December 26, 2003
NFL: NATIONAL FIREARMS LEAGUE
The New York Times has a
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/26/sports/football/26GUNS.html?pag
ewanted=1">lengthy article today looking at the high percentage of
professional football players who own guns. Estimates of those thought
to own guns while playing in the NFL range from 50% to 90%. The
Times seems to think this is a highly negative development,
disapproving of players' desire as wealthy public figures to protect
themselves from aggressive and often-confrontational fans. What is
striking about the article is that despite the wide proliferation of
weapons among players, lax stadium security, and veiled insinuations
about the character integrity of NFL personnel, The Times could
produce no actual instance where guns were used in the commission of a
violent crime by an NFL player, other than unsubstantiated charges of
brandishing that may or may not have factual basis. The most prominent
player-related incident described, in fact, involves the unfortunately
named T.J. Slaughter, who was accused of brandishing a handgun at two
men on a freeway. Slaughter denies the charge of brandishing, and
actually claims that he was defending himself from a potential
carjacking incident. As opposed to the lack of evidence of criminality
by gun-toting players, the article does describe why many players feel
there is a legitimate need to defend themselves:
"People don't realize how many aggressive fans there
are," Huyghue, the player agent, said. "There are a lot of people out
there who want to make a name for themselves by taking on a football
player. In my opinion, those types of confrontations have increased in
number and intensity."
Will Allen, a Giants cornerback, was returning home two years ago when
three armed men assaulted him, doused him with gasoline and threatened
to set him afire if he did not hand over his jewelry, which was worth
more than $100,000, according to the police. He did.
Slaughter, the former Jacksonville linebacker, said his belief that he
needs a gun for protection was reinforced in November 2001, when Danny
Clark, a close friend of Slaughter's who plays for the Jaguars, was
assaulted as he left a restaurant in Jacksonville, Fla.
Clark, who was on crutches because of a football injury, told the
police that as he neared his luxury sports utility vehicle, a man
approached, pointed a large handgun in his face and demanded his car
keys. Clark handed them over and the man stole the vehicle, the police
said.
"To watch your friend go through the aftereffects of getting robbed,
that had an impact on me," Slaughter said. "At that point, I began to
think it wasn't a question of if some guy was going to come after me or
another teammate, but when."
What is most glaringly obvious to anyone that reads the article
is what The New York Times pointedly avoids printing, which is
that they feel horrified that black men--as most NFL players are--are
walking around with guns. Instead the article employs some euphemisms
to communicate the point. "Athletes" have volatile tempers with poor
impulse control and concerns about drugs and alcohol use are raised.
It is noted that many NFL players also insist on owning expensive cars
and clothing. If The Times was a little more honest it should
have just titled the article "Uppity Coked-Up Negroes Arming
Themselves, Prepare to Defend Your Women." Tagged:
Posted by Lexiphane at December 26, 2003 11:13 AM
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