An Attempt to Clear the Air

But I digress.

To readers who tended to agree with what I wrote, many thanks for taking the time to write. To those who took exception, the same respectful appreciation for your passion and your positions. Feel free to keep throwing those haymakers, even if we sometimes will agree to disagree. Most important, let's keep talking, all of us, preferably in measured tones, without the profanity, the charges of racism, even a couple of death or violence threats, and one e-mail with a subject line that read, "I hope a close family member of yours dies prematurely."

How nice.

I'd truly prefer that the discussion now move on to a sentence I wrote toward the end of the column, truly the whole point of the piece, that "we need to focus on why this unspeakable tragedy happened and how we can keep it from happening to so many other young men soon to be attending rookie symposiums of their own."

With that in mind, I'm also including excerpts from one of the more thoughtful notes I received last week, reprinted here with the writer's permission. It comes from David Cornwell, a widely respected Atlanta-based attorney and player agent I've known for years, and touches on many of the same issues that ought to become part of the public dialogue, as well.

"The random nature of Sean's death reflects the tragically epidemic proportions of our culture of violence," Cornwell wrote in an e-mail. "I fear that we may miss an opportunity to use Sean's tragic death to make a difference. (Shapiro's) references to (Michael) Vick, Pac man (Jones) et al. strike me as appropriate to the extent that these men and others are the most compelling evidence that the NFL is now impacted by cultural factors that have burdened America's Black communities for the past 20 years.

"I spent time with Sean and his father in connection with the agent selection process. I agree with Mike (Wilbon) and (Shapiro) that Sean's lifestyle compromised his opportunity to grow as a person and as a businessman. I also agree...that the linkage between Sean's lifestyle and his death are presently too attenuated to conclude that they are connected.

"Rather than wring our hands and admire the problem, I am curious whether we can urge the NFL to take a leadership role in designing a solution. The NFL/NFLPA public relations machine churns out references to the Rookie Symposium and other player programs in the wake of despicable off-field events. Since when do we grade effort in the NFL? Rae Carruth, Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Mike Vick, and everyone in between who has embraced the culture of violence and the Gangsta mentality that glorifies lawlessness are the most compelling evidence that the Rookie Symposium and other player programs have failed.

"Why is it that the men who play professional sports are role models only when they fail to live up to a standard? Let us use their unilaterally imposed role model status to make a difference. For example, ditch the United Way campaign and adopt a comprehensive public service program (media and community based) that conveys the message that staying out of trouble, handling your business, and 'getting paid' without subjecting yourself or your family to unnecessary risk is really 'Gangsta.' Real hustlers succeed in spite of the odds and are smart enough not to subject their success to unnecessary risks. 'Now that's Gangsta!'

"The Commissioner (Roger Goodell) has done an excellent job of establishing accountability for the men who play professional sports. Rather than hop on the bandwagon by condemning Michael Vick, the NFLPA should insist on a balanced approach and lead the charge towards a solution by demanding that the NFL invest in meaningful programs that provide these young men with the tools to cope with the challenges presented by our culture of violence and the keeping-it-real mentality.

"Criticizing these men for their lifestyles is not productive. If I gave a man all the tools and materials to build a house, but no guidance on how to do it, how useful would the final product be? I dare say the final product would be dangerous to inhabit. So, too, with many of the men who play professional sports. We provide them with the tools, materials, and trappings of success, but provide precious little guidance regarding the process becoming successful. No wonder the final product often turns out to be dangerous - or, as I recently referred to it in Sports Illustrated, a Molotov cocktail.

"Success is a process, not an event. Yet, with the Rookie Symposium and other player programs (despite the evidence that these programs have not worked), the NFL treats success as an event when it comes to the personal development of the men who play professional sports."

Leonard Shapiro can be reached at Badgerlen@hotmail.com or Badgerlen@aol.com.