Applebee's Is No Longer Safe!!!!

So this holiday weekend gave us an early Christmas present as Plaxico Burress has created the best news story of the year. I will admit, I LOVE stupid criminals and clearly from the rapidly emerging details Plax is stupider than most. First off, the man shot himself in the leg with his own gun. He wasn't even trying to draw it, or use it. Just sitting there and BAM... Classic. Second, he was only mere inches away from giving us the funniest news story or all time by becoming the first NFL player to give himself a sex change operation.

Jokes aside, however, this is a truly amazing story. Not only did Plax bring a gun to a club. Not only did he shoot himself with it. But he broke the law by doing so, and then, when he realized the trouble he was in, he compounded it by lying to the hospital and then to police. Plax actually told the hospital that he was shot at an Applebee's....a frikken Applebee's. What? They wouldn't report it?...What kind of Applebee's do they have in NYC. At least he was smart enough to give a fake name, the unfortunately unfunny Harris Smith. Its no Ron Mexico, I'll tell ya that.

This event, as stupid and fun to make fun of as it is, points to a very serious problem in sports. As i started to talk about with my Pac-Man post last week, all sports, especially the NFL, need to do something to make it clear to troubled players that there will be real world consequences to their actions. Pac-Man has made mistake, after mistake, after mistake and still he pulls down an NFL paycheck and gets to play on Sundays. This cannot continue.

If we look at Plaxico's situation it becomes clear that this type of behavior can not be tolerated. Not only did Plaxico break the law, but he endangered the lives of others. This isn't the first time Plaxico has made bad decisions, but there is a huge difference between the immature and selfish things Plax has done in the past and the dangerous and criminal acts he is accused of committing this weekend. The point is, however, with his past discipline problems and his huge new contract (including an $11 million signing bonus) Plaxico knew that he could not afford any missteps. And still he put himself in this situation.

I know some out there will say that we expect too much of young athletes. And while I recognize that many of the young athletes who end up in trouble didn't grow up under the best circumstances, and didn't get the best of education, I don't think that can be an excuse any more. Yes some of these players have faced disadvantages, but they also have huge advantages. Plaxico Burress just signed a $35 million dollar contract. The man can afford to pay for private security. As a matter of fact if he is so concerned that he will be shot out at a club, maybe he should just rent out the club. Or better yet, what any normal human being would do...If you think you will get shot at a particular place then don't go to that place. I'll pause while you let that brilliance wash over you.....got it?...alright good.

Perhaps the most troubling part is seeing how Plaxico and his attorney have reacted to this. My favorite quote... "He is standing tall. He is a mature adult," Brafman said. "I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned." He may be standing tall, (and probably limping) but he is not a mature adult. This is the problem. He should be one, but he isn't and continuing to let him skate by without facing any real punishment will do nothing to change that fact.

I understand that rich athletes and entertainers are targets in the club scene for people who wanna act tough and compensate for the fact that they don't have a great life, but the fact of the matter is part of the price of having incredible wealth and being famous is that you have to avoid those situations. Frankly I don't think there are many people who wouldn't gladly trade their ability to go to a nightclub for 35 million dollars. Plaxico, it appears just seems to think he is some sort of gangster. And no, this isn't because of rap music, or The Wire or anything else. Its because Plaxico Burress is a childish, selfish, careless MORON.

My point in writing all this is that there is no excuse for this type of behavior. Plaxico didn't just hurt himself with his actions. He hurt his team and he hurt his organization. He put lives in danger, he broke the law and it appears that he has involved Antonio Pierce in his crimes enough that Pierce will likely face charges. With what we saw from Michael Vick and Pac-Man Jones it is clear that many athletes seem to think they are above the law. And with the number of second and third chances given out by teams and the NFL its no wonder they do. Its time that we as a society stop making excuses for these young men just because they can play a sport.

Imagine if it was you who did this at a club this weekend. Do you think your employer would be so quick to forgive. Of course not, and why would you not deserve the same treatment as Plaxico. More likely than not you don't have a record of disrespect and disregard for others. Obviously athletes lead very different lives from us "normal" people, but they aren't better, or more deserving of extra slack.

So I hope that Mayor Bloomberg follows through and makes an example out of Plaxico. Frankly, Plax deserves to have the book thrown at him, there is nothing he has done in his career that indicates otherwise. Maybe if Plax goes to jail for a few years athletes in all sports will realize that just because you are rich doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want.

Either Plaxico is a man who has not grown up enough to be trusted with his freedom, or he is a bad man who does not, and will not respect the rules of law. Either way, he is not someone who should be allowed to make huge sums of money and be idolized by kids for his on-field abilities.

Mr. Goodell, New York Giants, football watching public... FIRE PLAXICO BURRESS.

Oh, and New York prosecutors....put him away. Do it for Applebee's.