Friday, June 22, 2007

Adam "Pacman" Jones...GROW UP!!

I am sick and tired of hearing about Adam “Pacman” Jones. He’s an embarrassment to Middle Tennessee and to the Tennessee Titans!! He stated in a letter to the fans (which appeared in many of our local papers) that he was turning over a new leaf. He was going to get his life straightened out. He was going to be a good example, and he was extremely sorry for all the bad publicity he has been garnering for himself and the Titans. The letter went on.

Obviously, he didn’t mean a word of that letter because once again, he is in the paper for being at a strip club with his buddies at 4 a.m. causing fights and there was a shooting afterwards (from one car to another – supposedly Jones was not in either car). I no longer read the reports or news articles that have his name in them. I also no longer read the MANY comments made by Tennesseans regarding this man.

I understand he came from a rough neighborhood. I understand that he has made bad choices in regards to his entertainment and to the friends he lets hang around him. I understand that he was raised primarily by his grandmother without a father figure around. I also understand that he is 23 years old. I understand that he is now a man and is responsible for his own actions. I understand that others have grown up in similar situations (in other sports and even in the NFL) and have not had the run-ins with the law that Adam has nor have they had 13 altercations with police (or bad publicity) in a 2-year span of time.

When all of this started, I felt sorry for him; but I never excused away his bad behavior because of my pity. His choices are just that…HIS CHOICES which means they are HIS responsibility. He can choose to continue down this path or he can choose to change. Change will not come easily. He will need to make a clean break with all his “high school” buddies. They are doing him no good anyway. If they were truly his friends, they would try to keep him out of trouble instead of helping him to cause trouble.

BE A MAN, Adam! GROW UP! The NFL isn’t going to let you continue your football career if you can’t stay out of trouble. So far, you get into trouble on an average of EVERY 2 MONTHS (24 months divided by 12 altercations and now there’s number 13 which really takes your average down further). That’s RIDICULOUS! No one else would get away with having this much trouble; yet somehow, everyone feels sorry for you. You have this great talent and natural ability. That cannot be denied, but you are throwing it away to spend time with your friends. Pretty soon, your talent and natural football ability will no longer keep you out of trouble. The NFL will be tired of hearing about it. I can’t imagine the Titans wanting you back after your suspension when all of this is over; nor do I see another team wanting the publicity you have brought to the Titans and Tennessee in order to put you on their roster.

That’s my 2 cents for now. Until later….

No comments: