James Stewart was arrested yesterday and was apparently charged with "impersonating a police officer". I'll tell the facts as we know them here, and then I'll deliver a little bit of perspective.The Facts:
According to news articles, Stewart and his passenger were out messing around and used blue-and-red police-style lights to pull over a car, then stopped next to the car to "yell something" at the driver, and the driver presented a badge showing that they were an off-duty police officer.
Stewart fled the scene, and his passenger threw the lights in his luggage, as he was about to take a flight from Orlando International Airport. The passenger, his longtime friend Rado (the guy featured in his Rick James videos and whatnot), was charged with tampering with evidence.
Stewart has posted bail and was released today.
The Perspective:
James Stewart is guilty of doing something very stupid. But he's not guilty of doing anything malicious. He wasn't planning on harming anybody, and he didn't harm anybody. People all over the internet are freaking out and making character judgments against James Stewart, and it's simply unnecessary.
Here's some perspective:
In June of 2003, motorcycling's golden boy Travis Pastrana made headlines when he went out in his Chevrolet Corvette and, as I understand it, tried to do a jump on a back road near his home. He tried to jump from one hump in the road to another, and in order to do it, he head to be going extraordinarily fast.
He crashed his car, and his passenger, Matt Bigos, was paralyzed. Bigos still suffers from paralysis, but he's a cyclist now and the last I checked he was doing much better. He can walk and cycle, but he's definitely not "back to normal" or anything like that.
James Stewart has not won lately, and that's a big part of why this is such a big deal to so many people. (Photo: CoxMX.com)While people did come down on Pastrana for it, it quickly went away. And only a few years later, Pastrana had a television show doing stunts like that and making money doing it in The Nitro Circus on MTV.
James Stewart's mistake here isn't even in the same zip code as Pastrana's. And on top of it, no one was hurt, except for Stewart's pride.
I also don't think many people would really care about this at all if Stewart had been winning. If he had won the last four races, then this happened, many of the people who are giving him crap for it would shrug and move on. But because he's not winning right now, which is unusual for him, he is being crucified. People are saying that this behavior is why he's not winning.
Well, how do we know that? How do we know he wasn't pulling stupid pranks (and that's all this seems to be) when he was dominating in 2009? Or any other year? We don't know. We only know about this because of the horrible luck of pulling over a car carrying two Florida State Troopers and one sheriff's deputy.
And obviously Stewart hasn't had much in the way of luck lately out on the track, either.
So, while I think Stewart will freely admit that he did something incredibly stupid, I think we all need to look at our own lives and think of the stupid stuff we've done, because for many of us, the only difference is that we aren't famous, and we weren't caught.
James Stewart is a happy-go-lucky kind of guy most of the time, as you can see here in this photo from Jacksonville. He did something stupid, but not malicious. There's a big difference. (Photo: CoxMX.com)
21 Comments
1-20 of 21
Posted by emde76 March 29, 2011 11:54am PDTReply | Report Abuse
"Perspective" was also the first thing on my mind when I started reading the inevitable negativity in people's reactions to this incident. Was it stupid? Absolutely. Was it criminal? Sure. Did he cause harm to anyone but himself? No. Let's not stone the guy just yet...
Reply by steve cox March 29, 2011 06:29pm PDTReport Abuse
The voice of reason...
Reply by wes513v March 30, 2011 11:16am PDTReport Abuse
If it was criminal, then there should be consequences. There are a lot of things that happen that do not cause anyone any harm, but they all have potential to do so. Are we to wait until it happens to put a stop to it, or do we draw a line and say this is against the law because of the potential for disaster?
Posted by roberto mariscal March 29, 2011 12:17pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
The perspective part would have been ok but comparing it with Pastrana´s story was just bad journalism whoever did This is an idiot , try to clean Bubbas name by throwing dirt in someone else it's just pointless and offensive. And there is no point of comparison in either of the stories, note I am not hating on James or TP just pointing out the bad journalism
Reply by steve cox March 29, 2011 06:29pm PDTReport Abuse
This is an editorial, not journalism.
Reply by slomaxil March 29, 2011 08:22pm PDTReport Abuse
From Wikipedia......
Opinion journalism is journalism that makes no claim of objectivity. Although distinguished from advocacy journalism in several ways, both forms feature a subjective viewpoint, usually with some social or political purpose. Common examples include newspaper columns, editorials, editorial cartoons, and punditry.
Hmm....so maybe this is journalism.
