the me-first, I'm-entitled athletes. I'm sure this is never going to cross Plaxico's mind, but he's a guy who should be thanking his lucky stars every day that he was born with other-wordly athletic skills, because after years of hearing him being interviewed on Pittsburgh TV stations, I don't even think he'd be the star employee at a sheltered workshop. Of course, Rosenhaus already is prodding the NFL players union to appeal on Burress' behalf, and it's fairly likely that his suspension will be overturned. That just sends the message to Burress that he's above the team's rules, and we can all take bets on how long it is before he figuratively gives "the bird" to his teammates again.
Labels: Sports
posted by Brant at
10:17 AM
13 Comments:
Sad and pathetic. I wish these athletes would understand and realize how truly lucky they are to be paid millions for doing what they love and having fun all in the same turn. Why ruin it with your attitude and bull. Be professional, act like an adult. GROW UP!! Of course if NY gets fed up with Plaxico and decides to let him go, Jerry Jones will pick him up. He seems to have a soft spot for the troublemakers of the NFL.
I read that Burress is a born-again Christian. When he was reading the Bible he must have glossed over the many references to humility. I hated that bastard when he played for Pittsburgh and I don't like him now. That tear-filled babble he spewed after the Super Bowl was drivel.
He's from the Hampton Roads area in Virginia...the fertile breeding ground for other spoiled, athletically-gifted thugs such as Alan Iverson and the inimitable brothers Vick. I remember he was arrested at least twice in Virginia during the off-season when he played for the Steelers. His attitude was evident then: he was going in excess of 100 mph in his $150k Benz which was filled with some of his Hampton Homies. When he was pulled over the cops found pot. Of course, one of the thugs took the hit (no pun intended) for Burress and he went on as if nothing had happened.
Burress is just another example of the pampered spoiled athlete who flaunts the rules and does whatever the hell he wants, then hides behind his God-given talent and the Bible...and that sickens me even more.
Hampton Roads! Colluseum Blvd?
I never would have guessed that it was a breeding ground for elite athletes.
-ellipses
Priguy I agree that he feels that he is above the rules and he uses religion, just like most athletes and privileged individuals due to get over, but was it really necessary to refer to him and other athletes from the Virginia area as "thugs." I am sure you know better than I do about what goes on in VA but I really don't think it's fair to assume that everyone that comes from that area are thugs. There are plenty of athletes black and white who have had their mistakes and run ins with the law, but that does not necessarily make them thugs, it just makes them stupid. The definition of a thug is "a brutal ruffian or assassin, gangster, murder." I don't think that Plaxico, Iverson or the Vick brothers are any of that. Your response to the blog seems very angry and somewhat racist. Every "gifted" (rich) individual hides behind their talent, God and their previous record. Movie stars, musicians, athletes, even politicians, white, black and in between. That does not make them thugs, gangsters or murders. It makes them immature, ignorant and pathetic.
According to Dictionary.com, a thug is: noun; an aggressive and violent young criminal.
There is nothing in what I wrote that indicates racism. I never mentioned that the men were black. You're the one who assumed that I was being racist, and that's insulting...particularly considering that I'm African-American. The fact that the four men I mentioned happen to be black is a coincidence, as is the fact that they happen to be from the Hampton Roads area. The area they grew up in is similar to the Hill District in Pittsburgh. I was not disparaging the entire population of the Hampton Roads area; I was merely referring to the coincidental fact that the men I mentioned all came from the same geographical area.
So, having clarified that, let's look at some facts:
Michael Vick is in jail on dog-fighting charges.
Marcus Vick was thrown out of Va. Tech for a variety of offenses, not the least of which were contributing to the delinquency of a minor, giving a minor alcohol and having sex with a minor. He's been arrested a few times for petty crimes, and was arrested again a year or so ago for fighting in a McDonald's parking lot. He also was carrying a gun. I don't carry a gun when I need a Big Mac, do you?
Burress was caught twice speeding and carrying marijuana in his car. His buddies took the heat for him because they knew that he'd take care of them in the future for keeping him out of jail. It's not too hard for a punk kid from a crappy neighborhood to understand that their multi-millionaire star athlete buddy has a better future than he does, and if he can keep his friend out of jail, he'll take the heat.
Alan Iverson was pardoned right after he got out of high school by then-Governor Doug Wilder. Iverson was arrested for rioting. He also had his share of problems with the Philadelphia police a few years back.
These fellows don't sound like model citizens to me. So in light of these instances and using an additional definition for "thug," you can see that these guys are indeed thugs.
The reason I sound angry is that these people, particularly the gifted athletes, piss me off. They have no appreciation for what they have been given. Watch the sidelines during a football game. There are people who actually pour Gatorade into the athletes' mouths! They can use their hands to pass and catch a football, but they can't hold their own drinks? Please.
On MTV Cribs once, the featured rapper was showing off his cars. He owned a Bentley, which costs in excess of $300,000. When he pointed to it he said, "It's a Bentley. I never heard of it before, but they said I ought to have one if I have money." He couldn't possibly appreciate what he has. He doesn't even know what he owns! It's sickening.
Priguy, your last point is precisely the reason that I need to invest in a widget factory... a fool and his money are soon parted.
-ellipses... mindin' his widget bidness
Priguy just because your black does not mean that you cannot be racist toward your own race, and you know what I mean. By the way I am black also and your post came off to me that way. Just my perception, just as it is your perception that these individuals are "thugs." Just because you were brought up on dog fighting charges does not necessarily make you a "thug," it makes you an insensitive idiot. Michael Vick could not leave his past in the past, which included his criminal minded friends and family. Just like most young black men that are professional athletes. What needs to happen is that these organizations that they are apart of need to have programs that prepare them for what's ahead with their careers and finances. They need to guide them on what is expected of them now that they are in the spotlight and are looked at as role models. Instead these owners, managers etc. are more concerned about how much money these talented athletes are going to make for their organization and for their pockets, until of course they start acting like "thugs" and bringing embarrassment to the sport. These corporate types know what they are getting when they draft these young men and women out of college so there should be no surprise when they start to act up. I am upset by the way that these newly rich and famous squander what they have been blessed with just like you are, but I don't think that all of them are "thugs." Like I mentioned two times before this post, they are immature, ignorant and pathetic. No they are not model citizens, but how many people are, famous or not. I am sure you have a few in your family, I know I do. I don't want you to think I am jumping down your throat, but the way your post came off to me was angry with a little racist undertone and I felt I needed to address it, that's all. I still respect and appreciate your comments you post. It's great to have someones perspective who doesn't live in Washington, PA.
Okay Stelerfan43...I guess we can just agree to disagree. We've both made our point, and despite our best efforts, I don't think we'll ever agree on this. But it was fun debating it with you.
Now, ellipses...just let me know when you want to invest in that widget company. I have some money that ain't doin' nuthin'.
Just for the record... I'm not black:-)
-ellipses
Except for your heart. ;)
LoL... seriously... the chuckle was audible.
-ellipses
I read a report over the weekend that said our dear Plaxico has been fined or reprimanded 40 or 50 times since he joined the Giants. Missed meetings, tardiness, you know, Plaxico being Plaxico. Basically, he's been punished by the Giants pretty much once for every game he's played for them. The guy is a ... well, decorum prevents me from going any further.
I had fun too Priguy. It's okay that we won't agree on the matter but at least I know where you are coming from and you know where I am coming from and it will leave a little food for thought in our minds. That's what a good debate does, maybe McCain and Obama should of thought of that during theirs. That was enough to put you to sleep.
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