Contrast what Hunt-Days' parents said to what Jameis Winston's dad has said, as printed in the Tallahassee paper --- WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ---
I'll bring the crab legs!
So the headlines in the Tallahassee Democrat this morning read:
Dad: Family, Florida State failed Jameis Winston
In the articlestar quarterback andHeisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston’s father discussed his son’s recent antics and how Florida State University and their family have failed his son.
Hmmm . . .
When I read the article I groaned. I mean com’on, when does Jameis take responsibility for his own actions? In July 2012, police were called to a Burger King after an employee complained of Winston stealing soda. In November of that year, he was questioned after windows were broken at an apartment complex in a BB gun battle. Then he got charged with sexually assaulting, (raping) a young woman on campus which he claims was consensual sex, then a few days ago he stole some crab legs, crawfish, and butter at a grocery store.
And now his dad is saying that Winston’s family and the University have let poor little Jameis down. His dad even suggested that he should be provided around the clock security to keep him on the straight and narrow. Maybe Coach Jimbo Fischer can line up the Secret Service to come down from Washington D.C. and keep him straight, (oops that’s right they have problems of their own; if they came down they might get drunk and find some prostitutes to chase around town).
The Democrat published a 233-word text Winston sent to his father. He wrote in part:
“I know what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, actually being suspended was the best days of my life! When I get older we gone laugh at this petty stuff. IM GOOD that’s all that matters, ignore minor comments or people that ain’t livin MY life”
He went on to tell his father in the four days he was suspended he got to spend some time with kids, workout, and go to church. He wrote:
“God did that for a reason u accepted my punishment now everythang is over. I live for success and greatness and I ain’t gone stop doing that so everythang good.”
Hmmm . . . This is an interesting text. According to Jameis all that matters is that he is “GOOD”. Well let’s see, he led his football team to a National Championship and won the Heisman trophy, and has almost certainly assured himself a place in the NFL where he will no doubt continue to excel at the sport and make millions and I suppose that’s good.
On the other hand he seems beset with issues involving immorality and crimes such as stealing and the more serious sexual assault incident. Additionally judging from the vocabulary used in his text, his education is certainly not college level and he needs to bear down and study and get an education.
Jameis is now the object of jokes that span the globe. A Taiwanese firm even did an animation of him using his Heisman football moves to elude the police as he moved through the store as he stole the crab legs. An altered photo of him holding up the National Championship trophy full of crab legs is being circulated to millions of people via social media and so forth.
Winston’s father said he is just under too much pressure and that poor little Jameis is just a freshman and no one understands what that’s like to be so famous at such a young age.
Excuse me? Tim Tebow led his team to win two National Championships and he won the Heisman and was under intense pressure, but he didn’t act like this. He was ridiculed for bowing and praying and wearing John 3:16 patches under his eyes as a witness for Jesus to the television audience, but no rape allegations, or stealing.
Some of this is silly freshman stuff and lots of kids makes mistakes like that, but being accused of rape and stealing is no laughing matter and I meet guys in prison all of the time that got there because of those crimes. As a matter of fact I recently met a former Green Bay Packer all star player in a Texas prison. Gone was the adulation, the girls that wanted to hop in bed with him, the money, the fame, the accomplishments of winning Super Bowls, the TV interviews, and the good times. He was lifting weights on the yard with some other guys and had sad eyes.
No one has asked me, but I would say, “’Everthang’ not so good with Jameis”. I prayed for this young man today. If he and his dad think he is under pressure now, just wait until he gets twenty million dollars handed to him. Take it from me he will experience temptation like he didn’t even know exists and the circus that follows him will only get crazier. The press will be his constant companion and will make a big deal out of him just like they did Tiger Woods, heck he might even get his picture on a box of cereal or something. But when he makes a nasty little misstep, that same press will be there to maul him like a devouring lion.
So what is the difference between Tim Tebow and Jameis Winston? It is not a racial thing, so don’t even go there and play the racial card with me. This isn’t about race; it is a morality issue. Jameis mentioned God in his text. I prayed that he will indeed turn to God and get down on his knees and pray for guidance. If he does, I predict that he will do well in the limelight just like Tebow did.
Jameis has to take full responsibility for his actions moving forward. He has been given some warning shots, but seemingly as soon as he got off the hook he went right back to the pig sty. My childhood sucked, but it finally reached a point where I had to take responsibility for my own actions. I can’t blame my parents, or moving around from school to school, or anything or anybody else. My mother couldn’t change me, nor could my dad, nor the military, or a school; only God could do it, but “I” had to ask Him to come into my life. I had to make a decision to follow God or keep following satan and the world. I’m glad I chose God; otherwise I would be dead and in hell forever at this very moment.
I had to reach rock bottom before my stubborn nature yielded. If I could mentor this young man I would recommend that he get involved with a good church and maybe seek Tim Tebow out as a mentor and surrender to God before he goes to rock bottom. “Everythang” not so good at rock bottom – I can tell you that much for sure . . .
Fortunately God stands willing to forgive and welcome us all home (even after our wallow in the pig sty) . . . I’m ready to celebrate and rejoice with you my brother – Come on home Jameis . . . (I’ll bring the crab legs . . . )
