Poor Ricky

Gosh, this one is getting old by now. Ricky Williams tested positive for marijuana again. In a schocking turn of events, Ricky Williams, who suffers from social anxiety disorder, returned to the one thing he loves more than football, the one thing that calms him down and lets him handle his own fame - marijuana.     What this means is that his reinstatement to the NFL following a suspension for multiple marijuana offenses will now be delayed, perhaps indefinitely. That's really sad, because this guy was a stud running back. Ricky Williams was arguably the best running back in the league prior to his departure from it to travel the world, smoke grass, and find himself. He literally retired for a year during the height of his career for this reason. What a guy.     I love Ricky Williams. I loved him when he ran the ball for Texas in the late 90's. I loved him before I knew he was an anti-social, peace loving, hippie. I loved him before I knew that I was an anti-social, peace loving, hippie. I support Ricky Williams. I support him in everything that he does. For being a world-class athlete, for smoking marijuana, and for being a world-class athlete while smoking marijuana, I respect Ricky Williams.     Clearly the issue here isn't the NFL's drug policy, but marijuana's legality itself. Nobody complains a peep when Lou Piniella pounds down a fifth of Jack Daniels after a ballgame because the stress of the 9th inning error gets to him. Nobodays says shit when players smoke cigarettes in clubs and bars. So why then does Ricky Williams get a lifelong ban from the game he both loved and dominated because at the end of the day, after thousands of people try to get in his face, he wants to kick back and have a joint?     It clearly didn't affect his performance. And don't give me that "Oh, well he wasn't on pot the whole time" bullshit. Every college athlete gets high. Do you hear me? I won't name names, but I know much of this from experience and stories from friends at other universities. The same blue-chipper prospect you're drooling over as a pro scout, is blazing up and getting drunk as fuck every Friday night, just like every single other college student that exists. So by the time these guys are adults, professionals, you know...responsible people, they are able to handle getting high without it affecting their athletic goals or work performance. I know I am capable of doing that. And if I can, I promise you Ricky can.