It seems like all the media likes to talk about is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens. The charges run the gamut from self-promoting end zone dances to incendiary comments about Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. Owens has fast become a media scapegoat for everything wrong with sports. Speaking as a member of the media, albeit a college newspaper that doubles for half the campus as toilet paper, someone should kick our asses.
Owens is often cited for his “me-first” attitude and “shameless” self-promotion. His outspoken character puts him in an elite league of sports personalities. His closest competitor is Dennis Rodman, who is considered one of the greatest self-promoters of all-time. We called Rodman everything from crazy to a woman on account of his over the top public antics which included, but not limited to, putting on a wedding dress for a book signing and sleeping with Madonna. What we never did, though, was say Rodman was the sports’ antichrist. It did not fit, and it does not with Owens either.
The average NFL ticket costs $54. Add in a hot dog, a couple of beers and a foam finger and you’re looking at a $100 day. That’s before you factor in the price of new nipples after yours freeze off. You think for that kind of money I want to see Owens score a touchdown, jog over to the referee and hand off the ball like he’s bringing his neighbor a Christmas fruitcake? I say jog over to the referee, punch him in the face and spike the ball on his nuts. As long as it’s entertainment, I don’t care.
Has Terrell Owens really ever done anything that we didn’t want to see? Anyone who says the “Sharpie incident” was offensive needs to make an appointment with his proctologist.
If you didn’t like T.O.’s impersonation of Ray Lewis, now we’re talking. Three years ago Ray Lewis was on trial for a double murder, which the media has recently dubbed “the case that shall not be named.” At the time, all the media could talk about was this NFL player who threw away a promising career by hanging with the wrong people. Ray Lewis was the sports antichrist: He had an entourage, they killed people and Lewis was labeled a bad guy. Several years removed from that case, Lewis has been able to redefine his image with the help of the media that vilified him. Yet, T.O.’s public image has proved tougher to shake than any linebacker. Moreover, Owens’ mere mention of the Lewis case was labeled a low-blow. Do we hate Owens because he’s outspoken, or because he tells it like it is?
The sports media love to give Owens a hard time, but they will never criticize the fact that his material keeps the talking heads in business. For everything he’s said, he’s just a guy that shows up and plays football. It’s time that we give Owens a break. Although you must admit, as a shameless self-promoter, he’s a damn good one because we can’t seem to shut up about him.
