It's a tough world we live in. Many would say that some people just don't know right from wrong anymore. The problem is, whose way is right and whose way is wrong? I don't know how you see things, but as far as I'm concerned there are far too many mixed signals nowadays. If you ask me we certainly shouldn't be surprised, angered or appalled by the apparent epidemic of wild antics by athletes and celebrities that is infecting society. After all, it's our society that has manifested these pop-culture "Frankensteins" for lack of a better term.  Yes indeed, "They're Alive" (cue sinister laugh track).

Let's take a look at everybody's favorite whipping boy of the moment, Adam "Pacman" Jones.  He has become many folks' poster boy for the "Thug Life".  Fully equipped with his entourage, he'll soon be making an appearance at a strip club near you. Other than thoroughly enjoying naked women, refusing to grow up and embrace a responsible lifestyle, while rolling with a home boy or two that likes to pack heat, he really hasn't done anything that wrong. Seriously though, what should we expect? Now this is just an assumption in Jones' case but when athletes from "da hood" possibly never worked a day in their lives, got passing grades as early as middle school for work they did not do, were treated like celebrities in Anyplace USA, got wined and dined to attend college on a full ride, had groupies throwing underwear at them, and started earning millions of dollars right around the time they could legally buy their first drink...well why are we surprised when some of them develop big ego problems? Trust me on this one.  The reason why so many can't seem to leave their lifestyle behind is because it's the only one they know. Not everyone can stop being who they are and "assimilate" overnight just because they're packing a roll full of Benjamins (although if I recall those were George Washingtons on the stage in Las Vegas).  And if you think Adam Jones is one shady character, there are thugs in ghettos all over America who would love a chance to turn him into their Ms. Pacman.

Another big name making news is Tank Johnson, formerly of the Chicago Bears. Last December police raided his home and found 6 unregistered firearms. This was a violation of his probation following an arrest in 2005 when a valet outside a nightclub reported seeing Johnson with a gun in his car. Last Friday in Arizona, Tank was pulled over for driving 40 MPH in a 25 MPH zone (Go Speed Racer Go). There was also suspicion that he had been driving under the influence but he was released by the local authorities without being charged. Tank did provide a blood sample for testing and results regarding his blood alcohol level are still pending.  He was just cut by the Bears yesterday and many people across America stood up and applauded. Yeah, like this arrest will make the obsession some people have with high-powered weapons go away. Certainly Tank showed poor judgment by not getting his weapons registered but the bigger problem is far from fixed. The NRA shoots down any attempts at gun control and weapons are always readily available on the black market regardless.  Among the major industrialized nations, America is widely acknowledged as the most violent and this violence has historically been glorified. From the Gangs of New York to the days of the Wild West... From the era of Al Capone to the drive-bys of the Bloods and the Crips... Now we even see mountain men and backwoods types "playing" militia in forests all over the country waiting for civil war and anarchy to break out...America continues to be a nation where countless numbers are obsessed with guns.  Tank Johnson is just another collector and a two-bit one at that.

We haven't even begun to touch the tip of Michael Vick and his possible involvement in dog fighting rings. I think when all is said and done he just may be the one to really go down. He also happens to be the biggest name of the football bunch, which leads me to believe that the authorities are going to come "gunning" for him with full force. His potential crime is an awfully hard one to justify. Those folks at PETA must be licking their chops. Let's keep one thing in mind though. In most civilizations throughout time, men have often pitted beast against beast.  Everyone knows about the days of the Roman Coliseum but such contests were widely popular in our great nation not so long ago. In fact I once read where New York Harbor rats, which could grow to enormous size, were often trapped along the waterfront and pitted against the terriers of the day in deep pits.  Yes, we would like believe that we have grown as a society but have we really? In makes sense when terms such as "Alpha Dog/Alpha Male" are applied to "tough guys", that some men would have a perverse interest in watching the real McCoys go at it. Especially when big money stakes are on the line. Disgusting and cruel? Absolutely and I do not endorse it. Then again the fact that I love to eat veal (when there are plenty of other high protein alternatives) makes me feel quite hypocritical for some reason. Something about how those small calves are locked in tiny, dark sheds so that they cannot move about (making their meat extra tender) also sounds a bit cruel when you stop and think about it.      

Thank goodness we have Pacman, Tank and Vick to keep poking fun at. When you have a "hoodlum", a "gun collector" and a "dog fighter" as public enemies #s 1, 2 and 3, it gets much easier to forget about all those other "losers". You know, guys like Ricky Williams. In a time where marijuana is more mainstream than wine coolers (sissies), it seems that professional football views it as a capital offense. Who cares that the NBA, NHL, and MLB do not even really test for it? All "hail" football and their image contrived attempts to create the "proto-type-squeaky-clean" athlete of the future. Who annointed the NFL as the moral standard of America anyway?   I wonder how Bill Clinton feels about this or George W. for that matter. Seems to me I remember certain confessions regarding "not-inhaling" from one commander-in-chief and documented cocaine rehabs from the other. I guess it's OK if you want to run for office but not OK if you want to run for the Dolphins.

Then there is Kobe Bryant and those trade requests. If you're disgruntled at work what do you do? Look for a new place of employment of course. Unless you make millions of dollars that is. Then you have to stay where you're unhappy because wanting a change of scenery just makes you a whiney brat to some people.  These same people tuck their children in at night and tell them that money isn't the most important thing in the world because it "doesn't buy happiness".  Then the next day they tell them to study hard at school so they can become a rich lawyer or doctor. Hmmm...so why is it exactly that we expect all of our athletes to be content and happy just because they have so much money? Simply wondering.

This wouldn't be complete without a Barry Bonds mention. By now many have heard about WWE wrestler Chris Benoit's suicide after he apparently murdered his wife and son. Anabolic steroids were found in his home and there is already speculation that these "performance enhancers" affected his mental state leading to this tragedy. If any good is to come of this perhaps people will temporarily stop theorizing about the handful of Bonds' homeruns that just cleared the fences as a possible result of steroid aided power. Maybe now they might realize that if these drugs should be banned it's because of these specific dangers. After all, home run records are awfully petty in comparison to the loss of innocent lives.  Never once have I heard someone argue that steroids should be banned because side effects have the potential to place others in harm's way. It's always about protecting "the integrity" of the game. Well screw the game...let's care more about protecting innocent people like Mrs. Benoit and her young boy.   

I'm entirely in favor of accountability and holding people responsible for their actions. The rules are the rules and we all have to follow them. Some rules make sense (see Tank Johnson) and some rules don't (see Ricky Williams). Other rules are "unwritten" (see Kobe Bryant), which means they aren't really rules so shut up about them already. Just please stop making these men out to be the scourge of the Earth. Very flawed individuals for sure but the truth of the matter is that there are a whole lot worse out there than these guys...whom we all helped make by the way... simply by watching idly, shrugging our shoulders  and accepting the double standards that run our country.