Cedric Benson's career capsizes on an Austin lake

Posted on Mon May 05, 2008 at 10:27:26 AM EST in NFL
More on: Bears, Cedric Benson, Austin, boat, arrest, drunk (all tags)

The moment tears began rolling down his face after being selected fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, the Bears faithful began getting a sinking sensation in their guts. After Sunday, Chicagoans probably think even the name "Adam `Pacman' Jones" would have sounded better coming off the commissioner's lips.

Benson was arrested on Saturday night on an Austin lake after he failed a sobriety test while driving a boat, then failed another sobriety test on solid ground, refused to put on a life jacket and then resisted arrest to the point where officers were forced to pepper-spray him while practically dragging him to the patrol car. If Benson was just half as motivated in uniform then he might have more than 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns in three friggin' years!

Of course, Cedric's story is completely different despite the fact that about 15 other people were on the boat and none were arrested. Oh, and none of those friends have stepped forward to support Benson's claims of police brutality. But it's still worth a shot.

"I was not intoxicated. There was alcohol on the boat, and others were enjoying themselves, but I wasn't drunk," he said. ...

The officer arrested Benson, who kept arguing and "continued to present himself as a threat," the LCRA said. The officer then pepper-sprayed him.

Benson tells a much different story: "Even after they pepper-sprayed me, I have no idea why they did that. I was cooperative. I asked them several times why they did that, and they didn't give me an answer."

Once the boat docked, Benson refused to leave the LCRA boat, authorities said. An LCRA officer and Travis County sheriff's deputies were "basically carrying/dragging him" to a car for transport to jail, the release said.

Again Benson gave a different account: "They kicked my feet out from under me and slammed my face down. They had a hose and were running it over my face. They were choking me and stuff, not with their hands but with the hose in my face. I couldn't breathe. I don't know if they did that because of the pepper spray, but I didn't ask them to put the hose in my face."

Benson said he declined a breath test once in custody on the advice of his lawyer, Brian Carney.

The former Longhorn has probably seen his last action in Chicago and he could spend up to six months in jail as a result of this little run-in with the law. A word of advice for the Kansas City Chiefs: Watch out for Jamaal Charles because in case you haven't noticed, Texas running backs are a strange breed.

Links:
[SunTimes.com]: Troubled waters
[WBBM780.com]: Cedric Benson Arrested, Alleges Police Abuse

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Carmelo Anthony is a drinking lightweight

Posted on Fri May 02, 2008 at 11:05:46 AM EST in NBA
More on: Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, DUI, blood alcohol level, NBA, arrest (all tags)

When Carmelo Anthony was arrested a couple of weeks ago for DUI, he wasn't just a little buzzed. No, Melo was tanked which isn't surprising considering his team totally tanked the postseason. Turns out Anthony's blood alcohol level was .148, according to CBS4 reporter Brian Maass. The legal limit in Colorado where the arrest occurred is .08. Carmelo claims that he only drank "two glasses of red wine," but unless those "glasses" were actually pitchers of red wine then we think he's full of crap. However, Carmelo's attorney thinks the news about Carmelo is inconsequential because Carmelo apologized for Carmelo's actions and the whole situation is now behind Carmelo. Carmelo. Carmelo. Carmelo.

We received notice that Carmelo's blood test came back over the legal limit. This is old news in that Carmelo has admitted from the beginning that he had been drinking and driving and should not have been," Anthony's attorney, Dan Recht, said Responding to an inquiry from CBS4. "Carmelo has said he will take responsibility for his actions and he does. Carmelo continues to be deeply disappointed in himself, as (he) has said before. Carmelo's actions that night were completely out of character and something he has never done before."

According to attorneys and police officers, a first-time offender in Colorado will typically lose their driver's license for at least three months when their blood alcohol level exceeds the legal limit for DUI.

Guess that means Anthony's driving days in Denver could be over, both on and off the court.

Links:
[CBS4Denver.com]: Anthony's Blood Alcohol Nearly Twice Legal Limit

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Bryant McKinnie arrested after spitting and hitting

Posted on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 02:19:03 AM EST in NFL
More on: Bryant McKinnie, Vikings, crime, arrest, fight (all tags)

The Minnesota Vikings are at it again. Only this time, the good stuff is going down on dry land instead of on the Love Boat. Vikes tackle Bryant McKinnie went Street Fighter early Sunday morning, brawling outside of a Miami club. McKinnie found himself in the pokey as a result, arrested on counts of aggravated battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence. Nice work, Bryant.

Authorities were called to Club Space after a fight broke out. McKinnie had been thrown out by a nightclub security guard and was arguing and spit on Eric Otero, according to a police report.

Otero, 32, said he wouldn't press charges if McKinnie left. Authorities said the former University of Miami football player then went to a nearby strip club, but later returned to Club Space and fought with Otero again.

Miami Police found McKinnie "in the middle of a large crowd, throwing punches and again yelling obscenities," according to the police report.

Police told McKinnie to stop. He refused and boarded a bus. The bus driver was ordered not to drive away.

McKinnie, who has been a staple on the Vikings offensive line since being drafted out of Miami in 2002, was arrested and bonded out for $9,000 at 2:25 p.m., Miami-Dade County Corrections Department spokeswoman Janelle Hall said.

It's pretty impressive when you think about it. McKinnie has criminal charges against him on the ground and on the water, so the only place left for McKinnie to get into trouble is in the sky.

Links:
[AJC.com]: Viking's tackle arrested after street fight

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James Posey gets popped for DUI

Posted on Mon Apr 09, 2007 at 10:58:29 AM EST in NBA
More on: James Posey, DUI, arrest, Heat (all tags)

Now I've got a pair of bracelets
to go with my ring.

So, how do you like to spend your Easter? Most people get dressed up and head to church; maybe have the family over for lunch, play some cards and so on. Well, Miami Heat forward James Posey might enjoy those same types of holiday activities, but it looks like he also likes to get plastered and talk to random people in the middle of the road.

Posey was arrested early this morning on charges of drunken driving when a Miami Beach police officer noticed Posey was stopped in the left lane and chatting it up with some passerby's in another car. As if that wasn't bad enough, when asked to produce his driver's license, Posey made the drunken blunder of dropping the license as he handed it to the officer. Anyone who has ever done this knows exactly what comes after that; "Please step out of the car, sir."

Once out of the car, Posey displayed "bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath," the officer wrote in his report. The player also was unsteady on his feet and swayed while standing, the report said.

Turns out that Mr. Butter Finger's ID wasn't even valid, so he got charged with driving with a suspended license as well. Posey was booked into the Miami-Dade County clink but we figure that he'll probably get bailed out pretty soon. After all, the guy is making $6.4 million this season.

Links:
[NBC6.net]: Heat forward James Posey charged with DUI

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