University of Virginia Lacrosse Murder Leads To Heated Debate

Early Monday morning University of Virginia Women's Lacrosse player Yeardly Love was found dead in her apartment off campus.

Just hours later fellow men's lacrosse player George Huguely was charged with first degree murder.

As of writing this those are the only facts in the case that have been released by police.

However, that has not stopped many on Internet message boards ranging from ABC News to the Washington Post from posting about how this kid should burn at the stake, or how he was just another privileged athlete who didn't get his way and killed this poor girl.

First off, the only FACTS we know are that a murder took place and that there has been a suspect taken into custody.  We also know the identity of both the victim and suspect.

That's it.  The method in which this poor girl met her end has not been released, neither has whether there was any forced entry.

That tells me nothing.  I am not defending Mr. Huguely in any way shape or form, but I remember the Duke lacrosse scandal of a few years ago, and sadly I was one of the folks yelling for their arrest.

I learned my lesson there. I should not jump to conclusions too soon.  So here I am showing restraint.  I'll wait until more facts are released and I'll form an opinion.  However when you're arrested that quickly it doesn't look too good.

But if Law and Order has taught me anything, the first suspect you catch isn't always your guy.

This brings me to the real reason for this article.  The quotes on message boards about "he's just another privileged athlete who committed a crime and will probably get off or get a lighter sentence."

Now, being a former athlete I take great offense to this.  Not just for myself but the many, many athletes I have had the pleasure to play alongside as well as know.

Sure there were a few jerks in the bunch, in any large group there always are, but they were a vast minority.

Most of the athletes I know were at the top of their respective classes in academics and were outstanding people.  They didn't have this sense of entailment that seems to be a stigma with athletes.

Lumping in a few idiots in with the majority only creates stereotypes that don't help anyone and in the end could create such a backlash that it causes schools to cut funding for sports.

At the local middle and high school levels that could mean fewer teams and fewer opportunities for kids to play a game they love.

At the college level it could mean fewer scholarships so some kids whose only way into to college is through sports might not have that opportunity.

Like everything else we need to judge individuals as individuals and not think because one or a few people did something wrong that a whole community is just like them. 

If George Huguely is indeed guilty the rest of his teammates, as well as other lacrosse players and athletes, should not be lumped in with him.

In the end a poor young woman lost her life and I think with people quick to jump in and hang this young man along with other "privileged" athletes we are losing site of the actual tragedy.

I hope Yeardly Love rests in peace and my prayers are with her family and friends as they try to make sense of what has happened.