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great article. im sick of the unfair BS Owens hate.
A good write up on Owens...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...4&sportCat=nfl
T.O. versus Terrell Owens
By LZ Granderson
Page 2
When I lived in Atlanta six years ago, I frequented two gyms to play hoops: Run N Shoot, a 24-hour joint that featured some of the best players in the area, and Crunch Fitness in Buckhead, Ga., which featured some of the best talkers.
At Crunch, there were guys who would start yapping in the parking lot on their way in and wouldn't stop until they got back in their cars hours later. A dude could trip, kick the ball in the air and bank in a half-court shot and you'd think he meant to do that by the way he'd start talking junk afterward.
It was the kind of gym that'd be perfect for a selfish egotistical maniac to let his voice be heard. So imagine my surprise when I was in the gym for about an hour one day before someone told me Terrell Owens had been on the opposite court the entire time.
Quietly playing.
Quietly winning.
An outstanding basketball player, Owens was easily one of the best guys playing that day. And yet, in a facility where smack talk is more important than actual skill, Owens was as quiet as a Ralph Nader for President rally.
Before that day I thought I had a pretty good understanding of who T.O. was.
But that afternoon I met Terrell Owens.
Fast-forward to 2008. I see that the gap between Owens' public persona and his private one is widening. It's evident by his lack of a shoe contract. Evident by a recent poll of NFL GMs that listed him as the last player they'd want on their team, even though he was in the top five in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season, and even though he has lost a fumble once -- just once -- in the past seven seasons. And evident by many of the responses I've read in cyberspace the past few days regarding his helping a friend of mine, Sam Alipour, after he was hit by a car following an ESPYS party.
"Sam getting hit by a car and T.O. helping him out, all i got to say is ANYTHING IS POSSIBLEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!! lol," posted one person.
"It's pretty fascinating to hear a story that actually paints T.O. in a positive light," wrote another.
It's all a bit irritating to me. Because for all the press this guy has received during the past four years or so, the words "arrested," "domestic violence," "rape," "assault," "DUI," "steroids" or "phone calls to the Minnesota Vikings using a Green Bay Packers telephone" have never been attached to him.
One thing you might not know about Terrell Owens? He's an excellent basketball player.
What I do know is that Owens has been an advocate in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, volunteered in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina without any Manning-like fanfare, donated a game check to the Sri Lanka tsunami relief fund, signed a waiver saying that the Philadelphia Eagles would not be financially responsible if he got hurt playing in the Super Bowl against doctor's orders, and opened his offseason home in suburban Atlanta on Saturday mornings to the guys at Crunch who could play with their mouths shut.
This is the real Terrell Owens -- kind, giving, warm, funny. Of course he helped Alipour after witnessing him in a car accident. In fact, when I ran into Owens that night, it was he who told me what happened and walked me over to the scene of the accident. This isn't anything out of the ordinary for any decent human being to do -- especially someone as genuinely nice as Owens.
"I didn't know who that was that got hit by a car until afterwards," Owens said. "I was just concerned for another human being. But for a lot of people it's a shock that I would care like that, and that's disappointing. Even a couple of articles I've read had all of this sarcasm to it, like they were making fun of me. I try not to let it bother me, but I am human."
The problem is that T.O. fella.
That dude tends to rub people the wrong way -- doing shirtless crunches in his driveway, throwing Donovan McNabb under the proverbial bus, signing a football during the game.
T.O. -- the guy in front of the camera -- occasionally can be a pain in the you-know-what.
Terrell Owens? He's a really good dude.
I just wish he'd get out of his own way and show you.
But apparently something happens when the lights come on that neither I nor he can fully explain. I've asked him about it. He's not sure why T.O. and Terrell Owens are worlds apart in people's eyes. He blames it all on the media. And yeah, we're responsible for a lot of his image trouble.
But not all of it.
When most people think of T.O., they think about things like the Sharpie incident.
He's still the guy dogging Jeff Garcia and doing the crunches. I believe that because football is such a macho sport, any sign of weakness could be used against him. And because greeting the world with a hug and a smile isn't readily associated with masculinity and strength in this country, he occasionally has to act out to protect himself. Owens doesn't fully agree with that, but that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.
"Everybody makes mistakes," he said. "I have made mistakes, but who hasn't done things wrong? The only thing is, I'm in the limelight.
"I've read what people had to say about me when the story about Sam came out and how people are so surprised. I can't say it doesn't bother me, but I have to remember who I am and what's in my heart. I know my grandmother and mother raised me to be a good man, and I try every day to honor them. T.O. is a name that was given to me by John Madden. A lot of people hear it and think of this arrogant, y kind of person. But those who know Terrell know I'm relaxed and laid-back. That's the difference. I'm Terrell all of the time, but the media only shows this T.O. image."
The cynics who are reading this think I'm either a jock-sniffing columnist or just plain naive. I can tell you I'm neither. I'm just a guy who has gotten to know someone and has grown a little tired of the rampant misrepresentation of that person. Again, he's responsible for a lot of the criticism that's directed his way, but there are cats with DUIs and steroid suspensions who receive much more love. Is it really all about his constantly putting his foot in his mouth, or are some of us just shooting at an easy target? And, in either case, when do we cut the guy some slack?
"I do a lot of stuff like signing the football because it's fun," he says. "I'm not trying to disrespect the game. I love this game and God's blessed me to be able to play it. I just want to lighten things up."
Maybe some of us should follow suit.
great article. im sick of the unfair BS Owens hate.
That's my quarterback!!!
Interesting article.
The problem is that he does indeed bring it on himself. But, I think if he can show more of his "Terrell" side, more people will open up to him. Until then, he's going to be T.O.
