(Thumbnail image from NJ.com)
“This will be former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress’ new temporary home. Rikers Island, a jail facility just outside of Manhattan...He could live within the general population, or be isolated in protective custody. Some expert’s say, despite his celebrity Burress would be better off living within the general population. (ESPN)
This will be a dramatic change in lifestyle for the former NFL superstar and multi-millionaire, who accidentally shot himself in the leg at a nightclub last November. Burress pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon and was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday.
The sentencing has the media speculating; does the punishment fit the crime? And do athletes still get preferential treatment?
We are getting perspectives from ESPN, FOX, NBC, The New York Daily, Newsday and Helium.
First NBC has a perspective from former NFL quarterback Joe Theisman who agreed with the sentencing.
“Hopefully it will get a message out to not just athletes but everybody that this kind of behavior and these kind of things happening just aren’t good for anyone. And we as public figures have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner so that it doesn’t influence young people in a negative way. This to me influences kids in a negative way”
Newsday also agrees with the punishment and says...
“You only hope that Burress recognizes how many of his blessings he took for granted and how little thought he gave to the well-being and safety of those around him.”
Brian Klimede, host of FOX’s sports blog, disagrees with sentencing, saying it was too severe.
“...and he’s again going out late at night with a teammate in the middle of New York city, usually nothing's good. But 20 months in prison? I don’t care if he’s a Giant, I don't care if he's a Jet, I don't care if he's a Panther- I just don’t think the punishment fits the crime.”
The New York Daily News doesn’t agree with the sentencing either, and noted many mitigating circumstances.
“It doesn't matter that there were so many incidents of gunfire where he grew up in the slums of Virginia Beach, Va., that he became "immune to it. It doesn't matter that four NFL players were shot in four years, including Sean Taylor, killed by intruders."
A blogger from Helium says that because of the recent prison sentence of Michael Vick high profile athletes may no longer get preferential treatment
“The criminal justice system was tired of athletes acting foolish, leaning on their celebrity status, and did what they were supposed to do.”
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