No one bigger than the game

NFL ^ | Nov. 8, 2005 | Lincoln Kennedy

[7thson]

I'm sure by now you and everyone else in the football world is tired of hearing about Terrell Owens. Believe me, I'm tired of talking about it.

But when I think of this situation, I can't help but be reminded that in this day and age, "bad" behavior is still often rewarded in the end. Whatever happened to the good old days when older players kept the young ones in check? When a rookie came into the game and veterans taught them respect by having them do things like pick up laundry bags or sing at the training table or bring Friday breakfast to their position meetings? These tasks and others like them allowed the veterans to make youngsters a part of the team. But more importantly, it gave younger players a feeling of respect for the game, an acceptance of the traditions that have been passed down from previous generations.

Somewhere along the line, that process fractured. The fact of the matter is, more and more players are showing less respect for the game, partly as a result of that failed indoctrination process. It's become all about showboating and celebrating after routine plays, about getting time in front of the camera after you score. So many players today would rather show up guys from the other team or pad their own stats (and wallets) than go about their business and pursue the ultimate prize, a Super Bowl win.

I'm only saying all this because I honestly feel that there is some team out there who will give T.O. another chance. I want to be perfectly clear when I make this next statement: I don't think Terrell Owens should be forever banned from the game, either. I think he will soon wind up truly missing the game, and the game will miss his skill and flair. I honestly believe that if he gets a chance with any team, he should earn a minimum-salary contract, with numerous incentives built in. I point to the approach the Miami Dolphins took with fellow receiver David Boston, who signed for the minimum but worked in a number of incentives. T.O. is too good a talent not to wind up somewhere, but I do not think he should be rewarded with a hefty contract right away.

I'm sure by now some readers are wondering just how the game will miss him. Well, let's not forget that, for the most part, T.O.'s celebrations used to be entertaining and refreshing. He has even earned a reputation as something of an innovator, for without .O., players like Chad Johnson and Joe Horn would not be trying so hard to add their own creativity. Aside from that, T.O. has the kind of work ethic common to most great athletes. I've never questioned his professionalism on the football field. It's only what he's done off the field that I have problems with.

My point is that as long as players in the league think they are untouchable, they will never start to see poor behavior as being inappropriate. And things will never get better if these types of players are rewarded with hefty contracts and the promise of keeping a job in the NFL. This game has been played professionally for over 80 years, and for the most part it's been a great run. Many great people have worked hard to make it what it is today.

I do appreciate the fact that there is still room for creativity and expression. Michael Irvin was the first wide receiver I saw get up and make the first-down expression, and that has since become a popular move. Since then, we've seen player after player do his part to be creative and different.

But this is not an individual sport, and there is no room in the game for players to think they can do it alone. So when you turn against your teammates time and time again only to apologize when it's convenient to your personal gain, then it's easily seen as not heartfelt and difficult to accept.

There is nothing wrong with being critical of your co-workers or your employer. But this is a case where one person has taken the matter way too far, and it's been accompanied by a steady whining and complaining about everything.

Grow up. Or, even better, just shut up and play football.

[7thson]

Just when you had enough of the Eagles and T.O., here is another article. Actually, I posted this not because of T.O., but what the author says about showboating and being "creative."

First, can someone enlighten me as to what terrible things T.O. said about the Eagles? I keep hearing that he did but nobody says what he said. The impression I get is he had the audacity to criticize McScab.

Bringing me to my second point - McDrab. What makes him so special? It seems to me the NFL has a lot invested in him. I have noticed the last couple years when the NFL runs that little promo spot during games, showing the great players and coaches of the NFL. It ends with a NFL current NFL player running. It use to be the running back from Detroit and then it was Emmitt Smith. No problem with them - they set records and Smith won Championships. However, why McDrab? He's won one championship - the NFC last year - since he has been in. Why not Farve or Brady?

And lastly, the author talks about respecting the game. Hell, these guys coming out of high school do not respect anyone or anything.

[saganite]

The author contradicts himself. How can he be for traditional values and team effort and in the same breath say TO's celebrations were creative and refreshing? The writer makes about as much sense as TO criticizing his teammates, then apologizing, then criticizing them again.

[martin_fierro]

First, can someone enlighten me as to what terrible things T.O. said about the Eagles? I keep hearing that he did but nobody says what he said. The impression I get is he had the audacity to criticize McScab.
...
Hell, these guys coming out of high school do not respect anyone or anything.

I keep hearing that these guys coming out of high school do not respect anyone or anything, but nobody says what they say/do.

< |:)~

[Chi-townChief]

This one strikes as pretty bizarre also - I haven't been following real closely so I'm not sure what makes Owens a bigger a-hole than anyone else.

[Tax-chick]

I do appreciate the fact that there is still room for creativity and expression. Michael Irvin was the first wide receiver I saw get up and make the first-down expression, and that has since become a popular move. Since then, we've seen player after player do his part to be creative and different.

It's entertainment, not athletic skill, that sells tickets, TV ads, etc. I think the author is going to see more of "stars posturing for the camera" and less of "teams playing football" as the years go by, and there's not much to be done about it.

[discostu]

TO said the Eagles organization was classless, and got in a fist fight with a former Eagles player/ current Eagles front office guy.

I'm with him about showboating. I think the most pathetic example of showboating is when a defensive player makes a big hit on the ball carrier on the wrong side of the first down marker. Nothing sadder in the world than celebrating letting the other team move the chains.

