| Just when critics of professional athletes | | | | instantly see dollar signs, and consequently |
| had all of them, such as Pacman Jones, | | | | they will do anything to extort money out of |
| stereotyped as thugs and hoodlums, police in | | | | them because of jealousy. |
| Las Vegas and Seattle dropped a bombshell on | | | | |
| haters of the future Dallas Cowboys | | | | Some absurd critics, like Skip Bayless of |
| cornerback. | | | | ESPN, have even stated that athletes should |
| | | | stay in their house at all times except to |
| According to the Associated Press, Adam | | | | practice their trade, because he believes |
| "Pacman" Jones paid extortion money to Arvin | | | | giving up your entire life is just a |
| Kenti Edwards, 29, of Renton, Wash. who | | | | consequence of fame and fortune. |
| allegedly opened fire at a strip club and | | | | |
| paralyzed an employee during NBA All-Star | | | | When the late Sean Taylor of the Washington |
| Weekend on February 19, 2007 in Las Vegas. | | | | Redskins was murdered in his Florida home, |
| | | | reporters scrutinized his checkered past and |
| Las Vegas police said the two briefly met | | | | falsely believed that his death had something |
| outside the club after Jones incited a melee. | | | | to do with the mistakes he made in the past. |
| Shortly after the two parted ways, the | | | | |
| alleged gunman fired shots towards the club. | | | | However, the alleged perpetrators had been |
| | | | invited to the house by one of Taylor's |
| According to the police, someone contacted | | | | family members and believed he would be an |
| Jones about a week later and ordered him to | | | | easy target for robbery. |
| pay "hush money" or the alleged perpetrator | | | | |
| would "go after Jones, his mother and | | | | For days his family, friends and teammates |
| daughter." | | | | watched as his reputation was dragged through |
| | | | the mud by reporters eager to print an |
| "Jones pleaded no contest Dec. 6 in Las Vegas | | | | interesting story. Despite the adversity, his |
| to conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct in | | | | family members held their heads high as their |
| a plea deal that reduced two felony charges | | | | loved-one endured persecution for being a |
| of coercion, which each carried a possible | | | | victim of a senseless crime that could have |
| sentence of one to six years in prison," | | | | claimed the life of anyone of us. |
| according to the A.P. "In return, he agreed | | | | |
| to tell police what he knew about the gunman. | | | | When Durham, N.C. police arrested three Duke |
| Jones never acknowledged any role in the | | | | University lacrosse players for the alleged |
| shooting." | | | | sexual assault of an exotic dancer, the media |
| | | | and public quickly painted them as a bunch of |
| Subsequently, National Football League | | | | snobbish elitist who believed they could get |
| commissioner Roger Goodell for the Las Vegas | | | | away with "murder" simply because of who they |
| incident and past transgressions suspended | | | | were. |
| the newly acquired Cowboys cornerback. Jones | | | | |
| is currently seeking reinstatement into the | | | | The public later discovered that the young |
| league. | | | | woman fabricated the entire story and |
| | | | District Attorney Mike Nifong withheld |
| If the recent developments are true, did | | | | evidence to gain favor with the Black |
| Jones really do anything that warranted such | | | | community of Durham, N.C. as he sought |
| harsh treatment from the league? | | | | reelection. |
| | | | |
| In hindsight, many people would have | | | | Is Jones that latest victim of a society that |
| responded the same way if their families were | | | | is so quick to judge those with more |
| threatened. | | | | financial means than the average American? |
| | | | |
| Often, we see athletes and entertainers | | | | Truthfully, many athletes and entertainers |
| involved in extracurricular activity and many | | | | are no different from the average American. |
| critics are so quick to "jump on the | | | | They were willing to do anything to make a |
| bandwagon" and paint them all with one big | | | | better life for them and their family. |
| brush. | | | | Unfortunately, many haters are also willing |
| | | | to do anything to take that livelihood away |
| In reality, when many haters see them, they | | | | from them. |