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Vernon Forrest, 38, a 1992 Olympian and former professional boxing champion in two weight divisions, was the victim of senseless and random violence this past Saturday, July 25 in Atlanta.
Forrest stopped his Jaguar, a vestige of his athletic success, at a gas station around 11 p.m. to check the air pressure in his tires. While his 11 year-old godson went to use the restroom and buy snacks, Forrest was robbed at gunpoint. In an attempt to thwart a carjacking, Forrest chased a suspect with his handgun, but was shot himself multiple times by semi-automatic gunfire. The suspects, two black males in a red Monte Carlo, ended the life of another black man. That 11 year-old will never be the same.
Vernon Forrest’s death is another devastating blow to the sport of boxing which just last week lost Arturo Gatti, a victim of domestic violence. At least, Gatti’s death was personal. The Forrest situation, however, makes heads shake because of its arbitrary, impersonal nature. This could have happened to anyone with a nice ride that some slimy, lowlifes thought would be better appreciated in their undeserving hands. The perpertrators thought that the artificial courage derived from brandishing a gun entitled them to the material rewards of a life of discipline, hard work and personal sacrifice. That attitude manifested, is a devastating blow to us all.
It’s easy to be outraged with Sgt. James Crowley and the Cambridge, MA police department for its treatment of Professor Gates and the whole issue of racial profiling, but dumb, senseless ish like this makes you understand the cops’ point of view — better safe than sorry. – sly
