Kiel Tragedy Paints Disturbing Picture for Athletes

The Fourth of July weekend carries with it many good things — including responsibility

July 8: The Fourth of July weekend carries with it many good things. A day off, for one. A time to be with friends and family, eat lots of barbecue, and reflect on how lucky we are to live in America.
 
But it also carries with it another thing: responsibility. And when someone chooses to eschew his or her responsibility to be safe on the roadways, we get tragedy. When that tragedy happens to a young man, a once-revered San Diego sports figure, it makes us open our eyes.
 
Last Friday night, as he was leaving a house party in Scripps Ranch, former Chargers safety Terrence Kiel, was killed when he was thrown from his car following a collision with a retaining wall. He was 27.
 
Though toxicology reports have not yet been confirmed, according to police reports, friends had tried to keep Kiel from driving home, and witnesses said that Kiel appeared to be driving in the wrong direction when he crashed.
 
A second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2003, Kiel played each of his four seasons in the NFL with San Diego. He played in 59 games, 51 as a starter. He had four interceptions and 22 passes deflected in his career.
 
Kiel was perhaps more infamously known for being charged with (and later pleading guilty to) shipping illegal prescription cough syrup over state lines into Texas, both felony and misdemeanor drug charges. He was released by the Chargers following his plea, and never played again in the NFL.
 
Though the story of Terrence Kiel is indeed a sad one, with a sadder finale, the stark reality is that he’s just another statistic. And not just in the sense that he was potentially driving drunk. We see and hear this story all of the time with professional athletes. The true injustice is that it doesn’t have to happen if they choose to exercise the aforementioned responsibility.
 
We idolize and adore these men for playing a game. Organizations pay them millions of dollars for their services. And rather than be grateful and humbled by this fact, a large majority take it for granted. They also take for granted their own safety and the safety of others.
 
Young, spoiled millionaires endanger our lives because they are too full of themselves to take seriously this call of responsibility.  They probably employ drivers in their entourage, yet never use them. They can afford a $50 cab ride, yet choose to get behind the wheel and put us all at risk anyway.
 
It has to stop. Somehow. Or there will be more Terrence Kiels. More Eddie Griffins. More Leonard Littles.

Do you like what you read? Subscribe to San Diego Magazine »