Sports Radio Interviews

Jackie Garcia: “You don’t realize how your life can be taken away or someone else’s life taken away because of your action.”

A very sad and unfortunate day happened in November of 2007, Washington Redskin and former Miami Hurricane great Sean Taylor was murdered in his house. A tragic day. Taylor came back home to Miami when the team was in Tampa Bay, he was not required to be with team because of injury, and intruders broke in during an apparent robbery and shot and killed Taylor.  Turn on the news 300 nights a year or more and it always starts with some of violence or crime.  Sports hasn’t been immune to violence off the field either. In the sports world we have heard plenty in the last few years, something that has been a bad trend and has been becoming more frequent

The reason for bringing up gun violence is because of the ongoing issue and drama with Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Bullets, I mean Wizards. Arenas is suspended indefinitely and as much for the way he handled the situation as for the actual gun in locker room. I mean who is stupid enough to do what he did, even as a joke in the picture during pre-game where he is making hand gestures as a pistol? Gilbert, you’re a moron. You put yourself in a situation that the only way to get around is to admit the mistake, apologize, apologize and then apologize again. Doesn’t he realize that David Stern don’t play that? Unfortunately when violence or talk about guns and athletes comes up in the news, there is mention of Sean Taylor and his fiancée, Jackie Garcia. Garcia was in the room with him when he was shot. A tragic situation with Taylor and an idiotic one with Arenas.

Jackie Garcia joined Lavar Arrington on 106.7 the Fan in Washington D.C to talk about Sean Taylor’s death, gun violence, and athletes’ responsibilities.

Asked what she thought on Arenas and other athletes in the news with some sort of gun violence mentioned:

“Well obviously I had a personal experience with it, I feel very strong about this situation. I feel that young kids look up to people like him especially from his background. They look up to him and they see dreams for themselves , they want to achieve the things that he has done, and then all of a sudden they see him showing guns and things that aren’t positive. You’re setting them up to go out and do something like that when they may have dreams that they are going for. He is putting a lot of responsibility on himself, what if a kid now goes out and did what he did? You know, takes a child’s life and then what? I think he has been put in such a big spotlight that he should have that conscience and not portray that image because there are so many kids looking up to him and want to be like him.”

With the Plaxico case and Arenas she is asked how she interprets all of the stories with athletes going on presently:

“I do take it seriously because I just feel that you are basically walking that line, and its very personal to me. Someone got taken away from me that I loved by this. You know what I mean? Its very immature to be honest with you. I just think that they should set the right example. You don’t realize how personal and it’s a very big deal to do something like because you don’t realize how your life can be taken away or someone else’s life taken away because of your action.”

Asked what would be the advice given to Gilbert Arenas:

“He needs to let his pride go and realize the significance of his influence on teenagers. Just break down and admit it and say your sorry and I am in the wrong. I am willing to do whatever I can for my community and whatever I have to do to prove that it was the wrong thing that I did. Just bow down to your mistake. The best thing is to always be honest, you know when you start dealing with pride, fighting with it and laughing at it, you know its not about pride. It’s about you did wrong and you need to make sure that because of your wrong, a persons life isn’t taken.”

Listen to Jackie Garcia on 106.7 the Fan in DC with Lavar Arrington

Tags: Gilbert Arenas, Jackie Garcia, NBA, NFL, Sean Taylor, Sean Taylor Murdered, Washington Redskins, Washington Wizards