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Blame it on the Fame

                                                              Mike DiPatri      06/23/04

Country singer Brad Paisley sings a song about famous people doing whatever they want and expecting to get away with it because they are famous.  They just blame it on the fame.  This week, another example of that took place in Peoria, Arizona.

Eighteen-year-old Matt Bush, the number one draft choice of the San Diego Padres, recently tried to enter a local sports bar.  Security at the bar told him that he could not go in because he was under age.  He insisted on being allowed in the bar.  When another bouncer helped the first to escort the ballplayer out, Bush allegedly bit him.  Following this incident, Bush and his brother scaled the fence surrounding the facility to enter.  When police responded, Bush became rather belligerent, but then calmed down.  It's a little early yet for this player to think that his celebrity will get him what he wants.  He has not even taken a Major League pitch yet, and he thinks he can do that.

Bush is not alone in civil disobedience by professional athletes.  Recently, NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer was arrested for DUI.  What would make him think that he can drive drunk when other drivers cannot?  Blame it on the fame!  Everybody is familiar with those athletes who have been in trouble with drugs.  We're not talking about the steroids that some players are using.  We're talking about those illegal drugs that regular people go to jail for all the time.  There was Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden among others.  What were they thinking?  Maybe it's that they were not subject to the same laws as others because of their celebrity status.  Blame it on the fame!

The most predominant crimes committed by professional athletes are domestic violence and rape.  Most recently, Kobe Bryant, though not convicted, is accused of rape.  There have been other well-known athletes guilty of such crimes.  Of course, Mike Tyson was accused of rape and domestic violence.  He seems to always be getting into trouble.  At one time basketball players Scottie Pippen and Jason Kidd were accused of domestic violence.  Even professional golf has its representative!  John Daly was also accused of domestic violence.  Blame it on the fame!

Athletes have been accused of more serious crimes as well.  Some years ago Ray Lewis was accused of getting in a fight outside a strip club in Atlanta and stabbing someone.  He was later exonerated, but why even place himself in that situation?  Rae Carruth also was accused and convicted of conspiracy to kill his pregnant girlfriend.   Supposedly, he did it to avoid paying child support.  Did he really think that was a reasonable way out of paying support?

This past week's incident in Arizona is an indication of the feeling among some professional athletes that their celebrity allows them to behave any way that they want.  Whatever they do will be overlooked because they are famous.  These athletes are treated to everything they want. They are treated as if they are above everyone else.  This treatment contributes to their attitude toward the law.  In their minds, it's not their fault.  They can just blame it on the fame!!

      Matt Bush