Judge Puts Booze Brakes on Benson, There's Something Weird About This Whole Thing
Ignition DeniedDrinking and driving is bad. No two ways about. There is nothing funny about operating any sort of motorized vehicle while intoxicated (maybe a golf cart). We wanted to get that out of the way first before talking about Cedric Benson. Because we're starting to get the vibe that the folks down in Austin just might have it out for the former Longhorn standout.
First, Benson gets arrested for boating while intoxicated on Lake Travis in Austin. Now, boating and booze have gone together like peas and carrots for just about, well, forever (what else does one do on a boat besides drink?). Again, not that it's right, but bringing Benson down to the clink seemed a little extreme based on the initial reports. Maybe you put somebody else at the wheel, tow the boat in, give him a ticket and warning?
Then, of course, there was the pepper spray and resisting arrest part of the story, all of which Benson disputed then and continues to today. Too many versions of the story. Too much distance between those recounts of the episode. Not buying it.
Only a month later, Benson gets nabbed again. This time his arrest comes on land where Austin cops say he ran a red light and failed a field sobriety test in downtown Austin. Now, I spent a lot of time in Austin. New York City it is not. But it's not that small. It takes some pretty dumb luck (or maybe just a really dumb dude) to get nailed twice in the span of five weeks for the always tough t0 achieve DW/BW-I combo.
Now it seems like unabashed piling on. Yesterday, a judge ordered that Benson install an "ignition interlock breathalyzer" in his car within 72 hours. First off, shows how long I've been without a car that I didn't even know these things existed. Apparently, this is somewhat standard procedure these days, but how might it be I'd never heard of such an action being taken before? I understand it was two violations within five weeks, but, again, there's something fishy about this whole thing (pun really not intended just utterly lacking a formidable vocabulary).
The fact that an athlete is denying he/she was drunk is nothing new. But to do it both times so adamantly is either sheer arrogance or unparalleled stupidity. If we were judging by mugshots alone, we'd be inclined to say one if not both of the above were at play. But something tells us there's more than meets the eye on this one. Anyone else feeling it?
First, Benson gets arrested for boating while intoxicated on Lake Travis in Austin. Now, boating and booze have gone together like peas and carrots for just about, well, forever (what else does one do on a boat besides drink?). Again, not that it's right, but bringing Benson down to the clink seemed a little extreme based on the initial reports. Maybe you put somebody else at the wheel, tow the boat in, give him a ticket and warning?
Then, of course, there was the pepper spray and resisting arrest part of the story, all of which Benson disputed then and continues to today. Too many versions of the story. Too much distance between those recounts of the episode. Not buying it.
Only a month later, Benson gets nabbed again. This time his arrest comes on land where Austin cops say he ran a red light and failed a field sobriety test in downtown Austin. Now, I spent a lot of time in Austin. New York City it is not. But it's not that small. It takes some pretty dumb luck (or maybe just a really dumb dude) to get nailed twice in the span of five weeks for the always tough t0 achieve DW/BW-I combo.
Now it seems like unabashed piling on. Yesterday, a judge ordered that Benson install an "ignition interlock breathalyzer" in his car within 72 hours. First off, shows how long I've been without a car that I didn't even know these things existed. Apparently, this is somewhat standard procedure these days, but how might it be I'd never heard of such an action being taken before? I understand it was two violations within five weeks, but, again, there's something fishy about this whole thing (pun really not intended just utterly lacking a formidable vocabulary).
The fact that an athlete is denying he/she was drunk is nothing new. But to do it both times so adamantly is either sheer arrogance or unparalleled stupidity. If we were judging by mugshots alone, we'd be inclined to say one if not both of the above were at play. But something tells us there's more than meets the eye on this one. Anyone else feeling it?
6 comments:
Let's not make these events any more than they really are. Cedric Benson is just another arrogant, stupid athlete. He was arrested twice at UT (marijuana possession, criminal trespass) and now BWI and DWI with the Bears. Benson is not a victim of racist cops (and I am rarely a supporter of the cops), bad cicumstances, or dumb luck. Benson is an idiot that probably had a target on his back for getting into trouble while at UT and even if he did not have a target on his back, he was too stupid to keep out of trouble anyway. Not many of us get arrested four times in four years and live to have a multi-million dollar career out of it. Sorry, Cedric, you are just another wasted opportunity.
that is another perfectly reasonable explanation that i would not be surprised in the least about. maybe i was just hoping the story was a bit different this time...*sigh*
The interlock device is standard and common in good old Arizona...we have Sheriff Joe and Andrew Thomas to thank for that. Maybe that's why forcing Benson to get one after 2 incidents doesn't seem out of order to me.
In this town, it's not uncommon for people to cut a hole in the bottom of a thirstbuster to hide the device from plain view. Kind of hilarious.
People get arrested for BUI all the time. Watch one of those cop shows on TruTV. Other people can drink on the boat, but the driver has to be sober, just like in a car. Do you give tickets to drunk drivers on the highway? This isn't nearly as unusual as CB would like you to believe.
Four arrests in four years, two within the last month. And he's still allowed to drive a car? He's getting off lightly, and he's whining. He ought to have his license revoked for 1 year, probation for 4 years, and have to attend Emergency Room weekend night shifts twice a month for 3 months, just to see the aftermath of what could've happened had he NOT been pulled over.
The guy's made more money than I'll ever see, and I've managed to not have gotten arrested in my whole life. Something's wrong here.
Mark/San Diego
He may know that he was drunk both times, but he also knows that that he can deny all the way and get a lighter punishment due to lack of evidence.
I think it's more that and less of him truly feeling that he wasn't drunk.
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