NFL rookie reportedly robbed at gunpoint in Los Angeles
Conspicuous outward displays of wealth go hand in glove with rookies in professional sports, many of whom are touching more money from their signing bonus in one stroke than their entire extended family makes in a lifetime combined.
And, of course, nothing puts a big neon sign over one’s head that advertises “rob me” like conspicuous outward displays of wealth.
So it should come as no surprise that Derwin James, the Los Angeles Chargers rookie, was reportedly robbed at gunpoint in the City of Angels last month.
According to TMZ, James and his uncle were leaving an Italian restaurant on Sunset Boulevard when a couple of thugs rushed them, pulled guns and demanded the rookie’s chain and Rolex watch.
And, in an almost comic twist to the story, the robbers had the foresight to realize that the Rolls-Royce car parked near the restaurant probably belonged to their would-be victim as well, so they slashed three of the tires.
James learned of this when he tried to chase the robbers’ getaway car and had about as much luck as the cartoon car in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”
Police are still searching for the suspects, but they can assume this wasn’t the suspects’ first rodeo; it’s not often a hit-and-run robbery like this involves so much foresight.
Report: Chargers first-round pick Derwin James robbed at gunpoint last month https://t.co/hGOvA2KudH
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 24, 2018
James was considered a steal of a different sort in the draft when he fell to 17th in the first round.
The defensive back was a standout at Florida State, but a knee injury that sidelined him for most of his sophomore year left him a questionable injury risk for many pro teams.
James managed 186 tackles in college, including an impressive-for-a-safety 15 tackles for loss. Losing him on a safety blitz was a good way to get whoever ended up with the ball in the backfield jacked up by a big hit.
James also had three interceptions to go with 5.5 sacks.
Los Angeles has a reputation as being a dangerous city in which to live, and the statistics back that up.
Los Angeles has a crime rate 13 percent higher than the national average, including a violent crime rate 86 percent higher.
The city is so dangerous that it ranks in just the 13th percentile of American cities for crime safety.
And Derwin James discovered that when you straight-up show robbers “here’s something I have that you can steal” in a place like that, you’ll end up with a pair of handguns pointed at you faster than you can say Marvin Acme.
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