In rather less than three months, will probably be the fifteenth anniversary of Sean Taylor’s loss of life from a house invasion in South Florida. A bodily specimen by any metric, the College of Miami and Washington NFL franchise star died from a gunshot wound at age 24.
The 6-foot-2 security, nicknamed “Meast” as a result of he was half-man, half-beast, would’ve on the very least had an extended profession, and at finest may’ve made it to Canton. It was a tragedy that’s nonetheless arduous to consider contemplating Taylor’s borderline supernatural athleticism.
This week, one other younger professional soccer participant for the NFL group in our nation’s capital — rookie working again Brian Robinson Jr. — was shot twice in his decrease physique throughout an armed theft try in DC. By divine intervention or unbelievable luck, the bullets missed sufficient very important ligaments, bones, and all the things else that the Alabama product won’t miss the season and will even return to the sphere.
Through the early hours of Monday morning in Spain, now-Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the goal of a terrifying theft at his dwelling exterior of Barcelona that left him with a damaged jaw and his household traumatized. Fortunately, his spouse and kids had been unhurt regardless of being current for the ordeal.
Additionally on Monday, a prosecutor in Atlanta introduced an indictment that detailed a spree of dwelling invasions focusing on celebrities and athletes within the Georgia metropolis, together with the Falcons’ Calvin Ridley and Atlanta United keeper Brad Guzan. Fulton County District Lawyer Fani Willis alleged that members of the Drug Wealthy gang scour social media for high-profile individuals who flaunt their wealth on numerous platforms after which goal them. The crimes within the indictment span from dwelling invasions to kidnappings to armed theft, shootings, and carjackings.
G/O Media might get a fee
Relaxation, get better, and chill
From family-owned natural hemp farms in Wisconsin, Evn is a high-performance CBD model that brings you a centered, calm expertise proper to the doorstep.
Willis did provide some recommendation for individuals who flaunt shiny, costly gadgets on Instagram, TikTok, and many others.
“I do have a message for the general public: The place it’s sort of enjoyable to place your issues on social media and exhibit, sadly, these gangs have gotten extra savvy, extra subtle in the best way that they aim you.”
There’s been no indication that one thing comparable occurred within the Aubameyang incident, and it seemed like Robinson was simply going into city to seize some meals. However they’re not the one athletes this 12 months who’ve been focused as Rays shortstop Wander Franco had $650,000 price of knickknack lifted from his automotive. Draymond Inexperienced had numerous valuables — greater than $1 million in complete — ransacked from his Los Angeles dwelling whereas attending the Tremendous Bowl in Los Angeles in February.
Athletes are simpler marks than nameless wealthy individuals as a result of they purposely draw massive followings (for the model) on social media, and the general public is aware of how a lot they’re getting paid.
How ought to they defend themselves?
Dan Manning, CEO of USPA Safety, an organization that gives companies like bodyguards and residential protection, advisable athletes (or anybody) seeking to defend themselves at dwelling and in public ought to make use of a group of pros for his or her security and to take into consideration the dangers of all the things from golf equipment to journey routes to eating places and past.
If somebody didn’t desire a safety element, he steered they appear into the advances in expertise, even providing up an autonomous drone system. Nonetheless, he stated, “it might be extraordinarily tough to guard somebody in public with out a devoted group.”
Manning additionally echoed Willis’ sentiments about a web based presence. He believes a social media footprint of your valuables must be non-existent.
“In case you are actually involved about your self and people round you, you shouldn’t be promoting the issues individuals would wish to take from you,” Manning stated in an interview.
Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, who continues to be too good of an individual for that group, wore an orange shirt throughout a information convention this week to help gun-safety measures, which brings up the problem of gamers carrying safety themselves.
Extra weapons appear to be a nasty concept, and one can’t assist however be reminded of incidents like Plaxico Burress capturing himself within the leg, Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pulling items within the locker room, and the entire athletes who’ve caught a weapons cost.
“Solely individuals who’re extremely skilled, and repeatedly practice, ought to carry firearms,” Manning stated. “Individuals with no expertise with firearms change into a legal responsibility to these round them in the event that they select to hold one.”
Far be it for me to inform skilled athletes the way to spend their cash, or use social media, but it surely looks like a bodyguard or two is a worthy funding if athletes don’t wish to *gasp* make their feeds non-public.
With the speed at which these crimes have been coming currently, it feels prefer it’s much less a matter of if a disaster akin to Taylor’s occurs once more however somewhat when. Whether or not it’s an elevated safety element, probably the most elaborate Ring system ever created, a muted on-line presence, or conserving their money in escrow (if that’s the way it works), clearly added emphasis must be positioned on being much less weak.
