Dummies Under the Influence
Those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook know that I write for the Cincinnati Bengals fansite stripehype.com, and as such, have moved my writing there, and a few other places. However, I wanted to dust off my blog for this one (It may wind up elsewhere at some point too). I try to keep things on the positive, lighter side on stripehype, and this post is about a subject that is anything except positive. It's a deeply personal subject that I feel very strongly about, and feel as though I should keep my thoughts here, where it won't be construed as a collective opinion. It's just my own, thought I do credit CBS's Gregg Doyle for inspiring me to write it. Read his own thoughts here: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19668160/goodell-needs-to-deliver-message-before-drunk-nfl-players-kill-again
This has been an extremely disappointing NFL offseason. It's not a reflection of the Bengals, the usual source of dissatisfaction this time of year, nor the Reds, who are often falling out of contention for good by now. My anger stems from the NFL players themselves, and the manner of the conduct of far too many of them, specifically their propensity for drinking and driving in 2012. Since the start of the new year, there have been 14 different players arrested for driving under the influence. That's 14 guys, who make enough money to have a limousine follow them around 24 hours a day, who risked the lives of innocent people by getting behind the wheel of a car intoxicated. Now, I know that people die every day from accidents involving alcohol, and each and every one is a tragedy. Nobody should ever drink and drive, and it's something that I find inexcusable. Players who have millions of dollars, in most cases, in particular should be ashamed of themselves. Taxis, limos, and pick-up services are available, and within means for them. Failure to call them, or arrange for a designated driver shows that they're either irresponsible, unintelligent, or just downright disrespectful of the lives of others.
Mr Doyle mentions some of the arrests:
Justin Blackmon was at 3-times the legal limit and in possible danger of choking on his own vomit.
David Diehl took off and crashed into several parked cars.
Nick Fairley was driving at 100 mph with an open container.
Marshawn Lynch was seen weaving in traffic.
Darius Heyward-Bey was speeding and weaving on a bridge.
Knowshon Moreno was arrested while driving a car with a license plate reading "SAUCED"
Robert Quinn had an accident while drunk and was without insurance.
The list goes on. Let's also not forget, it hasn't been too long since Donte Stallworth, drunk and speeding, struck a pedestrian, killing him. Several years before, Leonard Little also hit and killed a woman while driving with a 0.19 blood alcohol level. Driving drunk isn't new, and it isn't confined to any one team. My beloved Bengals have had past issues as well. Current Bengals Leon Hall and Ray Maualuga have had DUI arrests, and there are several former Bengals with similar incidents. I was as hard on them as I was on players for other teams. Stupid is stupid, no matter what uniform he wears.
As I mentioned, this is also a personal issue. It happened many years ago, now, but my aunts first-born son was walking on a sidewalk when a drunk driver jumped the curb, striking and killing him at the age of three. He would be much older now, older than me, but due to the poor decision of that person, he didn't get to grow up. I'm not alone in experiencing this kind of tragedy either. It happens daily, too often. Too many people make light of it, not knowing the effect it can have when the worst comes to bear, which it will eventually. No NFL players will read this, I know that. Mostly likely, my message will be read by a few people, and forgotten, but nonetheless, I implore EVERYBODY, including those guys we all call heroes on Sunday, to use your head. Don't drink and drive, it's not worth your life, my life, or the lives of others. It's bad enough seeing my favorite players in the news for driving drunk, I don't want to read that another child won't get the chance to grow up because one of those players decided to roll the dice. Call a cab, call a limo, call somebody, anybody. Driving drunk doesn't just make you dangerous. It makes you a moron. Be safe.
This has been an extremely disappointing NFL offseason. It's not a reflection of the Bengals, the usual source of dissatisfaction this time of year, nor the Reds, who are often falling out of contention for good by now. My anger stems from the NFL players themselves, and the manner of the conduct of far too many of them, specifically their propensity for drinking and driving in 2012. Since the start of the new year, there have been 14 different players arrested for driving under the influence. That's 14 guys, who make enough money to have a limousine follow them around 24 hours a day, who risked the lives of innocent people by getting behind the wheel of a car intoxicated. Now, I know that people die every day from accidents involving alcohol, and each and every one is a tragedy. Nobody should ever drink and drive, and it's something that I find inexcusable. Players who have millions of dollars, in most cases, in particular should be ashamed of themselves. Taxis, limos, and pick-up services are available, and within means for them. Failure to call them, or arrange for a designated driver shows that they're either irresponsible, unintelligent, or just downright disrespectful of the lives of others.
Mr Doyle mentions some of the arrests:
Justin Blackmon was at 3-times the legal limit and in possible danger of choking on his own vomit.
David Diehl took off and crashed into several parked cars.
Nick Fairley was driving at 100 mph with an open container.
Marshawn Lynch was seen weaving in traffic.
Darius Heyward-Bey was speeding and weaving on a bridge.
Knowshon Moreno was arrested while driving a car with a license plate reading "SAUCED"
Robert Quinn had an accident while drunk and was without insurance.
The list goes on. Let's also not forget, it hasn't been too long since Donte Stallworth, drunk and speeding, struck a pedestrian, killing him. Several years before, Leonard Little also hit and killed a woman while driving with a 0.19 blood alcohol level. Driving drunk isn't new, and it isn't confined to any one team. My beloved Bengals have had past issues as well. Current Bengals Leon Hall and Ray Maualuga have had DUI arrests, and there are several former Bengals with similar incidents. I was as hard on them as I was on players for other teams. Stupid is stupid, no matter what uniform he wears.
As I mentioned, this is also a personal issue. It happened many years ago, now, but my aunts first-born son was walking on a sidewalk when a drunk driver jumped the curb, striking and killing him at the age of three. He would be much older now, older than me, but due to the poor decision of that person, he didn't get to grow up. I'm not alone in experiencing this kind of tragedy either. It happens daily, too often. Too many people make light of it, not knowing the effect it can have when the worst comes to bear, which it will eventually. No NFL players will read this, I know that. Mostly likely, my message will be read by a few people, and forgotten, but nonetheless, I implore EVERYBODY, including those guys we all call heroes on Sunday, to use your head. Don't drink and drive, it's not worth your life, my life, or the lives of others. It's bad enough seeing my favorite players in the news for driving drunk, I don't want to read that another child won't get the chance to grow up because one of those players decided to roll the dice. Call a cab, call a limo, call somebody, anybody. Driving drunk doesn't just make you dangerous. It makes you a moron. Be safe.
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