Were You Surprised?

[DallasEast]

When the Owens’ story first broke, I found myself neither surprised nor shocked. To me, the news of his treatment of a reported drug overdose was just another Owens-related career mishap—which will unlikely be the last event about him to be chronicled by the media either fairly or unjustly.

Many here have questioned the motives behind the press coverage or debated the accuracy of the reporting of the incident, etc., etc. For those who can separate themselves from the media circus of this latest event, I ask if you also shared my utter lack of astonishment.

 

[Jimz31]

Honestly, I was surprised to a point. Meaning that I think the guy is in too much love with himself to ever off himself on purpose.

Shocked though? Nothing "shocks" me when it comes to pro athletes anymore.

 

[SupermanXx]

this just in: Erik Williams found raping a hooker while Michael Irvin held a gun to her head and Larry Allen stood on his hands while drinking milk

 

[iceberg]

When the Owens’ story first broke, I found myself neither surprised nor shocked. To me, the news of his treatment of a reported drug overdose was just another Owens-related career mishap—which will unlikely be the last event about him to be chronicled by the media either fairly or unjustly.

Many here have questioned the motives behind the press coverage or debated the accuracy of the reporting of the incident, etc., etc. For those who can separate themselves from the media circus of this latest event, I ask if you also shared my utter lack of astonishment.

if you didn't find yourself surprised or shocked, why did you list those as the only choices?

 

[DallasEast]

if you didn't find yourself surprised or shocked, why did you list those as the only choices?

Good question, Jerry. Perhaps I overstated my initial reaction to the story. :

I tried to change the poll options, but didn't see how it could be done. If a mod can add "Surprised" and "Not Surprised" to the poll, I would appreciate it.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

I should clarify my "shocked vote".

I was not surprised when the initial reports came out that he may have had some issues with medication.

I was "shocked" when it rose to speculation of attempted suicide.

I still think that his publicist should be fired. Not because she saved him but because of her press conference remarks.

 

[DallasEast]

Honestly, I was surprised to a point. Meaning that I think the guy is in too much love with himself to ever off himself on purpose.

Shocked though? Nothing "shocks" me when it comes to pro athletes anymore.

Some things still shock me. Finding out that Najeh Davenport crapped in a girl's dormitory closet shocked me. Watching Ron Artest run up into the stands didn't. I guess it's all depends on my own perceptions of particular athletes.

 

[DallasEast]

I should clarify my "shocked vote".

I was not surprised when the initial reports came out that he may have had some issues with medication.

I was "shocked" when it rose to speculation of attempted suicide.

I still think that his publicist should be fired. Not because she saved him but because of her press conference remarks.

Thanks. There has been a lot said about what has been correctly or incorrectly reported and the associated brouhaha. I was simply curious about everyone's initial reaction after hearing the news.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Thanks. There has been a lot said about what has been correctly or incorrectly reported and the associated brouhaha. I was simply curious about everyone's initial reaction after hearing the news.

Exactly, I never thought for a second that he was suicidal. I thought he simply screwed up with his meds. It happens.

When I woke up and read that it was a potential suicide attempt, I was skeptical to say the least.

 

[Dale]

I was surprised because I've always viewed Owens' problems as getting along with teammates and being egotistical more so than doing something along these lines. While the dots could be connected between his attitude and emotional problems, I still never viewed this as something that would happen.

But, after hearing Deion say years ago that he drove his car off a cliff in an attempted suicide effort while with the Cowboys, I'll go with Jim and say nothing really shocks me anymore.

 

[DallasEast]

I was surprised because I've always viewed Owens' problems as getting along with teammates and being egotistical more so than doing something along these lines. While the dots could be connected between his attitude and emotional problems, I still never viewed this as something that would happen.

But, after hearing Deion say years ago that he drove his car off a cliff in an attempted suicide effort while with the Cowboys, I'll go with Jim and say nothing really shocks me anymore.

For me, it was not a matter of whether this was a suicide attempt or not, but rather that he can't prevent feeding the media with new material. I doubt that there has been another athlete in history which the media has ever monitored as closely as Owens. Each new tidbit simply strokes their fires. The majority of athletes during their entire careers can avoid intentionally drawing unnecessary attention to themselves or becoming victims of mishaps like this latest ESPN agenda maker, but not Owens. That, essentially, is what doesn't shock or surprise me. It is practically a given that Owens will be a continual 'news story' until he retires. And probably well-after he leaves the game, too.

 

[Clove]

Anything with regard to TO and off the field issues, I know that's it's over blown no matter what it is, so I wasn't shocked, or didn't think anything bad happened.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

I doubt that there has been another athlete in history which the media has ever monitored as closely as Owens. Each new tidbit simply strokes their fires.

Imagine if Ali or Ruth had to deal with the internet/digital phones in their day.

The rest of your post, I can understandably agree with.

What about Riggins, or Manley for examples ?

I can find out about a player in Hawaii on vacation getting in trouble within minutes of it happening.

 

[DallasEast]

Imagine if Ali or Ruth had to deal with the internet/digital phones in their day.

The rest of your post, I can understandably agree with.

What about Riggins, or Manley for examples ?

I can find out about a player in Hawaii on vacation getting in trouble within minutes of it happening.

I'm sure that it could be debated that Owens' antics and missteps could be compared to those which Ali, Ruth, Riggins or Manley exhibited during their heyday, but I would disagree. IMO, the closest example of a pro athlete who matches Owens' ability to corner media reaction was Dennis Rodman. JMO.

