According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Vikings running back Onterrio Smith was caught in an airport with a Whizzinator (a prosthetic penis used to foil urine tests) and some dried pure urine.
Smith, 24, was kicked off the University of Tennessee football team in 2000 for marijuana use and finished his college career at Oregon. (Hmm, Oregon… I wonder why Oregon… maybe because Alaska doesn’t have a Div I college football program…) Scouts considered him one of the top running backs available in the 2003 draft, but questions about his past drug use and character dropped him to the fourth round.
Smith was suspended four games last season after testing positive for marijuana, his second “strike” in the league’s program. A third “strike” would result in a yearlong suspension. An attempt to substitute a urine specimen qualifies as a positive test, but NFL spokesman Greg Aiello did not immediately know Tuesday whether possession of a masking device fits that criteria.
Wow, it would seem that aside from the rules against it, marijuana hasn’t affected Smith’s athletic ability or career in the least.
Look, athletes get paid tons of money to produce spectacular feats of strength and agility. That’s why marijuana is so popular in the NBA and NFL. It doesn’t negatively impact the athlete’s ability the way an alcohol hangover would. But it also doesn’t improve an athlete’s ability the way steroids, cocaine, or speed would. And I’m fairly certain he’s not puffing the bong right before the game; he’s just relaxing and enjoying his off-hours.
Personally, I hope Smith pulls a “Ricky Williams” and decides that putting up with marijuana testing is bullshit (and not just because that would take a star running back out of the NFC North… GO PACK GO!) Take the money and run, Onterrio. This country needs to get real and just legalize it. It’s ludicrous that the NFL would punish the occasional toker but let the raging alcoholics get a free pass. This reefer madness must stop!
