University of North Carolina Athletics
Mick: Red Peppers
August 4, 2000 | Football
Aug. 4, 2000
The legal system has coughed and sputtered and finally spit out Julius Peppers. "A misunderstanding" is what both parties are calling it.
Oh, that's great. Julius can play football for the good old blue and white this fall. There will be no mention of the arrest on his record. What a relief. Yeah team. Julius should be happy now, right?
ullcrap.
If Julius Frazier Peppers is only guilty of being big, tall, recognizable and in the wrong place at the wrong time, then he got a bad deal and here is why.
1) The story, "PEPPERS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULT", is much sexier than the news of his court appearance, mediation and "a misunderstanding." It was displayed more prominently, by more outlets, and for a much longer period of time. That might be human nature and journalism's way of the world. But if Julius didn't hit anybody, it isn't fair.
2) The complaintant, Andre Harris of Mebane and a student at Louisburg College, got to tell his side of the story. Boy, did he get to tell it. Harris's description of his best friend's face being rendered a bloody pulp was splashed all over the papers, talk shows and the internet. Julius, on the other hand, was correctly advised to say the minimum.
A likely condition of the arbitration was a promise that neither party discuss the incident further in the press, so Peppers may never get to publically tell his side of what happened.
3) The arrest may be expunged from his official record, but no court can guarantee Julius that the story will be erased from the memory of every person who might interview him for a job someday. His file is clean, but has his reputation and his personal integrity been thrown for a loss?
4) Enough athletes ARE guilty of felony stupidity that an innocent high profile football or basketball player who gets charged with a crime is automatically lumped in with all those other dumbheads.
There is only one way that Julius Peppers can bridge these negatives to a positive. He must process and aggressively share the lessons he's learned.
Those lessons are simple but crucial: When you are an athlete you are a target. If you go out, check your testosterone at the door. It takes a much bigger man to avoid a needless confrontation that it does to wade into one.
E-Mail Mick at: mmixon@tarheelsports.com
