THIS TIME, AN ATHLETE NEEDS TO PAY PRICE

It was just two months ago that I wrote one of my first college football
features for the Voice.

I remember when I hung up the phone after completing the interview, I
immediately looked at my editor and said, "What a good guy!"

He had his act together. He already had graduated from college with a
degree in industrial technology and was a member of the Southeastern
Conference's all-academic team. He was going to stay in school to play a
final year of football while taking postgraduate classes. He wanted to be a
teacher one day when a probable professional football career came to an end.

He talked about his younger brother and how proud he was of him and how
well he was doing on his community college football team. He talked about
his hopes of being drafted by the 49ers, Raiders or Chargers so he could
return to California where he grew up. A few weeks later, I even wrote a
column about him and several other athletes headed in the right direction.

"He" was Jermaine Brooks.

On Monday, Brooks appeared before a Washington County (Ark.) circuit judge
to face seven drug and weapons charges. Brooks, 22, pleaded not guilty and
a trial was set for Jan. 29.

Everyone who knew Brooks, a University of Arkansas lineman and former
Rancho Cucamonga High football player, was stunned when he was arrested.

Over and over they repeated the same things. He is such a good guy.
Something must have happened to make him do this. There must be a mistake.

Even the police liked him. They called him a "gentle giant."

How does something like this happen to someone who appeared to have their
act so together? How does a future with so much promise turn into
possession of 10.5 pounds of marijuana, several guns and almost $17,000 in
cash?

I know, innocent until proven guilty, but Brooks all but admitted it when
he apologized to his family and friends for what he had done.

I hope it's a mistake. I hope he didn't do it. But unfortunately, it seems
more and more athletes are getting into trouble, and it's time they start
paying the price. Brooks was immediately thrown off the Razorbacks'
football team and he now faces a possible life sentence, although chances
are good that won't happen.

But maybe it should happen.

It's time we quit letting athletes off when they do something wrong. It's
time we start treating them like everyone else. And it starts in high
school. When they do something wrong, punish them. I'm sick of parents and
coaches complaining when something negative is written about a high school
athlete.

Well, maybe that's the right time for these kids to realize they aren't
better than anyone else and it's time they learn to deal with it.

There is a big difference in high school and college, and many athletes
aren't ready to make that adjustment until it's too late. Already adored
and idolized in high school, the attention skyrockets once in college,
especially for football players at Division I schools. When something goes
wrong, the majority of the time it's quietly covered up.

They see athletes such as O.J. Simpson, Allen Iverson and Latrell Sprewell
constantly getting into trouble and constantly getting off. Iverson even
got to delay his arrest so he could have a party.

They see college football players getting into fights, driving drunk and
abusing women, with never more than a hand slap and a one-or two-game
suspension.

My hat is off to Washington State Coach Mike Price. When two of his players
were involved in a fight and one ended up with a broken jaw, Price said he
was benching the aggressor until the broken jaw heals. Of course, that is
teammate to teammate. What would Price have done to the same player if he
had broken a stranger's jaw in a bar fight?

And if Brooks is found guilty, how should he be punished? I've heard
arguments both ways, probation and life.

I say his punishment should be the same as I would get if I did the same
thing, and hopefully that would be enough to keep others from repeating the
same mistake.

MELANIE NEFF is a sports writer for Inland Valley Voice.