Charles Barkley - The role model...

As many of you have heard or read, Charles Barkley, former NBA all-star, was arrested and spent time (36 hours) in the Arizona Penal facility known as tent city. Of course the story-starved sports media has been all over this. I like to listen to ESPN.RADIO while commuting to work and occasionally during the day I'll catch a few of the shows. It was on all day - every time I tuned in.

The arguments ranged from the "they were too lenient" to "it's just a story because he's a sports star." Too all those buffoons who blabbed about it all day, I say... you're right. (hey, now I'm blabbing about it)

Let me start with the second side, first. Yes, it is only a story because he is a sports star. Look at the picture of him at tent city and there are probably six other inmates behind by the fence. Two of them probably also are incarcerated because of DUI. Nobody knows who they are or what sentence they got. I have been summoned for jury duty once each year for the last three years. Each case was for a drunk driver. It happens every day, every hour, maybe even every minute. Does anyone other than a celebrity get this coverage for driving drunk? No.

Charles once commented that he was not a "role model" just because he played basketball. I agree. Charles is not a role model. He's a drunk, a gambler, and overall just a plain pain. He is definetly not a role model. But he should be, or he should at least act like one. Anyone in his position of fame and with kids watching and emulating his playing ability, should take on the responsibility of that fame and set a better example. Whether he wants it or not, kids all over America used to idolize him. I know, he didn't ask for them to do it. But it comes with the million dollar contracts. It comes with the jersey sales. It comes with the price of admission.

And this leads me to the first point. They were too lenient. I understand that the "norm" in Arizona for a DUI is a 10 day sentence. I understand that most get reduced to 3 days. I understand that most only serve 24-48 hours. That is what normally happens. I understand all that and why. Jails don't have the space, its expensive, they should concern themselves with more violent crimes, and on and on and on.

I'm not saying the judge should have done anything above the 10 days. I'm not saying just because it is Charles Barkley he should have sentenced him to 30 days. What I'm saying is that the judge knew America's eyes would be on this. And the message he sent to us all was the penalty for drunk driving is almost nothing.

Am I wrong? How many of knew that if you got arrested for drunk driving you would only serve about a day and half? Not me. Not my co-workers. Now we know and so does everyone else. I'm not saying everyone is going to go out and drink and drive now, but I bet you some will be more likely to do it now they know the penalty is so lax. I hope for the sake of deterent the state of Arizona re-visits the "norm" before someone gets hurt.


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