Monday, April 14, 2014
Aldon Smith just may be the best pass rusher in football. He also has serious issues and isn't too bright judging by his indicating to Los Angeles International Airport security people that he was in possession of a bomb after being stopped for a security check.
There are certain things in life you just don't say, or even joke about. At the top of the list is mentioning the word bomb when in an airport. If you do you are a moron. Period. But that's what Smith did on Sunday apparently frustrated that he was being detained for an extra security check.
I have mixed feelings about airport security. Terrorists and religious extremists have ruined air travel forever. That's a sad fact. But airport security doesn't have to be this unpleasant.
Look, I get it. Safety is the No. 1 priority. The last flight I took a man sitting across from me had a long beard, was wearing a turban and chanting out loud from a prayer book. My first thought was hoping security did their job with this guy.
However, in the last few flights I've taken I've had removed from my luggage a water bottle, an expensive bottle of jelly, shampoo, facial cream and shaver. Why?
I'm an American. If I'm flying out of Saudi Arabia then strip search me if you have to. But if I'm flying in America, I don't want to have to take off my shoes, belt and spend 20 minutes being treated like some terrorist suspect. If this means profiling, which some people think is politically incorrect, then tough I'm all for it. In this way, I actually emphasize a little with Smith.
I once made the mistake of saying something inappropriate to an airline security guy. I actually had just past security clearance when I saw a dignified, elderly female being patted down and enduring what I considered an overzealous security check. So I flippantly blurted out, "Yeah, there's a real terrorist."
The next thing I heard was, "Sir, could you come over here." It came from a security guy. I regretted saying what I said the minute it came out of my mouth. I just felt bad for the senior citizen and how stupid airport security can be. My punishment was going through security again. It could have been worse.
Back to Smith. In the last three years, he's been charged with three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon and been arrested twice for drunk driving. Now this airport incident.
Jim Harbaugh isn't going to do anything. He's proven that he cares more about winning a football game than reforming or standing on principle. So the league needs to step in. My suggestion: No football for Smith in 2014.