Fan Blog: Why I am Devoted To T.O.

[Alexander]

Judge this: Our third fan column


Teresa España of Fresno, Calif., weighs in on Terrell Owens. Is Teresa the next Matt Mosley? Let us know. VOTE HERE!
WHY I AM DEVOTED TO T.O.

I have an unpleasant confession to make -- I’m hopelessly devoted to Terrell Owens, the athlete and man. This is not an admission I share easily in the company of strangers.

Outside the refuge of a friendly football stadium, most folks express horror and bewilderment when a middle-aged, well-educated professional announces her admiration for a man the world loves to hate. How did it come to this?

During his 1996 rookie season, I was at Candlestick Park for an exhibition game when Owens made an extraordinary backward, leaping catch in the 49ers endzone. That was all it took. His exquisite body intelligence and instinct for the dramatic made me an instant member of the T.O. fan club. It was a big club back then.

But each subsequent year it has become more difficult to justify my admiration for America’s most loathed superstar. Think you’ve faced some challenges recently? Try explaining to your family, friends and curious co-workers why you’ve abandoned the team of your childhood -- the 49ers -- to hitch a ride on the T.O. Love Train with stops in Philly and now Dallas.




Following his infamous touchdown celebrations at Texas Stadium (revelry on the star) and Seattle (Sharpie in sock), Owens’ every move and utterance has been interpreted in a thousand negative ways. Believe me, I do not embrace all his actions. I do not excuse every narcissistic display or controversial outburst. But, here’s the thing. I do defend T.O.’s freedom to be messy, wrong, and complicated because he is much more than that too.

In addition to his exceptional athletic talents and work ethic, T.O. has the courage to speak with candor and, dare I say, intelligence about racial and economic relations within the NFL. He dares to make genuine and often unpopular comments in an otherwise controlled, scripted football universe that is more commonly known for its aw-shucks, American pie conservatism. In my mind, there is room for both the outrageous and more traditional personalities in the league.

Call my crazy, but I can appreciate an athlete who scores a touchdown and hands the ball to the ref as well as a receiver who performs an extravagant, often humorous end zone celebration. I watch football to be entertained, not to be schooled in good manners and officially sanctioned end zone etiquette.

I understand that many fans are uneasy with the self-absorbed attitude of numerous celebrity athletes. I really do. Maybe one day we can all sit around a tailgate and discuss the paradoxical roles we assume in crafting the altars at which we worship the superstar athlete, while also punishing him for enjoying that place of prominence a little too much. Until then, we’ll have to respectfully agree to disagree about proper megastar conduct when we’re not too busy enjoying the athletic brilliance on the football field.

[austintodallas]

Interesting perspective.

[Clove]

Can you say "stalker"?

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think Winicki has a new stalking interest.

[baj1dallas]

bah. I'm not impressed by his work ethic. And certainly not by his well prepared TD celebrations. To me it's not about right and wrong like she thinks, but about the team. And Eldorado is clearly not a "team player".

[SA_Gunslinger]

as much as i loved emmitt smith, i never rooted for the cardinals.

team over player, IMO.

[Alexander]

This female does look a bit odd.

[noshame]

Jeez, Mike Tyson would have loved a chin like that.....

[BrAinPaiNt]

It's an older lady.

They will not look like young vixens.

[WoodysGirl]

It's extremely well-written even if you don't agree w/the premise. Very easy to read. I liked this the most...

Call my crazy, but I can appreciate an athlete who scores a touchdown and hands the ball to the ref as well as a receiver who performs an extravagant, often humorous end zone celebration. I watch football to be entertained, not to be schooled in good manners and officially sanctioned end zone etiquette.

[WoodysGirl]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

It's an older lady.

They will not look like young vixens.

Yep...

I'd be hard-pressed to believe that the majority of the guys on here are "studs" in the truest sense of the word.

Honestly, it takes some guts to put your your work and your pic out there for public criticism. For that alone, I respect her and the other fans blogging on there.

[Sportsbabe]

Funny (I refuse to start another TO thread):

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9606498

I've read reports where people want to compare Owens to former Parcells player Lawrence Taylor and how Parcells had two sets of rules: one for L.T. and the other for the rest of the team. We can say what we want about Taylor and his own book and his demons, but he was besieged by a drug addiction as opposed to Owens, who is addicted to himself.

[DallasEast]

Nicolette Sheridan sure does take ugly photos.

[DallasEast]

Does Kurt Warner know that his wife is in love with Owens?

[percyhoward]

Call me crazy, but I can appreciate an athlete who scores a touchdown and hands the ball to the ref as well as a receiver who performs an extravagant, often humorous end zone celebration.

I can appreciate one too, as long as the extravagant displays of "humor" don't outnumber the touchdowns.