Ive always liked his T.O. side. He is great at marketing himself and if that means controversy then so be it. Since he was a 49er I have always thought TO was very talented and smart. He will remain quiet for now, but the TO side will never die (or until maybe he wins a sb).
I'm sure he's a pretty good dude as evident by his lack of a record (which seems to be the standard judgement in professional sports these days), but when you run your mouth and pull some of the stunts on camera that he has the last few years you have to expect it. When you start doing those things you basically say, "I don't give a damn what anyone thinks, I do what I want". That's cool, but then don't act hurt when people think you're an asshole.
This article makes it sound like TO is a two face - a good guy acting like an asshole for the cameras. You can only have a persona if you aren't genuine or secure enough to just be yourself.
Its true he brings some criticism upon himself, but at the same time, some (really MOST) people take it wayyyyyyyyy too far, and a lot of it, is because of the media. Fact is, there is FAR worse going on in the world, in the United States, and people are more interested on bashing on T.O. for being a jerk from time to time at his JOB, while there is all kinds of other bull going on like robberies, killings, and other crap that people dont even give two s about. No, they think that what T.O. does at his in job is more devastating to society.
people.
I don't think thats what bothers him. Its that there are far worse things that other people do, that these critics dont care about, yet the second he does anything that is the SLIGHTEST bit controversial (such as jokingly wearing a lance armstrong suit to practice) then suddenly he is bashed on for being the worst human being alive. Its bull .
And fact is, people bash on him for being such a terrible teammate, calling him overrated, whatever... why is it that every where he goes, the QB that is throwing to him always has incredibly impressive seasons and the offense improves exponentially? Obviously he is bringing more to the table that people realize, and no one will really understand until he actually is present.
The thin is, he lets it go that far.
He continues to do his T.O. shenanigans.
So, he's at fault for all the negative coverage that's directed to him. Does the media go to far at times? Sure. But, that's the game. That's what the media does. Everyone knows that and so does T.O.
You have the option of keeping your mouth shut and playing the game. That's a lesson that Adam Jones is learning right now.
What shenanigans? The last thing he did was the whole Philly issue. Since hes been in Dallas, he has been fantastic. Every "issue" that came up was completely overblown, and if it was any other player, they wouldn't have been issues at all.
He's been fantastic throughout his Cowboy tenure???
Did you forget about his accidental overdose?
His battle of the balls vs. Parcells??
You don't know what the you're talking about.
I find it funny how people hate TO but love Chad Johnson.
Dude that was Parcels being an A-Hole The Player .
The Coach runs the team, not any one player.
I can't stand Chad Johnson.
And, he's come across as a total asshole with his offseason bull .
Parcels never wanted him there and went out of his way to let him know that. That's all I am saying Parcels was no saint in the whole thing both played a part.
Yup.
Did you forget you are a ing re ? Do you just completely disregard the word "accidental"? It was a completely overblown incident that if it had happened to any other player, it would have pretty much been a non-issue. No press confereces. Nothing. Maybe a simple segment in ESPN saying "this player had to go to the ER due to complications with medication, but is doing fine and will return to the practice field within the next day or so" and move on.
What battle? You mean Parcells being a head for no reason? Notice also, that when TO came, the Cowboys were back in the playoffs, and when Parcells left, the team went 13-3 and are widely considered le contenders, where-as no one ever though such a thing about them during his entire tenure. TO never really said much during his time here. It was obvious he got tired of Parcells acting like an asshole, but never really said much. Again, it was an overblown situation of a coach and player that didnt really gel, which there are multiple cases of those on pretty much every team on sports. But since its TO, its publicized.
okay
You cannot compare his tenure in S.F. and Philly to his tenure in Dallas. His teammates in Dallas love the guy. He has a great relationship with the Garrett and Phillips. He spends alot of time mentoring the young WRs and CBs and has a great relationship with his QB and doesn't think he's gay. He also has a good relationship Witten, Barber and O-Line.
The accidental overdose? How is that being an asshole or bad teammate. Did he offend anyone or look selfish. That is ESPN overcoverage indicating he attempted suicide before they had any facts.
And Parcells irked on Owens from the get go by refering to him as "the player". Never ever as Terrell. Remember Parcells has quite the ego himself. What do you think T.O. in SF or Philly would of done? He would of acted quite differently. But since he has been in Dallas he has been great and has brought on NOTHING negative to himself comprable to his stays in SF and Philly.
That whole OD incident would have been a complete non-story if it wasn't for that one crazy who called the ambulance, talked to the police, and made it a story. And then she made everything all better with a "TO has 30 million reasons to live" or whatever. And it's not like he got drunk and cried about wanting to kill himself on SpursTalk.
Also not once did TO every say anything about Parcells while they worked together. Parcells was the one who wouldn't talk to him, tried to minimize TO's impact on the field, and refused to call him by name during their entire time together.
You don't know what the you're talking about.
I think we forget that this is peewee that we are arguing with. Doesnt know what the he is talking about as usual...
Are you two re ed, or just don't have any reading comprehension?
I never said that he was an asshole about that.
I just said he brings attention to himself.
I defy you to say that he wasn't bringing attention to himself about any of those things. Go ahead. Say it. Defend him.
The truth is looking at you in the face. I have no doubt that he is a good person. But, he also has a side of him that loves to be in the spotlight for some reason or another.
AND, HE BRINGS IT ALL ON HIMSELF!!!!
Read.I think we forget that this is peewee that we are arguing with. Doesnt know what the he is talking about as usual...
Read, pendedjo.
Learn to ing read.
lol exploited
lol exploited further
All right.
You win.
T.O. is a model football player.
He's picked on by the media.
It's all the media's fault.
He's an excellent role model.
GMs everywhere want their players to be just like him.
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