Sometimes, I don’t know what to think about professional athletes, and sometimes, I don’t know what to think about the people around them either.

As I scoured the front page of espn.com, I was not surprised to see the usual stories — NBA playoff game recaps, baseball scores, thoughts on the Kentucky Derby. What I was surprised to see was a quartet of stories that had to do with sports, but nothing to do with the competition itself.

A couple days ago, Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was charged with a BUI (boating under the influence), and reportedly had to be shot in the face with pepper spray.

A few days ago, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison may have been involved in a shooting outside a bar that he owned, and apparently the bullets used matched a gun that he owns.

Former Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers after setting the single-season rushing record last year, was robbed at gunpoint while walking along the Chicago lakefront with someone else walking with him.

And on a less serious note, but one that is still significant, a Connecticut boy didn’t wear his Brett Favre jersey for the first time in over four years (1,581 days to be exact).

It is strange, I must admit, to have people affiliated with four of our area teams be involved in such unusual incidents. Each of the four, while varying in their degree of importance, is significant in their own way.

Cedric Benson is innocent until proven guilty, but being charged with BUI (or any other alcohol-related offense) does not look good. Harrison’s case is different, as he has yet to be charged with anything. But this is also the kind of incident that doesn't reflect well on the league or his team.

Mendenhall didn’t do anything wrong. The perpetrators may have not even been aware of his status as a first-round NFL draft pick, but that doesn’t make what they did any better.

The Connecticut kid just appears to be a diehard fan. Personally, wearing the same shirt every day four years in a row seems to be taking things a little far — and I thought checking baseball scores daily was obsessive.