Jackson Jambalaya

Dear Jeremy Bibb,

You've paid your debt to society and have been released from jail. Although you are only twenty-one, hopefully you have learned a few lessons and will avoid the mistakes that sent you to jail in the first place.

However, there is some advice you desperately need. You need to stay away from Frank. Sorry Jeremy, I know he bailed you out of trouble when you were arrested for drug dealing, but too often youths get in more trouble after they become associated with our bombastic mayor. You are only a way for him to grandstand and make it appear he is "doing something" about crime and teenagers.

If he had any true interest in your well-being, he would not make the following statement concerning you:
"If there is any hiccup with his eligibility, I think I am going to let him try out for the New Orleans Saints or the Houston Texans," Melton said. "If the college thing doesn't work out, I'll try to get him in the NFL. He physically has the ability to make it...."
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806200342

No offense Jeremy, but you are a decent junior college running back. You haven't played in quite a while and are in no shape for the NFL. You were not one of the top running backs in juco football and have yet to show the ability to make it in pro football. If Frank was really concerned about you, he would not be talking about trying to get you into the NFL.

What you should be thinking about is this. You are 21 years old. You are no longer a teenager. You have a criminal record with multiple offenses and everyone around here knows who you are. You need to focus on getting the tools you need to lead a productive life. You have no college degree and probably have few job skills that employers need. At this point in your life, you are probably only qualified for low paying jobs or those that are of the manual labor variety. You need to worry about becoming a good student in college before you worry about the NFL. You will probably have the opportunity to go to a community college and play football on scholarship. If you are that fortunate, hopefully you will take it more seriously than does Mr. Melton, who seems intent on turning your life into one of his circus acts. There are probably several successful men in this town who would be more than happy to act as your mentor. Frank already helped you once and what happened? You wound up back in jail.

Do that hard-working mother of yours proud and worry about getting an education. Tell Frank thanks, but no thanks and that you want to go do this on your own. You will be a better man for it as you've learned more about life in the last five years than many people learn in twenty.