 

[Dale]

For me, it was not a matter of whether this was a suicide attempt or not, but rather that he can't prevent feeding the media with new material. I doubt that there has been another athlete in history which the media has ever monitored as closely as Owens. Each new tidbit simply strokes their fires. The majority of athletes during their entire careers can avoid intentionally drawing unnecessary attention to themselves or becoming victims of mishaps like this latest ESPN agenda maker, but not Owens. That, essentially, is what doesn't shock or surprise me. It is practically a given that Owens will be a continual 'news story' until he retires. And probably well-after he leaves the game, too.

I support TO's presence here. And so far, I think he's been a pretty model citizen.

But he's a lightning rod for coverage, that's for sure. If he tried hard enough, he could start to separate himself from it. But I don't think there's an ounce of him that wants to do that.

I mean, look no further than what he said when he came here. He stated he wanted to move forward, leave the past behind him, become a better teammate, etc.

He does seem to be a better teammate before. But then he releases a book and goes on every major media outlet discussing ... the past.

Whether you're in the spotlight or not, one of the hardest things to shed IMO is your reputation. The saying that your reputation precedes you is absolutely true IMO.

And TO can't get out of the way of his reputation. If he frowns at practice, it's interpreted as impending doom. If he catches two balls, it's expected he's going to be pissed. If he chats with his quarterback, it's assumed that it's a negative conversation.

Is it fair? No. No one ever judges TO on a "fair" level.

But that's life -- and it's no different from the lives each of us here live.

Being judged on reputation can benefit you if you've developed a good one. See: Peyton Manning. He criticizes his offensive linemen at the end of last season and nary a peep is said. But it can also destroy you if you've devleoped a poor one. See: Terrell Owens.

His hardest battle is shedding that reputation, because no matter what he does he'll be viewed in a negative light. It's going to take several year of pristine behavior for anyone to start accepting the notion that he's changed.

But, again, TO generally makes it harder on himself even with that in mind (I don't know that today's incident reflects that). His book, the Discovery bike outfit...he just can't shed his controversial side.

With all that said, I don't regret his being here. I'm still excited about what this team can accomplish and am impressed by the possibility he won't miss a game after breaking a bone in his hand.

But you know what you get with him. And no matter the story, it's always going to be bigger with him.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

I'm sure that it could be debated that Owens' antics and missteps could be compared to those which Ali, Ruth, Riggins or Manley exhibited during their heyday, but I would disagree. IMO, the closest example of a pro athlete who matches Owens' ability to corner media reaction was Dennis Rodman. JMO.

Why ? Rodman was never the biggest star player on his team that TO is (regardless of his abilities). Although most of you think that Bledsoe/Newman/Williams is the star, you have to realize that once TO signed he became the star of the team (outside of Bill and Jerry of course).

Rodman was the star in search of superstardom behind Jordan, Thomas, Robinson, Shaq, Kobe, Pippen, etc...

 

[Doomsday101]

1st report I saw was a bad reaction to the pain killers so I was not shocked. When the news became it was an apparent suicide I just did not buy into it. TO loves TO too much and I just don't see him as the type of person who would do something like that.

 

[DallasEast]

I support TO's presence here. And so far, I think he's been a pretty model citizen.

But he's a lightning rod for coverage, that's for sure. If he tried hard enough, he could start to separate himself from it. But I don't think there's an ounce of him that wants to do that.

I mean, look no further than what he said when he came here. He stated he wanted to move forward, leave the past behind him, become a better teammate, etc.

He does seem to be a better teammate before. But then he releases a book and goes on every major media outlet discussing ... the past.

Whether you're in the spotlight or not, one of the hardest things to shed IMO is your reputation. The saying that your reputation precedes you is absolutely true IMO.

And TO can't get out of the way of his reputation. If he frowns at practice, it's interpreted as impending doom. If he catches two balls, it's expected he's going to be pissed. If he chats with his quarterback, it's assumed that it's a negative conversation.

Is it fair? No. No one ever judges TO on a "fair" level.

But that's life -- and it's no different from the lives each of us here live.

Being judged on reputation can benefit you if you've developed a good one. See: Peyton Manning. He criticizes his offensive linemen at the end of last season and nary a peep is said. But it can also destroy you if you've devleoped a poor one. See: Terrell Owens.

His hardest battle is shedding that reputation, because no matter what he does he'll be viewed in a negative light. It's going to take several year of pristine behavior for anyone to start accepting the notion that he's changed.

But, again, TO generally makes it harder on himself even with that in mind (I don't know that today's incident reflects that). His book, the Discovery bike outfit...he just can't shed his controversial side.

With all that said, I don't regret his being here. I'm still excited about what this team can accomplish and am impressed by the possibility he won't miss a game after breaking a bone in his hand.

But you know what you get with him. And no matter the story, it's always going to be bigger with him.

Excellent post.

 

[Juke99]

Excellent post.

Ditto.

To sum up, if ya drive around in a red sports car, you're gonna attract more attention.

I know. I do.



It's all part of the package.

What he does on the field to offset this stuff is ultimately how he's going to be evaluated.

 

[JackMagist]

I wasn't surprised that Owens had done something to get the headlines yet again but I was surprised that he got them in this particular way. Suicide and drug overdose were not things that I associated with Owens.