A perspective: Troy Hambrick

Troy Hambrick: Probably not selling crack in this photo

Life is fickle. One minute you're on top of the world, the next minute you're wondering whether you've hit bottom.

A vast majority of humans operate somewhere in the middle of the top and bottom. Rarely do we sneak a toe over to one side or the other and just as quickly we recoil back to the middle where it's safe and manageable.

Troy Hambrick, probably, has never spent a lot of time in the middle. I don't know his childhood circumstances. Maybe they were as normal as being a NFL-caliber athlete (and having a brother with the same talent) can get.

But a mere four years ago, Hambrick was the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2003, he rushed for a lackluster, but OK, 972 yards for a bad team.

It was a year before that the Cowboys cut ties with arguably the greatest running back ever in Emmitt Smith. Not necessarily because his skills had deteriorated so much, but also because everyone thought the heir apparent was already in the squad.

Troy Hambrick.

Yes, four years ago, the Cowboys jettisoned one of their all-time best players ever for Hambrick.

Three years later, Hambrick was caught selling crack. Four years later, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

In the same amount of time a high school gradute receives a college diploma, or when a toddler becomes a child, Hambrick went from the very top to the very bottom.

He went from fortunes untold. At least one big contract that could set him up for life. He could have had all the fame and notoriety he ever wanted. If anything, he wasn't selling the crack, he was buying it. Lots of it and smoking it all he wanted. Hell, screw crack. Any and all designer drugs or whatever costs the most and gives the highest high.

Now, Hambrick's going to state prison.

I don't know how this happens. I've spent my entire life in the middle -- cozy and comfortable. People in the middle speed and litter and smoke weed while watching "V for Vendetta." People in the middle don't get large amounts of money to play football nor do they sell a lot of crack.

The ironic thing about all this (aside from going from a NFL player to an inmate) is that Hambrick was named the Cowboys starter in 2004 replacing Smith. In 2005, he signed with the Phoenix Cardinals ... backing up Emmitt Smith. I probably would've started selling crack, too.