Well, it's been a while, but I decided that I needed to weigh in on the recent shenanigans of New York Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress. For those who haven't heard the story, Burress carried a gun--loaded for that matter--into a nightclub and ended up 'accidentally' shooting himself in the thigh. He then proceeded to leave the nightclub with one of his teammates, linebacker Antonio Pierce, and the two didn't make it to a hospital for the next two hours.
Now, what went on in those two hours is the mystery behind the scandal, but what isn't a mystery is the jail time that Burress is facing. In New York, it is illegal to carry a gun without a permit, and the gun must be licensed and registered in the state of New York. The penalty for breaking this law is a class four felony, and it carries a mandatory 3.5 years in prison. Plaxico turned himself in on Monday, and now the waiting begins until the grand jury of New York decides whether to indict him.
I love sports. Obviously I admire some of the greats for the way they play their respective sports on the field. But many of the professional athletes today are turning into absolute wrecking balls. Here's my opinion: it all starts with the money. The amount these guys get paid, especially in the NBA, is absolutely insane. Don't get me wrong, these guys can make a very substantial living but after a certain point, they are so deep in money that they create a false reality. They start to believe that nothing is above them. That nothing can stop them. We see and read this about professional athletes all the time.
Here's my verdict: Burress will get the full extent of the law and be sentenced to prison for 3.5 years. The New York Giants will release him, but run into some difficulties with the huge contract that they offered him after winning the Super Bowl last season. It's a sad thing, but the question will always be asked...why did he carry the gun into the club in the first place? What also is sad, is that Antonio Pierce could be charged with something. He helped Plaxico, in trying to conceal what happened. I say leave him alone and put it all on Burress, but I'm sure New York law enforcement would like their hands on two professional athletes.
So the question goes to you, what will happen to Plaxico Burress?