Nobody comes straight out of high school to the NFL, there's a minimum years rule which was challenged in court by Clarette but the NFL found a way to rewrite the rule and avoid the court rulings.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Um, photos please?

; )

[RetiredArmy]

Simply, so called pro sports suck. America has become stupid with their glee of such garbage as T.O. demonstrates. Cheerleaders arrested for sexual events in a bar after a game, and a nuddie mag calls! We glorify it. We made it as a society.

You wanna see something truly sick? If you can bear it, watch that movie, I think it is 9mm with Nick Cage in it. My wife and I rented it. We did not know what it was about. It made my wife jump from the chair and run to the bathroom and throw up. I took it out and we immediately returned it. It was garbage. Yet, it is a film about crap that actually goes on in this country. Pure garbage.

We are lost as a society. We praise garbage like T.O., giving him his millions, for what? Playing a stupid high school sports game. What did you get out of it? You team won. You felt good for 15 minutes. T.O. got his millions in contract. Millions from shoes, clothes, cars, truck, McDonald's commercials. You got your 15 minutes of feel good.

The NBA is giving 18/19 year old high school kids who cannot read, write, do simple math, hundreds of thousands of dollars to bounce a basketball. You go to an arena and CHEER a 19 year old. Then you go home and yell at your 18 year old for not cutting the grass. Go figure.

Nope, in my humble opinion, America is sliding down a muddy slope to total ruin and destruction. But, hey, no problem, our team won last night. T.O. got his millions. Koby did not rape the woman, it was consensual sex, even though he was married. Hey, no problem. Marriage vowls are only meant for the moment, he really does love his wife. Respect her, NO, but he still loves her. If he respected her, he would not have screwed the chick in the hotel. But, that is ok, Koby is scoring 35 a game and the Lakers are winning. All is well with the world. Nope, sports suck.

[leadhead]

It was all a scam by TO's agent for him to get released from a lousy contract for 2006.

The Player's union told him not to sign it in 2005.

To will play somewhere else next year for more the the Eagles would have paid him in 2006.

[bpjam]

I'm just glad that it happened to the Iggles. They have the worse and more classless fans in the US. They deserved a cancer like T.O. The only person more immature and destructive than TO was his agent Rosenhaus. Talk about a match made in heaven. It would be like getting publicist for Chuck Schumer - its gasoline on the fire. One egomaniacal man-child and a white Johnny Cochran agent leads to a team in last place after going to the Super Bowl last year and millions in lost wages. Brilliant!!!

Its hard for me to root for the Redskins under any circumstances but its sweet to see them knock out Philly this year. If they could both be in last place, that would be ideal but I'm willing to settle for an Eagles self-induced implosion.

[Biblebelter]

The question is whether the game is about celebrity or whether it is about winning. The major sports through over the top marketing have created players like Owens. The teams have to look at every player individually and weigh the player's penchant for celebrity against his talent in order to value the player's worth to the team. In Owen's case his talent is great, but he cannot help himself in knowing the media will turn the spotlight on him at his every whim. He is just too full of himself to restrain himself from media attention, so he is really of little value in a team sport.

[andyk]

If this guy is so upset about the NFL's loss of tradition, and rookies run amok, he must really hate the NBA.

[HIDEK6]

Speaking of no one's being bigger than the game, ESPN Classic reran Rollerball a couple of nights ago.

Great movie.

[One Proud Dad]

Exactly. If more people thought the way you and I do on this matter irtwould fix itself via lower ticket sales, less tv time, and less buying of marketable crap.

I get sick of the constant making these guys out to be gladiators or honorable warriors and the pump up they get like they are dieties. Most are classless goons, especially basketball. They are overgrown kids playing a game. Athletes at their level are not born they are manufactured with steriods. Real heros are over in Iraq and other places right now.

[gridlock]

That's all very well and good, but what about my Fantasy Football Team?

[7thson]

I understand and know about no one coming out of H.S. straight to the pros. My point is by the time the player reaches the NFL, it is kind of late to teach him about respecting the game when that was not taught in H.S.

[RetiredArmy]

Roger that Dad. I'm with you a MILLION PER CENT!! People make heroes out of some stupid ball player because he ran 50 yards with a football and scored a TD. Oh, WOW!! He is my hero. He is so courageous playing with that pulled muscle between his ears! Oh, wow!

No sir, you are one hundred percent right on target. Sports for money suck. Some day, I want someone to EXPLAIN to me, HOW some sports player DESERVED 5, 8, 10, 15, 25 million dollars for playing 162 game baseball season, 81 pro basketball games, or 16 NFL football games. EXPLAIN to me how they DESERVED that.

You work your butt off, go to school, training, whatever to learn a skill. You then make what, $10, $12, $15, maybe $20 an hour. T.O. will miss FOUR games and miss nearly ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!! But, hey, he is our HERO!!! /sarcasm still on.

[sjm_888]

Now if we could just get ESPN to stop talking about it....

[SoothingDave]

It's entertainment, not athletic skill, that sells tickets, TV ads, etc. I think the author is going to see more of "stars posturing for the camera" and less of "teams playing football" as the years go by, and there's not much to be done about it.

Hogwash. Winning sells tickets. Losing teams need gimmicks to attract attention. Winners need nothing like that.

The Patriots, Steelers, Packers, and a group of other well-run teams prove that you can win without being obnoxious, and that teams that play as teams can be successful without hiring showboats.

SD

[Tax-chick]

That's a good point.