A growing epidemic amongst Black Athletes is the seemingly endless reports of their victimization in robberies, shootings, and affrays.    A growing list of athletes, including Sean Taylor, Paul Pierce, and Jamaal Tinsley have been victims of violent acts.  My attempt to find a root cause and a possible solution has led to a list of the top 5 ways for athletes to avoid being robbed, shot, stabbed, or otherwise threatened by that certain segment of the population that honors some convoluted Robin Hood-esque theory of taking from the rich to provide for themselves.

I’m sure a good amount of readers think that athletes have no accountability in these incidents and are purely victims of circumstance.  Although I do not believe their behavior warrants them being victimized, there is something to be said about the fact that a good majority of victims are known hotheads and have previous run-ins with authorities.  In other words, we don’t hear about athletes like Grant Hill, Tim Duncan, Donovan McNabb, and Lebron James being exposed to similar crimes, while names like Jamaal Tinsley make multiple appearances.  There is something to be said for that.  Here goes nothing.

5.         Don’t leave home, ever

This would at the very least eliminate the frequent occurrences of nightclub and cruising incidents which will be touched on below.  Considering how many athletes have been attacked in the aforementioned areas alone, you’re looking at a sizeable reduction in the amount of incidents.  There are several issues with this as athletes should be able to travel in public without worry just as any of us can.  Furthermore, many incidents occurred in the athlete’s homes.  Eddy Curry, Antoine Walker, Sean Taylor, DeShawn Stevenson, Steve Foley, Fred Lane, were all victims of domestic criminal activity which could not have been avoided by adherence to this tip.  (However, one wonders whether prior out of home activities led to the home invasions in several of these cases.)

4.         The Jamaal Tinsley rule

Watch the people who are close to you.   Everyone has a friend or associate that you automatically assume is in jail when you receive that late night call.  If you don’t know who that friend is, it’s you.  Jamaal Tinsley is that friend.  The night Stephen Jackson threw his guns in the air and bucked like he just didn’t care, Tinsley was there.  Tinsley has taken part in at least one bar-room Battle Royale, one large scale stadium brawl (Pacers-Pistons) and in his latest incident, was targeted by automatic weapons outside of an Indianapolis hotel.  For the record, I was not present, nor did I speak with any eyewitnesses to any of these incidents.  But either Tinsley has the worst luck in the world, or something doesn’t add up.  Either way, I won’t be surprised if tomorrow’s headline reads, “Tank Johnson arrested for gun stockpile in the Cowboys’ locker room.  Jamaal Tinsley was present immediately prior to the police raid.”

3.         Minimize Excessive Flossing.  The Five “Got” Commandments

One of the most repetitive themes in which black athletes are victims is robbery/carjacking outside of the home.  Sebastian Telfair (robbed of a $50,000 necklace at a NY nightclub), Jerome McDougle (robbed of $20,000 watch while sitting in his Mercedes in Miami), Tim Carter (robbed of BMW and $10,000 worth of jewelry and cash at the movies), Andray Blatche (shot during attempted carjacking), Chris Childs (robbed of $30,000 worth of jewelry and cash), C.C. Sabathia (robbed of $44,000 of cash and jewelry), Stephon Marbury (robbed of $150,000 diamond necklace) and Antoine Walker have all been victims of robbery, primarily of expensive jewelry large amounts of cash and cars.  It is not a crime to like and wear nice things, however, at some point athletes need to take the “flossing” locale into consideration.  Fortunately, Dante (“Mos Def”) Smith’s classic song “Got” provides a blueprint to athletes, every bit as important is Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ten Crack Commandments” to drug dealers.  Presenting, the Five “Got” Commandments:

Violation of these commandments is how you get “Got” as many athletes have learned the hard way.