Jon Blaze

I sometimes think that non famous people forget that famous people are still real people. They make mistakes. They have faults. And shouldn't be judged on a different playing field in the game of LIFE as regular, everyday people.

Case and Point: Excerpt from Jemele Hill's column on the Bear's Tank Johnson from ESPN's Page 2

Money is supposed to change things. It shouldn't change the person you are, but it certainly should change where you are. If you're a million-dollar man still frequenting clubs that need metal detectors, something is wrong. Even if you are a professional athlete from a rough background, close friends within your inner circle should not be murder victims.

I read that and emailed her to get her to further explain the graph, the "If you're a million-dollar man still frequenting clubs that need metal detectors, something is wrong," especially. To which she replied: You have to much money to subject yourself to certain things. That's a sign, to me, that you don't need to be there. That means incidents happen there or they feat they will. And, you don't need to be there. Plain and simple.

I responded by reminding her that she said a person shouldn't change based on money, and if that's the type of person that he's always been then should we expect him not to venture out to those types of establishments?

Her answer: No, it doesn't change WHO you are, just where you are.
When you make a certain amount of money, why subject yourself to foolishness. You can still have a good time, but certain elements you must learn to leave behind. That's just growing up. If I was still hanging in some of the hoodrat clubs I was before then something is wrong.

I believe that when a person shows you who they are, believe them. Some people in this country are just grimey. Plain and simple. They like to visit spots where you you can't get in if your shirt doesn't come down to your knees and Hennessy is the drink of choice. That's how they get down.

How can you say that money shouldn't change who you are, but change where you are. I don't care how much money a person has they are going to frequent spots that they are comfortable in. Just because a person all of a sudden has six figures or more in the bank doesn't mean that they're going to want to dine at The Palm with Armani suit rockers. Especially if that's a life that they don't know.

When I was interning in Columbus, GA there were two spots that my boi, C Bizzle, and I would go to hang out. One was called the Firehouse and the other the Tap. The Firehouse was predominatly a black spot, where sometime before we started interning a soldier was shot by another soldier outside the club. They had a metal detector and I still felt safe. The Tap, frequented by white soldiers, had no metal detectors and very little security. White soldiers, alcohol flowing, and the minority count less than the number of people who bought a Ron Artest album.Please believe there were several nights I got funny looks and wondered about my safety. Yet our coworkers always were shocked to hear that we would visit a place like the Firehouse. But the Tap they were all for it, EVERY Saturday.

So why should a Tank Johnson or any other athlete not visit a place just because all of a sudden money ain't a thang for them?

Money should never change a person and it definatly shouldn't change where he or she goes. Don't get what I'm saying confused with going somewhere that your life is in danger. That's stupid. Yes Tank Johnson's best friend and bodyguard was killed in a nightclub where Johnson was also in attendence. That doesn't mean that he should be there. That just means if he's going to be there do him, have a good time and then leave.

But isn't that what everyone should do when they go out? Regardless of what you do for a living or what your bank statement says.