5.24.2009

The Playbook Case Study:Miami Dolphins player arrested in Freightliner truck incident - CNN.com


The Playbook Commentary:


It has been a minute since I have had a commentary on any player's misconduct. Truthfully, its because I felt like I was sounding like a broken record. And, then there was "seemingly" a lull in the missteps.

Now, I will say that on FB and Twitter, I have given my two cents on the hypocritical comments folks have made concerning Vick since he has been released. Net/net on that is...how dare anyone say that he doesn't deserve forgiveness or deserve to play football again. "Don't cast a stone, if you are not ready to receive one back." He made a horrendous mistake...poor judgement and paid for it, royally. To say he is not forgiven is to say his life might as well be over. And, what does that say about rehibilitation? What does that say to ANYONE who has made a mistake in life? Give, what you want to get.

Now, to this story...Randy Starks is an idiot. Period. There are mistakes and then there are mistakes. I want to say that this was common sense. But, as my pastor often says, "common sense is not common to everyone." OBVIOUSLY!

You load up a truck with 10 folks more than it is built for; drive with someone ON your lap; and, apparently, you drive it without legal tags. What is that about? Where is his agent? Who has his back? I know, all the things I have been saying all along. But, it is true. At least your "friends" should have your best interests at heart; even if it's for selfish reasons, like enjoying the constant hook up and benefits of being a part of the "lifestyle". Well, if you go along with the crazy ride and your boy gets in stupid trouble....your "lifestlye" is instantly over.

Come on people. Work with me. We all make mistakes...Lord knows I have, but when do we stop making the out this world ones?

Ask yourself the million dollar question, "Was it worth it?"


MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Miami Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks was arrested early Sunday after police said he struck an officer with a slow-moving Freightliner truck, according to a police report.


Starks, 25, faces a charge of aggravated battery, according to the report.The arrest took place about 12:20 a.m. in Miami's South Beach area. Officers said they saw the Freightliner truck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on South Beach's Ocean Drive with some 13 people inside, including a woman sitting on the lap of Starks, who was driving.


The truck's seating capacity is four occupants, the police report said. It was not clear from the police report whether the Freightliner -- normally part of a tractor-trailer -- was connected to a trailer.


In the report, the officer recalled pursuing the truck on foot for about a half-block and pounding on the rear driver's-side window, but it kept moving. The officer caught up to the truck again, and it stopped after the officer pounded on the window again, the report said.


"I slowly approached the side door and just as I reached it the vehicle accelerated and started moving forward and slightly to the left," the unidentified officer writes in the report. "The vehicle's path caused the driver's side of the vehicle to strike me in the chest pushing me back and pinning me against a vehicle stopped in traffic in the northbound lane."


Meanwhile, a second officer was pounding on the passenger's-side window, the report said. The truck stopped and Starks was arrested.


A police check showed that the truck's license plate was not assigned to that vehicle, the report said, and Starks faces a charge for that as well.


Starks was released from jail later Sunday, according to a records check. The Miami Herald newspaper reported earlier he was jailed on $10,000 bond.


Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene told CNN the club was "only recently made aware of the situation. Since we are in the process of gathering information we have no comment."


Starks is in his sixth NFL season and his second with the Dolphins.

Miami Dolphins player arrested in Freightliner truck incident - CNN.com