THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 1996 TAG: 9610120537
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Tom Robinson
LENGTH: 68 lines
Gentlemen,
Apparently, there has been some misunderstanding. Or perhaps you've just not paid attention. But without a doubt, something has become lost in your transitions from home into the state university in Blacksburg, where you are privileged to receive a free education and the chance to play Division I football.
I'm speaking of the eternal struggle of right vs. wrong, which you knuckleheads are losing so badly it's ridiculous.
It's occurred to me, though, that it's possible you actually are not aware you have become a mockery. I think this because every other week another one of you is being suspected of, fingered for or caught redhanded in some sort of nefarious, if not violent, business, from thievery to thuggery.
What else could it be? Why else in less than a year would 10 of you get arrested - with probably more to come when your fair city's cops close their ``five- to six-day'' look into an Aug. 31 brawl?
So I give you the benefit of the doubt.
I accept that, despite the warnings of your coach and the natterings of your athletic director and president, and despite the societal influences upon you the last 20 years, you just don't comprehend that there are things such as laws. That is, minimum levels of civility that must be maintained to keep democracy (FYI, our form of government) from dissolving into anarchy (FYI, the absence of government).
Allow me, then, to offer some simple guidance. Feel free to clip and refer to this when in doubt:
It is illegal - that means you can get in trouble - for a bunch of you to chase another person, say a guy on the school track team, circle him and beat him silly. This is true even if the guy calls you such names as ``freak,'' ``goon'' or ``dill weed.'' Remember, sticks and stones . . .
When you go into a store, you will see prices on the merchandise. This is the amount of money you are required to pay in order to leave that store with said merchandise. You may not, for example, cut a deal to buy $190 worth of stuff for 78 cents, as the police say one of you did last week. That is called shoplifting. It is against the - and here's that word again - law.
If you drive a car, you are expected to carry a license with your actual name, age and photograph on it, not someone else's (i.e. a fake ID). If you bump into another car while driving, this is known as an accident - as opposed to the previously mentioned intentional pummeling of that track guy. You must stay at the accident scene until the police come. (Please do not pummel the other driver.)
Now, do not drive that car after you have been drinking alcohol, which you bought, of course, with that genuine license that proves you are 21. This is called drunken driving and is very wrong. If you are under 21, this is called underaged drunken driving. It, too, is very wrong.
If you wreck something that does not belong to you, just because it seems like fun, it is ``destruction of property.''
If you take something that doesn't belong to you, like another guy's tip jar full of dollar bills, it is ``theft'' and you are a ``thief.''
This is not something to be proud of.
If you have not heard, neither is your football team. Go ahead and win the rest of your games. You are still an embarrassment, zonked on arrogance, selfishness, testosterone and apparent ignorance.
Yes, the few have tarred the many. That leaves it up to the many to lean hard enough on the few to restore order and reputations.
That's how life works. It's another of those bothersome rules. Here's one more bound to come in handy:
Once on probation, it's best to keep your appointments with your corrections' officer. You'll be glad you did. by CNB