Drug Suspension Shows Similarities to Big Leagues

            A local Mizzou Tigers football player has found himself suspended form the team and facing a court date for a traffic stop that found him in possession of marijuana and mushrooms by police. In terms with the teams’ drug policy the player was put on automatic suspension and has of course garnered the attention of police through the stop itself. The results of the arrest and subsequent trial will see more conclusive information on the future of his football career with the city, but that has yet to come.

            It does bring up the comparison though, the similarities between a case such as this, and the big-league counterpart does get drawn into the limelight. With the pressures that come with celebrity, even on a small city scale, there is always the room for some type of escape, and especially when dealing with a physically demanding sport, often playing with or through injuries, the early practices, and the need to let loose after a tough training camp, you can see where the like-minded approaches to illegal drugs, drinking and partying start to overlap.

            Now of course we aren’t condoning this type of behavior. There are always better choices that can be made in these events, and looking out for your own health and well-being should always be a priority, we are just stating that we can see where the need for escape comes into play when it comes to the off time. A recent release of a medical study showed that out of the scans of a hundred current and former pro football players, only one didn’t show signs of damage due to concussion, the hot topic of today when it comes to football, and looking for a way to numb the pain can come in many forms.

            We’re not saying that it was strictly due to the playing of football that caused this behavior either, as there are plenty of people today not in the sports scene who engage in drug activity much more serious than marijuana. But the ultimate decision on how to follow up with these events will lie squarely in the hands of the law, and those who uphold it. If his charges are dropped to that of a misdemeanor, then we can expect to see him on the field again at some point.
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            The takeaway lesson here though is, if you’re in a position of this nature, if you’re a representative of our city, even in the realm of minor league football, then there comes a need to act within a certain parameter. To think about the effect that your actions have upon those around you, how they reflect on your team, your coaching staff, and the citizens of Columbia who support you. If you think drugs are the answer, then you’re not asking the right questions, and there are many other, and better, options out there when it comes to release and support.