The Lucky Punter

Next time you see your favorite pro athlete out in public, make sure you don’t make any sudden movements or do anything to piss him, or I guess her also, off.

That’s because there’s a pretty good chance that person is packing heat, strapped, rolling with a gat…you know, have a gun on them.

According to a recent piece by the Boston Globe, athletes carrying concealed weapons, both legally and illegally, has become quite common - especially in the NBA and NFL.

“I would say about 90 percent of players in the league have guns to protect themselves,” said New England Patriots receiver Jabar Gaffney, who holds a Texas license to carry a concealed weapon.

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In the NBA, the figure “is closer to 100 percent than it is to 50 [percent],” said an NBA team official.

Among the list of athletes packing heat are NBA stars Paul Pierce and Vince Carter, NFL standouts Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, and Daunte Culpepper, and New York Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano.

Of course, most every athlete will explain their gun carrying ways by talking about their wealth and the fact that they are easily recognized in public - and there is surely some truth to that. However, something tells me Northeastern University’s Peter Roby said it best when he noted the new generation of pro athletes “have grown up with the glamorization of carrying a handgun.”

Shaquille O’Neal is licensed to carry a concealed weapon in two states - Louisiana and Florida. That sure brings a whole new perspective on the Miami Heat.