Imagine yourself as a talented, young superstar at the dawn of what promises to be a lucrative… Imagine yourself as a talented, young superstar at the dawn of what promises to be a lucrative career as a professional baseball player.

Let’s say, hypothetically, that you were even the first-overall pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

There you are, standing next to the team owner, holding a brand new jersey with your name stitched on the back — knowing all along that you have a $3.15 million dollar signing bonus waiting for you.

Yes, friends, life would certainly be sweet. Fresh out of high school and already being paid millions to play the game that you love. So, what would you do next?

Well, if you were Matt Bush, who happens to live the spectacular life that was just described, you might think it would be a great idea to grab your older brother and head to a local tavern.

“But not if I were only 18,” you might say. No worries, you’re a superstar now, you can get away with anything. At least that had to be what was running through Bush’s head late Saturday evening.

According to reports, Bush was arrested at a bar called McDuffy’s for trespass, disorderly conduct and assault. After being denied entrance to the bar, Bush allegedly got past security by jumping over a railing. One report said that Bush “resisted being ejected — even biting the bouncer.”

This is the same kid that, just two short weeks ago, was the first pick of the draft. He was assigned to the Padres’ rookie-level affiliate in Peoria, Ariz. The Padres have suspended Bush indefinitely, and general manger Kevin Towers said that he would not be able to play during the suspension.

Just when you thought you’d seen it all. Boys will be boys, but once you’re paid $3 million dollars, you’re not a boy anymore. Not only are you a man, but you also represent your organization. You’re part of an elite group of athletes, and, like it or not, a lot of kids actually look up to you and think of you as a role model.

And this is no isolated incident. It’s more like an epidemic.

Professional athletes have all the glamour and glitz a person could want, yet still always seem to make the kind of decisions that have them in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. I just don’t get it.

Yeah, we’re only human, and people make mistakes, but we’re dealing with a kid who was just paid millions and was arrested before he even played a single game.

It’s time to re-examine the way we look at professional (and I use the term lightly) athletes. It’s time for the punishment to start fitting the crime. There are already clauses in contracts that restrict athletes from partaking in activities that are considered dangerous.

Why not put in a stipulation on a contract that says if you get arrested, you lose your signing bonus?

Ryan Walker is the sports editor for The Pitt News and can be reached at [email protected].