man down

Barret Robbins' life is coming undone. After a stellar NFL career cut short by personal issues and allegations, Barret's falling star nearly plummeted into a grave following his latest encounter. Now, having survived multiple gunshot wounds, Barret faces the prospect of multiple attempted murder charges. It's hard to imagine a worse situation for the former All-Pro center.

I've met Barret a handful of times. I've probably heard his voice less than a rabid fan might have from his post-game interviews, but the perspective of interpersonal interaction reveals volumes left unspoken by soundbites or Reuters clippings. The person I've met is a decent human being and an extremely kind, nice guy. The fact that Barret now stands accused as a violent criminal demonstrates the severity of an emotional disorder that is beyond the realm of understanding for anyone who hasn't walked a mile in his shoes.

Not that the general public will ever know any such details. Barret's fall from grace has come under the unfortunate glare of a media spotlight, where the camera lens is always quick to capture surface sins but never sharp enough to reveal the details behind them. In a typical story off the AP wire, Barret's bipolar disorder is a footnote to 7 paragraphs of violent encounters and past failings.

The mythology is that America celebrates opportunity, embracing the Horatio Alger everymen who pull themselves up by democratic-capitalistic bootstraps. But the reality is River Phoenix. Tu-Pac. John Belushi. Sid Vicious. Rae Carruth. Jayson Williams. The high-profile flame-out of celebrities, musicians, and sports heroes has replaced the American Dream with tawdry gossip. Perhaps we've fallen victim to our successes; when William Hung grabs his 15 minutes (and then some), it's a stark reminder that fame and fortune are often capricious rather than deserved. The old "rah rah" success stories about hard work and dedication seem antiquated in this environment, becoming background noise against the flashier tales of woe that ultimately befall misbegotten celebrities.

Maybe Barret's story will provide an amazing "against all odds" comeback story worthy of a movie. But more than likely, you'll never hear a word about his fate once the cameras stop rolling. Real-life recoveries require ample amounts of patience and commitment, and those characteristics don't play well on TV.