American legal system caters to athletes

Mike Demos / Columnist

Earlier this week Baltimore Ravens All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis was indicted on the charge of being the middle man in brokering a drug deal. In a plea agreement with the court system, Lewis was sentenced to four months in prison and two months in a halfway house as well as a two-game NFL induced suspension, which will cost the Ravens star a total $761,000 in salary.

Now I know what you might be saying. You might think that sounds steep perhaps or you might think that justice was not served for a man who tried to set up a drug deal to an undercover cop four years ago. In my opinion, the sentence was adequate. What was not adequate was the fact that once again the justice system is catering to a celebrity in order to accommodate his life.

First of all, the justice system’s sentencing allows Lewis’ prison term to be delayed until January and ending before the start of the 2005 season. How convenient. Lewis asked for this in his plea and it was granted to him. Now you might be asking why Lewis straight out didn’t try and appeal the verdict? Well for once, even this athlete couldn’t finagle his way out of this one. I mean he did try to sell cocaine to an undercover cop. I don’t think OJ could have wriggled his way out of that one either.

Lewis also will not appeal his two game suspension along with the sentencing. Why? Because it is conveniently only two games, of which Lewis, at his choosing, will serve in the next two weeks when the Ravens take on Buffalo and Philadelphia. Now while the Bills and Eagles aren’t exactly automatic wins, it is convenient for Lewis and the Ravens that he miss these two contests. The Ravens currently trail the Pittsburgh Steelers by one game in the AFC North Division and are hoping for a split in the next two games, leaving them at worst two games behind the Steelers when Lewis returns with nine games left to make up the deficit.

Now I know this was a lot of generic information to digest. The fact of the matter is just how ludicrous the American judicial system is. The judicial system, along with professional sports across the country, continues to cater to star athletes by providing the absolute minimum consequences upon them. Why? Money, of course. The NFL, other sports and even celebrities alike across the country lose key money when they are in jail, if you didn’t notice. Thus, most of these larger-than-life figures are regularly acquitted in most cases of all sorts against them much like Kobe, OJ and the list goes on and on.

Now, some athletes still cannot avoid their fates. But those are athleteswho are not stars. If you are a star, rest assured. Unless you kill a cop on live television, chances are you will get off. It’s only those lesser knowns like the Rae Carruths of the world who aren’t as lucky. So memo to pro-athletes: Unless you are famous, don’t commit the crime if you aren’t willing to do the time, because sports have to maintain some level of credibility by prosecuting the non-star athletes to cover themselves when they don’t do likewise to the stars.

The reason that this happens? Average athletes aren’t as recognizable or as valuable to their sport and thus their loss doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things. But the star athletes and the courts have to protect. In some cases, their livelihoods count on their clients acquittals.

Back to Lewis and how ridiculous this ruling is. The common citizen would never be granted all of these leniencies. It’s like telling a guy who killed his wife that we will forgive you for what you did. Spend a few months in jail and we’ll forget about it. Oh, and just to accommodate your needs you can serve your sentence during the summer when you are off from work so you don’t lose money and can still do what you want to do. Ludicrous? I think so.

The fact of the matter is that professional sports and the American judicial system are corrupt, if you didn’t yet notice, and things aren’t about to change. Both parties do what is beneficial to them and whatever saves or makes them the most dough. So professional athletes, celebrities and all other high profile people can seemingly continue to do what they want and get away with it. Sure, they will still get a sentence, only if they are guilty as sin, but rest assured, professional athletes, you will have your choice as to what games you want to miss and when you go to jail. Don’t worry Jamal, the jail room pillow will be fluffed and there will be a mint on top of it awaiting your arrival.