CHICAGO, December 16, 2011- Imagine this. The scene is a suburban Chicago steak house. Two men meet to discuss business over three hundred dollars worth of food and drink. That’s what happens in steakhouses. Business meetings, big deals, and big tabs.
This business meeting was different and these were not run of the mill businessmen. The business was crime. Their business was dope. That is not all that distinguished these men from the conventional steakhouse pinstripe brigade.
One of these men was an NFL player, a member of the Chicago Bears. The other was an undercover federal agent.
It is alleged Chicago Bear special team wide receiver Sam Hurd, 26, negotiated with an undercover agent to purchase 5-10 kilograms (one kilogram equals 2.2 pounds) of cocaine and 1000 pounds of marijuana per week. Hurd allegedly was willing to pay $25,000 per kilo of cocaine and $450 per pound of marijuana.
That’s a lot of dope, grass and money every week.
Hurd supposedly discussed his business problems. He told the agent he was currently distributing four kilos of cocaine per week but his current supplier could not keep up with the demand.
Hurd left the restaurant with a kilo of cocaine he took on consignment. He promised to pay for it the next day. He was immediately arrested as he got into his car.
A Texas native, Hurd has been under investigation since July of this year. The investigation started in Texas. Hurd was playing for the Dallas Cowboys at the time. Hurd was questioned after an acquaintance was stopped driving his car. There was $88,000 in cash and marijuana in the vehicle.
Reports vary as to the whys and hows of that stop. But, it started the ball rolling which led to the arrest of Hurd this week.
He now stands accused of attempting to establish a Texas to Chicago drug network and possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. Hurd faces over 20 charges resulting from the five month investigation. If he does not plead guilty, and waive trial, he will be taken back to Texas to stand trial. Hurd faces up to 40 years in prison and a 2 million dollar fine.
There is another facet to this story. Hurd allegedly told the agent a co-conspirator deals with day to day drug sales while he concentrates on the high profile customers, including fellow NFL players.
According to some media reports there is a list of Hurd’s NFL player customers and it is supposed to be in the double digits.
Once again professional sports gets a black eye. If the reports on the size of Hurd’s NFL customer list is true, the NFL will have two black eyes.
Once again there is the possibility of a major scandal brewing among the overpaid over pampered athletes we call champions and heroes. Once again we may witness the downfall of many athletes if the list of players is made public.
Once again we are witness to the audacity of arrogance.
There is a certain level of idiocy involved with this story. Sam Hurd should have realized in July he was in trouble when he was questioned about the large amount of cash in his car. Maybe he thought the cachet of being a professional football player would protect him from future problems.
If Hurd wanted to earn more money than his current contract he should have tried to be a better player, pursued legitimate business interests or product endorsement deals.
If he wanted adventure he could have pursued any number of activities to get the adrenalin flowing.
Hurd’s NFL career is over. These are drug charges, a huge taboo in professional sports. There is no doubt the NFL and the Chicago Bears have their own investigators putting together a funeral package to seal the coffin. Regardless of the trial results.
We have become jaded by professional athletes. Instead of expecting the best, we expect the worst behavior. We are entertained and amused by their antics outside of sports. We relish each bit of gossip. We know as much about their private lives and peccadillos as we do their stats.
Then, like the fools we are, we forgive them because they are so talented. They are so good.
Maybe it is time to go back to a time when professional athletes personal behavior was just as important as their athletic talent and feats.
A time when players were held to higher standards of behavior on and off the court, field, or stadium. Back to a time when, if they committed any acts that would disgrace their team or sport, they were dropped. Fired, gone, and disappeared.
A time when it was all in black and white. In their contracts.
Professional athletes are over valued commodities and their talent is more important than their character. They are “our heros”. They are too big to fail, fall, or be fired.
There should be no pity, sympathy, or empathy for Sam Hurd. He did this to himself. He threw away his career. He embarrassed his sport, his team, and his newly adopted city.
An example needs to be set. A message needs to be sent. Professional athletes either behave or get tossed. Whether it is drunken driving, dog fighting, sexting, bar fights, shootings, narcotic sales, or other illegal or salacious behavior.
No pity. No mercy. No redemption.
Peter Bella is a retired Chicago Police Officer, freelance writer, freelance photographer, and consultant. He is a passionate cook and eater. He likes to be the sharp stick that pokes, annoys, and provokes. His opinions are his and his alone.
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