Posted by motogirl2011 March 29, 2011 12:21pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
What bothers us the most is that he's a role model for so many kids, who tend to emulate their idols. A stupid move for an ultimate rider who we assumed would know better than to try something so stupid. I mean come on....seriously, to disregard everyone who supports him, especially his sponsors, is irresponsible. This has nothing to do with how he's doing in Supercross. Winning or losing, he still let down his fans who have followed and supported him. So disappointed.....
Reply by steve cox March 29, 2011 06:28pm PDTReport Abuse
Again, he didn't sign up to be a role model. What happens between he and his sponsors is their business.
The only difference between this being a "let down" and not one is that he got caught.
Posted by tyler sorenson March 29, 2011 12:51pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Dont forget to cup the balls Cox.
Reply by eatyzdirt March 29, 2011 01:58pm PDTReport Abuse
LOL!!!!
Posted by eatyzdirt March 29, 2011 01:57pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Hey Cox, you sound like Jeff Emig on Supercross coverage. Smooch Smooch. Was Pastrana charged with a felony? He is a role model to kids, the should now better. There is more to being a role model that his win or crash mentality. Steve, don't write anymore of this garbage. Tell us what happend not you disorted view on things.
Reply by steve cox March 29, 2011 06:26pm PDTReport Abuse
I feel like the only role models kids should have are their parents. Stewart isn't a role model by choice, it's something thrust onto him by people who don't want the responsibility.
This is an opinion piece, as are many pieces on this site. You're not always going to agree with me. And that's okay.
Reply by wes513v March 30, 2011 11:00am PDTReport Abuse
I have to agree with Cox on the role model aspect. No professional athlete in any sport can honestly be a role model to anyone but their own kids. Reason? because in order to be a role model, you have to be around the person constantly to show how to act and respond correctly in any given situation. The fact that an athlete is on a public stage for throwing a ball or racing a bike doesn't make them a role model, it makes them an example of how to do a specific thing at a high level. The best they can be is an example of the result of hard work and talent. As far as character issues, no way. I disagree with Cox on everything else he said though. This is a big deal because James is an arrogant, preening idiot. He is an example of everything wrong with professional athletes. But he is not the only one, he has a great deal of company in every sport out there. Bubba, say hello to Mr. Bonds, Mr. Vick, Mr. Landis, Mr. Rose, Mr. McGuire... Unfortunately the list goes on far too long. Getting caught isn't the issue Mr. Cox, having so little character as to do it in the first place is. You seem to condone actions like these if they don't get caught. Either the action is right or wrong. There is no in between.
Posted by larry langley March 29, 2011 02:24pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Two acts of incredible stupidity. First using the lights (which is a criminal offense). This probably wasn't a one time deal either past or future intent. Second was his pal trying to take the lights in his luggage! Why didn't he just throw them away? Stupid people not matter how talented. Look at the NT Giants wide receive who took a loaded gun into a night club. Went off and shot himself and ended up two years in prison. Talented? Yep. Stupid? Yep. I think that sometimes talented and rich people think themselves above the law and guess what? You're not.
Posted by crystal ashworth March 29, 2011 03:52pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
"So, while I think Stewart will freely admit that he did something incredibly stupid, I think we all need to look at our own lives and think of the stupid stuff we've done, because for many of us, the only difference is that we aren't famous, and we weren't caught."
We also don't have sponsorships worth millions of dollars and contracts signed that say we will conduct ourselves professionally at all times.
My husband just races locally, and has a B-Rider sponsorship from O'Neal. His Contract says "RIDER will promote O'Neal/Azonic to the best of the RIDER's ability and will conduct him/herself as a professional at all times. RIDER will do nothing to damage the name and/or reputation of O'Neal and/or it's products, nor will RIDER engage in activities, which will embarrass or disgrace O'Neal." And that's just to get a 45% discount!
Reply by steve cox March 29, 2011 06:25pm PDTReport Abuse
Why does having contracts make him more guilty than anyone else? I don't understand the logic. Sponsors may have problems with it, but it's up to them, isn't it?
So, he is held to a higher standard because he makes a lot of money?
Reply by wes513v March 30, 2011 11:11am PDTReport Abuse
Because these people put their reputations on the line when they sign sponsorship deals. He does have a higher level of responsibility to these people than if he was just some stranger. He agreed to act in a certain manner, and he breached that contract. Why can't you seem to understand that?
