Now, in a perfect world you'd click on my page and read a warm and fuzzy feel good story that might make you feel all sentimental inside.
Lucky for all involved, we've come to learn the world is far from perfect and we remember- the Cincinnati Bengals do still have a bunch of felons on their roster.
A day after the team announced the signing of Tank " waive my gun in the air" Johnson, it was reported by many media outlets that Bengals Cornerback Leon Hall was pulled over in Clermont County Sunday, March 5, around 3 a.m. and charged with DUI. The kicker? He implicated himself.
He was cooperative and polite according to a report on ESPN.com, so much that he told the officer he had been drinking. He did wha'-who-where-huh?
I've never had a DUI, nor have I ever been in trouble with the police, but even the tamest minds know this; Never under any circumstances do you give a police officer anything he can use against you.
Athlete or not.
I don't get pro-athletes and DUI's. They have money, yet they refuse to hire a driver or call a cab. I also don't get the guys that call themselves Cincinnati Bengals.
Since 2005, Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News reported that 16 Bengals players have been in some kind of trouble with the law.
Of those 16, Chris Henry and O'dell Thurman to me stick out the most. Both have been in all kinds of trouble and both have been suspended for games because of their behavior.
Hall has a couple of things working for him as he moves forward to resolve this issue, if he hopes not to be suspended by the Commissioner.
First, he's got a squeaky clean record. He's never been in trouble before and this will be his first time visiting the Commissioner under these circumstances.
Second and I believe most important, is the Commissioner has to be a little lenient with him. Once he digs up his file he'll see why.
Hall did go to Michigan, you have to feel a little sorry for him.
Gotta love public records: Check out a copy of Hall's court records.
*Photo by Brian Bahr
I have to respectfully disagree with you about him cooperating with police. I know that if you're guilty, which he was, it's better in the long run to be honest. Imagine if Donte Stallworth would have tried to deny being intoxicated after killing that man with his car. He would probably feeling the heat a lot harder than he is now.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise this was a really well written post. I don't about you, but I didn't know Tank was from Gary, Indiana. It makes the guns and stuff make a tad bit more sense. Don't let the fact that it's Wacko Jacko's hometown fool you. I heard Gary is a rough city.
"He did wha'-who-where-huh?"-that line was tight and I really liked your send off.
ReplyDeleteA posted public record. I gotta hand it to you, Joe, that's great tongue-and-cheek. I know there's nothing there but a typed-up version of a ticket, but I felt like I HAD to look anyway. Just because it was there! That's a great way to generate interest in links. :)
ReplyDeleteEvery time I hear of another NFL player in trouble I think "which Bengals player is it now?". It's embarrassing to their hometown that they're always in trouble. I don't even like the Bengals, but I do sometimes feel sorry for them. However, I've always loved TJ Houshmanzadeh, and always hoped for him to play for the Vikings. It broke my heart when he chose Seattle.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is very tight and professional, yet humorous.
ReplyDeletei can see you hosting your own radio show and generating a sizable audience with your wit and professionalism.