"PB&J"

It's time to Break It Down!

Now I know what you are thinking. What could possibly make peanut butter and jelly worth writing about today? While I must confess, the heading is somewhat misleading, I really could speak, voluminously, to the virtues of a well-constructed sandwich, filled with two rudiments that make my "Food of the gods" menu...and with conviction!

However, this is not an examination of the gastronomic delights wrought by combining the world’s most famous sandwich spread, with congealed sugar. No, I want to take a quick look at another icon derailed by a series of questionable choices. The PB&J to which I refer is “Plaxico Burress and Jail.”

Almost everyone knows Burress as the latest Poster Child for gun safety. On November 8, 2008, the former NFL player became the unwitting victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound when his Glock slipped out of his waistband, and in reaching for it, he pulled the trigger, and inadvertently shot himself. Instantly, the New York club, LQ, became the answer to an array of trivia questions, and Plaxico Burress, just 4 days into the post-Obama era went one-on-one with the new President-elect for media coverage.

Plaxico would go on to lose the media coverage challenge, quickly, and yesterday, Burress lost his freedom as well, as he surrendered to authorities to begin serving a two-year sentence on weapons charges. Burress, a former New York Giants wide receiver who pled guilty this past August to charges stemming from carrying a gun in a club in New York, could be released after 20 months, with good behavior.

In listening to, and watching conversations unfold, about this circus of events, I have heard a few people who actually defend Burress. Some say, an individual of his notoriety is almost never in public without being “strapped.” That may be true, but it is important to note, this was not Plaxico’s maiden voyage into the land of questionable, if not bizarre, behavior.

Even the short list is both lengthy and weighty:

In August and September 2008, two separate domestic disturbance calls led to temporary restraining orders being issued against Burress. It should be noted, they both were later dismissed in State court.

On October 24, 2008, he was issued three fines totaling $45,000 for the following reasons:
$20,000 for post game comments regarding officiating—specifically, inappropriate comments on officiating.
$20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct—specifically, verbal abuse of the head linesman.
$5,000 for throwing the ball into the stands.

In January 2009, a Pennsylvania car dealer filed a suit against Plaxico. The suit claims the dealer leased Burress a Chevrolet Avalanche in exchange for the player making appearances for the dealership, and further, that Burress never made any appearances, nor did he return the vehicle.

In a pending case, a Florida woman claims Burress ran into the back of her car while driving his uninsured Mercedes Benz.

In other words, there is reasonable evidence that Mr. Burress has demonstrated a sustained pattern of troubling and erratic behavior, on and off the field. At first glance, my sense of propriety was offended by the DA’s efforts to make an example of Burress. On its face, that seemed to smack of the all too typical, “make an example of the rich guy, who just happens to be black. Let‘s put this young blood in his place, and oh by the way, all will be right with the world, because, and only when that is done.”

Upon further reflection, and deeper inspection, this case of PB&J does not fit that story line at all. At best, Plaxico Burress acted consistently, as a deeply troubled man, challenging authority, and convention at every turn, in private, as well as in his professional life. At worst, Burress was out of control, and on a collision course with a destiny that likely involved tragedy, possibly, for himself, but altogether conceivably for someone innocent and unsuspecting.

While I fervently believe jail is the centerpiece of the Prison Industrial Complex , and is as close as one gets to hell on earth, a perverse station I wish on no one; doing a bid may help this young man find his way. I certainly hope so; more importantly, I hope he does too!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com . A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/22/burress.surrenders/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaxico_Burress