Posted by slomaxil March 29, 2011 08:06pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
"People all over the internet are freaking out and making character judgments against James Stewart, and it's simply unnecessary"
Unnecessary? Unfortunately, at times, the decisions and choices that we make in life determine our character. People are making character judgements because his actions determine his character. It doesn't make a difference what contracts he has or how much money he makes. I would be judged locally if I did that and he is judged nationally because he is famous. He is not being held to a higher standard....just a standard. That is just life. If you make a stupid choice, you get called out on it....famous or not.
Posted by rick seconds March 29, 2011 09:32pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
I'm a Police Officer and his actions are unbelievably stupid. Not only did he do something illegal, he endangered his own life and his passenger's life. What if he had pulled over a car load of violent criminals and yelled at them? This whole scenario could have turned out much worse than it did. I have had something like this happen to me, while out bicycling at night in my neighborhood, fully lit bicycle and a helmet with Police in reflective letters, a brightly reflective jacket with Public Safety on the back. A car load of teenagers came into the neighborhood and threw a fully loaded cup at me as I was riding. I turned around and confronted them as they turned into a dead end and the neighborhood only has one exit. These idiots had no business in the neighborhood and they could have injured me. I told them, treat every person you come into contact with as possibly being a Police Officer. They were held by me until a marked unit arrived and trespassed from the neighborhood.
Posted by peacenluv March 29, 2011 11:43pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
we are all young at one point and do things that reflect this, but who has not done one similar....this kid is amazing and we all know that....as is pastrana....these athletes and PR superstars bring joy to all of us in ways no one else can in sports... the very people that flashed that badge that day wreck lives for a living sadly, and they themselves play the system ...
my small town in utah is a prime example, not all mind you, but i know of one sheriff in particular that will go on tax dollars (on duty) commit adultery and get away with it...the badge is the only thing that made bubba 'bad' that day, not his actions...if it had not been for two troopers and a sheriff that day, we all would have a little smile if we knew what they did with that prank that day and the other person a faster heart rate and maybe a smile also for the kids messing with them....life is fun and we should remember that..just like i think we should profile at airports to keep our senior from taking off their shoes instead of thanking them for making our county great, and not emabarras the masses, by the same logic we should have reverse profiling in cases like this and say..'mister stewart dont do that again' and let him go on with his day with a warning (written so you get credit for not being at the donut shop or in the hotel room in utah)... and this world would be a better place...
peace
Reply by wes513v March 30, 2011 11:08am PDTReport Abuse
SO...it's the fault of the people he chose to harass that caused all this. Wow, Cox, if you just would have put it in THIS perspective I think we all would have understood it better. Poor James, there he was, unknowingly driving along when the off duty officers decided they would ruin his life by forcing him to flash his illegal police lights at them, thus giving them the opportunity to get him arrested. Why didn't we all see this for what it was? A ploy to bring James down. Will the man ever stop trying to hold a brother down...
Posted by rich jones March 29, 2011 11:47pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
great piece steve! thanks for bring us all, or at least me, back to Earth. Stupid prank, lesson learned. Move on!!
Posted by overkill543 March 30, 2011 03:51am PDTReply | Report Abuse
lol, I think its funny that people start judging right away! I mean I have done WAY stupider stuff when I was young and think about this, how many of them go out Saturday night and throw back a few beers then DRIVE home!! Thats worse than what he did, I mean Im not making excuses for him but hey, who is to say that he didnt buy that little light from some guy on the street selling novelty items and his buddy pulled it out from under the truck seat and turned it on! Then James just went along with it not thinking about what he was doing! I mean who hasnt done stuff similar to that?!?!
Posted by mxrider112 March 30, 2011 05:04am PDTReply | Report Abuse
It doesn't matter if you are Stewart, Pastrana, J-Law, or anybody else. If you break the law, you need to be held accountable. Many of Stewart's fans are saying that it was just a prank. It was also a FELONY! Then he tried to run away, just making things worse for himself. And I have to agree with rick seconds, Stewart was lucky that he didn't do this to the wrong people! This could have turned out much worse for him than being arrested. I have a question for Steve Cox, how would you feel if a couple of strangers pulled you over pretending to be police officers? Would you think it was a funny prank? There are good reasons why this is such a serious offense!
Posted by patric guthrie March 30, 2011 12:26pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Pastrana's incident was on his own private land and the passenger was well aware of what he was attempting to do when he go in the car. There was no crime committed in this case. Morally, that's another story and one for the civil courts to figure out if the friend wanted to persue justice.
