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I know it's been a while since my last rant. But it's not like you're paying for this.

Today I saw an article that is one of the recurring themes that just keep proving themselves.

This weekend, thousands of "urban" youths (read: black people) flocked to Miami Beach for Urban Beach Week. This used to be called Freaknik, and it used to be in Atlanta, but since the city of Atlanta has rolled back the welcome mat, it's moved.

For those who survived Freaknik in Atlanta, it was a horrible experience where thousands of young blacks from "predominently black colleges" were joined by the worst troublemakers in Atlanta to cause as much traffic mayhem, damage, and trash as possible in a short period of time.

I don't mind people taking a vacation, but sitting in never-ending traffic (caused by the same people, who just stop in the middle of the street, blocking traffic) isn't a vacation - it's civil disorder. And despite what you may have heard, it was a rotten time for the people that lived in those areas. Businesses weren't able to conduct business, and people were prisoners in their own homes.

So, now back to this week's Urban Beach Week in Miami Beach. As usual, the "urban" youths celebrated with their usual mayhem, proving that the culture that surrounds them is anything but peaceful and law-abiding. There were 557 arrests, including 2 basketball players. The recurring theme is the Cult of the Athelete, which reared its ugly head when the players, refusing to obeyed police officers, told police that "You can't arrest me. I'm a basketball player. I play for the Washington Wizards."

Well, isn't that special. You can't arrest basketball players? Since when? Among "professional" sports teams, basketball players edge out football players in arrests per players. These ass-darts think that because they get paid millions of dollars per year to throw a ball through a hoop that the law doesn't apply to them.

Well, I hope they enjoy a nice stay at the Miami jail. And I hope they get at the very least a suspension by the NBA, but I doubt that will happen.

The truth is that these players should be role-models. They should work hard to set a good example for the many young people who dream of their success. They should talk to kids about staying in school, about trying to get into (and finishing) college, and about studying hard.

Instead, they are seen around gangsters (often in the form of "musical artists", who call themselves Hip-Hop). They are often accused (and sometimes convicted) of using and/or trafficing in drugs.

I remember when "professional" atheletes were truly professionals. They were college graduates (and when they were in school, they had majors, and got degrees). I have met many of the old-school players. They became lawyers, and doctors, and own businesses. There were many talented people who never played professional sports, mainly because there was a high standard for the players.

The cult of the athelete is ruining sports. Drug users, criminals, and thugs don't make sports great. They cheapen it for the rest of us.

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