Pacman Jones: Personal Problems Just like Everybody Else
The Pretty
Pacman was the first defensive player drafted in the NFL draft of 2005 (his junior year at WVU). He was taken 6th overall by the Tennessee Titans. After signing his deal with the team, he donated money to the 100 Club (supports families of firefighters, police and emergency workers). He also visited Pearl Cohn High School in Nashville to speak to the students there after one of their football players died in a car crash. Pacman also donated money to Nashville firefighters and police officers for newer uniforms.
The Ugly
Pacman ended his college football career badly when he fumbled a kick return at the Gator Bowl contributing to the Mountaineers losing to Florida State. After being drafted for the Titans, Jones missed most of training camp, while he negotiated his contract. During his first season with the NFL, Jones has 44 tackles, 10 pass deflections but sadly he had no interceptions and most Titans fans thought that he was a dud. Close to time for the NFL 2007 Draft, the NFL commissioner announced a one-year suspension for Pacman because of alleged wrongdoings.
July 2005: Assault and Felony Vandalism at a Nightclub
Sept 2005: Verbal tantrum with valet services at the Nashville Sports Council Kickoff Luncheon
Oct 2005: Irregular and insufficient contact with probation Officer
Aug 2006: Disorderly conduct and public intoxication
Oct 2006: Spitting in face of female Tennessee State Univ. student at nightclub
Feb 2007: Assault of exotic dancer at strip club in Vegas and alleged Felony Coercion
Felony and Misdemeanor Obstruction of Justice outside of a home
The Same
Yes all of the ugly acts by Pacman Jones are ugly and senseless and stereotypical of someone rising in fame too fast, but some of them are alleged. Spitting? Verbal tantrums? Really? That's what we're going to exile a talented football player for? Come on. I am in no way condoning the new celebrity's new lifestyle but is Pacman really that different from any of us? Sure we don't go to strip clubs and "make it rain" and then get mad about strippers picking up the money, but given the chance how would any of us act if we achieved our lifetime goal at an early age. That's why its called a lifetime goal, it is supposed to take you a long time. But because of Adam Jones talent, his lifetime goal was presented to him while he was still in college. He tried at first to do the right thing with what money was given to him, but then inevitably he got in with the wrong crowd (who probably flocked to him once he obtained his new money) and started doing the wrong thing with his money. Yes, he should be made to answer for what crimes he has committed after being acquitted, but do we really need to see his face in the newspaper every other day because he got too big for his britches and we can't imagine what that is like? The answer is "No". Leave this young man alone to fix what's wrong in his life, and don't judge, because what would you do if you suddenly achieved your lifetime goal tomorrow and it happened to be accompanied by large sums of money?
Published by Jonna Windon
I'm a soldier's wife. I have a Bachelors Degree in Political Science, and am a certified paralegal. I don't think I will ever get tired of reading and learning and thinking :) View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentWell, concerning the Pac Man Jones story. I feel that as a professional athlete he has an obligation to his fans and peers alike to carry himself like the professional that he is. This is no excuse for going out to a strip club with 1000's of dollars in your pocket and having the mindset to think because you are an athlete with money that you can act out on others and think that you will not get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as would a normal person like myself. When I say normal person, I am referring to one without a boat load of cash like myself. I feel that you should keep your outside activities to a low profile, don't do things or participate in things that will draw a high level of attention to yourself especially when you are a high-profile athlete or entertainer.
i understand completely, and i will definitely read your article once it is published. Thanks for taking an interest in mine.
Not to ruin your comments page. The article is well-written and the point made is justified fine, I just don't agree with it. But I hope you didn't take it personally at all. Anyways I did submit an article on Pacman, not really a direct rebuttal, for no payment so maybe that will get published soon.
yes I would suggest you both write counter articles on this topic, because I can explain where I'm coming from till I'm blue in the face, and you just aren't going to be swayed to believe anything but Pacman Jones is bad, and he should go in the big house for the rest of his life. The end. Thanks for reading tho.
My point about the double standard was that if we are assuming many NFL players get themselves in trouble without getting caught, why are we assuming Pacman Jones only has 10 offenses? Maybe he only got caught ten times. It really is hard to express all my thoughts in a comment. Maybe I'll write a quick article and submit it for no payment.
Not at all, Pacman Jones may be a case of Catch 22, where he started out just like every other drafted NFL player, started hangin out with the bad crowd, got one offense, and the media picked up on him and now other offenses are showing up left and right (like the spitting offense). He can't get himself out of the publicity of his offenses because the media won't leave him alone about his offenses, which causes new "offenses" to pop up left and right from people who also want their names in the paper. And I don't understand your double standard counter..
The system in America is innocent until proven guilty. Whether or not more players are getting into trouble is not a proven fact either way. The fact is that Pacman Jones got caught many times. With your logic, that must mean he has countless other offenses he didn't get caught for. Or is there a double-standard for those who get caught and those who don't on assuming offenses to the legal system?
Don't get themselves in trouble, or don't get caught? come on...
Theres plenty of better football players who don't get themselves into trouble. He got a free pass for a while but 10 incidents in that short of a time span? Where do you draw the line if you don't punish him? C'mon...
I agree with you, Mark, in some part. He does need help, but do you think that the media coverage of his "incidents" makes him realize he needs help or just makes him feel hopeless and causes a repeat of his cycle of trouble? And there is a lot of question about the man who was shot by somebody that Pacman was with, I'm not going to cast the first stone on that issue. I'm not outraged that his name in the news over and over for his trouble with the law, I am merely trying to help people to realize that Pacman Jonaes is a regular person with regular problems and maybe if we just left him to them, he would be more apt to fix them.