Stewart was on a public roadway endangering others who were not willing participants in his antics. He committed a felony and should be charged and tried accordingly whether he is the most famous person in the world or just Joe Blow from down the street. Makes no difference.
Posted by peacenluv March 30, 2011 05:51pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
sorry to nose in on the quetion for cox, mxrider112, but if it was me as you ask if someone pulled that prank on me, as i said, my heart rate would shoot thru the roof (i dont get pulled over much) and i would then have the biggest relief and then i would say those little sons of b#tch@s, and my life would have one more funny story to tell in this some-times mundane life, well that is unless you clear triples that would have made evil knievel a millionare, 3 times a lap for a living, and on your way to help a buddy you have a little fun...
btw- if its a big offense its only because its cop related, its a selfish cover your ass world in those deparments, i personally take great offense in the terms 'officer down' like now it counts, let move, no sir i pay taxes, a bum on the street should get the same response if he is shot, for the same token the free use of white trash somehow is excempt of negativity...
Reply by mxrider112 March 31, 2011 04:28am PDTReport Abuse
The reason it's a big offense is because bad people have used police lites to pull over people and rape, rob, and murder them. That is why it is such a serious crime. You and I know that Stewart wasn't going to do anything like that, but how do you determine who is or is not going to? That is why no one is allowed to have them. Maybe you would feel differently if one of your friends, or family was a victim of one of these crimes.
I truly hope that Stewart pulls himself together and is able to get back to racing. The sport needs him. He is a joy to watch, when he is on he's the best rider I've ever seen.
One more thing, most of the people who I know that are "white trash" don't like police either......
Posted by peacenluv March 31, 2011 11:25pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
good point mx112, but the sheriff i was reffering to is also provided a plain cake car with smoked glass even(must be easier for wrecking homes with his on duty-adultery) and as you say you can look like a cop with those lites, there is something very wrong also in being a cop and not diplaying it... as far as rape, the only one that comes to mind was the cop in san diego some years ago (more i am sure un reported)... so to place stewart in this as some kind of crisis from this, thanks to a report that never should have been, is plain silly..
and you are also right in that he is the best you have seen because he is a fenom that comes along not often as tripes came, magoo, and such that make you realize how special they are...the white trash thing was the use of the term, not a particular kind of person.. somehow because a white man says it, its ok, but the underlying implication, and what bothers me is that its almost saying that if you say black, you dont have to use the last word with it, and the inference is there, too hidden for simple minds to pick up and that is why its used so much...
Reply by mxrider112 April 1, 2011 06:37am PDTReport Abuse
I guess that we will have to agree to dissagree on some points, but not all. Nice reference on the white trash comment.
Posted by cota_trials April 1, 2011 10:09am PDTReply | Report Abuse
After reading the article and comments I have to say all of you are missing the obvious Good New,....
"At Least He Didn't Crash"
Posted by sawhock April 2, 2011 03:33pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
"James Stewart is guilty of doing something very stupid. But he's not guilty of doing anything malicious. He wasn't planning on harming anybody, and he didn't harm anybody." Since your on the in with the magnificant Bubba, what was he planning to do?
And oh by the way Mr Cox, when you craft one of these fine editorials, feel free to find the definition of the words you are using as the crux of your "perspective."
Here is the definition of Malicious:
ma·li·cious
[muh-lish-uhs]
-adjective
1.
full of, characterized by, or showing malice; malevolent; spiteful: malicious gossip.
2.
Law . vicious, wanton, or mischievous in motivation or purpose.
As you see, #2 is spot on in this case!!
Oh and before you reply, here is what mischievous is defined as:
mis·chie·vous
[mis-chuh-vuhs]
-adjective
1.
maliciously or playfully annoying.
2.
causing annoyance, harm, or trouble.
3.
roguishly or slyly teasing, as a glance.
4.
harmful or injurious.
So add accuracy to your perspective and try again.
My .02 cents, he f'ed up and willfully committed a felony (Allegedly until proven guilty). He needs to pay the proper price if proven guilty. Don't give two craps that hes an awesome rider (which I think he is) or you have a huge man-crush on him because Travis Pastrana never invited you to his compound. How do you apply for a job as a "journalist" here? Simple essay, write how many ways you would please Bubba Stewart and be somewhat coherent? Oh Well.
Posted by ataht April 2, 2011 04:42pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
How ironic...
Posted by ataht April 2, 2011 04:42pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
How ironic...
1 2 | Next > | Last
Add a Comment