Monday, July 05, 2010

The Big Dummy


JaMarcus Russell was arrested today in his Mobile Alabama home for possession of a controlled substance (codeine syrup aka "Purple Drank") as part of an undercover narcotics investigation.

"Purple Drank is an illegal recreational drink popular in the Southern United States rap community, whose main ingredients originally consisted of prescription strength cough syrup, containing codeine and promethazine, and either a carbonated soft drink (generally Sprite) or fruit juice. The purple-ish hue of Purple Drank comes from the dyes in the cough syrup. Recently, the term has expanded to cover mixtures including over-the-counter cough syrup and vodka in place of prescription cough syrup. Other terms for Purple Drank include Barre, Oil, Purple Tonic, Lean (or Southern Lean,) Drank, and Syrup (which is sometimes slangly pronounced as Sizzurp.)
The active ingredient of purple drank is codeine, an opiate medication contained in prescription strength cough syrups due to its antitussive properties. Some prescription cough syrups also contain anti-histamine medications, such as promethazine, which have a mild sedative effect. When taken in large quantities, both medications can lead to sedation and altered levels of consciousness."

Here's a guy who at the ripe old age of 21 was given a golden ticket to a wonderful life that included fame, fortune, and playing a sport he loved. All he needed to do to punch this golden ticket is be a good teammate and a good citizen. Is that too much to ask?

Russell was notorious for being late to meetings, being unable to handle the entire playbook, showing up to mini-camps out of shape and ill prepared, and with his recent release from the Raiders, as the biggest draft bust in the entire history of the league.

Is there any doubt that the "purple drank" was a significant part of the equation in Russell's failures the past 3 years? After being booted from the Raiders, Russell had a second chance to get his life and career back on track this season or next if he simply dedicated himself to his craft. Oh well. The Big Dummy should be able to afford a good attorney and continue to piss his life down the drain.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Ian said...

I would question the notion that he really ever loved the game. This "drank" thang explains a lot though. Thank god they cut him, looking forward to the Campbell/Gradkowski era.

I may have to break out some kind of purple cocktail at the home opener so I can tip some out for old jDummy.

So long you sad sack waste of 3 seasons.

9:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Were you not the writer who 12 months wrote how much potential he had and that he was not fat he just had a big build.

Sorry to call you out but it’s just deserts for a blogger who disparaged anyone who questioned his focus and commitment.

Hope you can take it as well as you can dish it

Townsend So Cal

3:13 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Based on how Russell finished the last 7 games of the 2008 season, I truly believed he was on the verge of taking the next logical progression in his career.

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=19561684&postID=7603633735632484253

As pointed out in the post above, Townsend SoCal:

Russell had a better QB rating than both Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in these last 7 games of the 2008 season. This was Russell's 1st year as the Raiders QB starter. He made significant, tangible strides in last part of his 1st season as the starting QB.

No one, including you, knew that Russell's uncle would die after the 2008 season, that Russell would regress, or that he would get caught up in the purple drank.

Were you questioning his focus and commitment when he led the Raiders to a stirring 4th quarter comeback victory over TB at the end of 2008?

When he showed up out of shape and unmotivated in the 2009 offseason is a different story.

Bottom Line: My opinions about Russell were in real time. I praised him when he closed out the 2008 season strongly. I voiced my disappointment when he gave up in 2009. Hindsight is 20/20.

9:28 PM  
Anonymous Clara said...

Everything will be alright in the end
If its not alright
Then its not the end

11:52 AM  

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