Darrent Williams, Rest In Peace

Sometimes we are harshly reminded that sports are fun and games, not life and death. We are rudely reminded that none of us is truly immune from violence, regardless of fame or stature. All across America on New Year’s Eve there were a number of homicides. One of those murdered by violent means was a high-profile professional athlete. Is it a shock? No, it was only a couple of weeks ago when another athlete’s bodyguard was gunned down at a nightclub. A few years back Ray Lewis was involved in an incident where two men were gunned down in Atlanta and he was originally charged with the crime. Remember? We tend to look at athletes and football players in particular, as "warriors" who are some immune from the slings and arrows that the general public faces, as if hiding within gated communities and limousines insulates them from the madness of the world. We know better, and perhaps so should they.

Homicides defy logic and are senseless by their nature. To coldly pull alongside a limousine and calmly aim an automatic rifle and randomly empty the contents from a magazine of ordinance in the direction of the unsuspecting passengers is a despicable, dastardly act. May the perpetrators of the murder of Darrent Williams be quickly brought to justice.


Most Americans knew little about Darrent Williams prior to his murder. By all accounts, he was
a fine young man, a great teammate and friend. The outpouring of love from many corners was far more than the usual "saying all the right things when somebody dies" types of statements. He was devoting time and resources to his hometown to combat violence in the community. Don’t let the young man’s rather unique hairdo fool you. By all accounts this kid was no angel, but he certainly wasn’t a gangsta or a thug of the Rae Carruth, Maurice Clarett or Lawrence Phillips variety. He simply happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time much as occurred with Lyman Bostock many years ago. He and some friends went to a nightclub following the team’s overtime loss where he was on hand to promote his record label. Allegedly there were "taunts" from some of the patrons and words were exchanged. What was meant to be a birthday party celebration turned into a horrific tragedy; perhaps the term "tragedy" is inappropriate because the word implies a random occurrence. Williams was the victim of a cold and calculated murder. It is miraculous that no one else in the limousine was seriously injured or killed. Incidents involving athletes and celebrities at nightclubs are as old as the hills. What’s different now is that people are getting murdered.


Williams was a father of two kids. It’s curious that the hand on the trigger finger gives no consideration to a victim’s loved ones. There’s little doubt that some sort of "incident" occurred at the "club" that precipitated the drive by shortly thereafter. Whether motivated by envy or rage, what difference does it make? A young father with a life filled with promise is no more.


And what does ESPN have to say about it? Next to nothing, that’s what. ESPN and their ilk may have not have been the catalyst for integrating "hip-hop culture" into the athletic realm, but they certainly have promoted and fostered it. Instead of just mentioning Mr. Williams’ murder in passing before devoting nearly the entire hour of "Sportscenter" to the upcoming NFL Playoffs and bowl games, why couldn’t they have tried something more constructive? Such as addressing the truth about glorifying violence and a culture that has no respect for the value of each human life. Punks and thugs are not the exclusive domain of any one particular racial or ethnic group, any more than geniuses.

As Gregg Easterbrooks correctly mentions in his most recent Tuesday Morning Quarterback post, "It's not enough to mourn the loss of Darrent Williams. Learn the lesson: When the clock strikes midnight, you belong at home." More often than not, violent crimes occur at times and places where the victim has placed him or herself in harm’s way. This is certainly not to blame the victim, but had a little commonsense and caution been exercised, perhaps things may have been different. The scrutiny placed on athletes and celebrities is more intense than ever. Violent crime has always been with us, and statistics show that "arguments" are the leading cause of homicides. So where does that leave us? A young man is gone and his family and friends grieve his loss. May the memory of this young man remain, yet all may be reminded to exercise due caution in the world.