Former New York Giant Plaxico Burress became both the victim and the perpetrator after accidentally shooting himself in a New York nightclub last November. Faced with the possibility of a minimum 3 ½ year jail term, Burress took a plea deal on a lesser charge for a mandatory two-year stint in prison.
Unfortunately for Burress, a combination of poor judgment, ignorance of New York’s stringent gun laws and a validated sense of insecurity formed a perfect storm that would shatter life as he knew it. Burress should have known that he had no legal right to carry a loaded firearm in public, one that was registered in another state.
But Burress recently revealed the motivation behind his actions that fateful night. NFL players — and professional athletes in general — have a history of being targets because of their high visibility, multimillion-dollar contracts, fancy cars and expensive bling. Denver Broncos star Darrent Williams was gunned down in his limousine outside of a Denver nightclub. Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor was shot and killed in his Miami home by armed robbers.
Moreover, what really set the Burress catastrophe in motion was this: three days before Burress ventured to the Latin Quarter in Manhattan where the incident occurred, fellow Giants receiver Steve Smith was held up at gunpoint at his home. The night Burress went to the club he had to venture into Smith’s neighborhood to pick up another teammate, Ahmad Bradshaw. “That’s why I went home and retrieved my weapon,” Burress said in an ESPN interview. “Steve Smith got robbed at gunpoint outside of his home and got taken inside his home and robbed. He didn’t even know if he was going to live.” Burress went on to say that if the Smith robbery had not occurred, he “never would have gone home to get his gun.”
Burress stands to lose more than his freedom, much more. “The toughest thing for me is to be away from my family, my son,” Burress said crying. “I wake up with him every morning. You know, it’s gonna be an adjustment. And I’m gonna be away from my wife. She’s pregnant. She’s due on Thanksgiving Day. I’m having a baby girl, and I won’t even be there for that.”
In the end, there were no gun rights advocates standing by Burress, no public outcry, and no Al Sharpton. In his greatest hour of need, Burress was alone, except for his family and legal representative. “This was not an intentional criminal act,” said Burress’ attorney, Benjamin Brafman. “In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment.”
Where’s the love for the person who brought millions excitement and joy after making the winning catch in the Super Bowl? Where’s the love in the great metropolis of New York that no one can stand behind the mess that is Plaxico Burress’ life? –lenn durant
