Dear Terrell,
I’ve always seen you as the typical, obnoxious athlete with a lot of talent and no regard. I never quite understood why you insisted on “excessive celebration” that cost your team yards and yourself money. It seems selfish that you would jeopardize the win for a few seconds of end zone buffoonery.
I would think after your dismissal from Philly, you would have grown a little. Maybe calm down, just a bit. But, you continued your tomfoolery as a Cowboy, mocking your peers and disgracing your team. After you spit in DeAngelo Hall’s face in 2006, I was too through with you. Your unsportsmanlike conduct was shameful. Like Dave Chappelle said, “they should’ve never gave you ninjas money.”
TEAM Image and Terrell's best friends, Mo and Kita, are determined to keep his brand and him in check.
Are you content with being known for your flamboyant touchdown celebrations? I’m sure you are shrugging your shoulders with a “who cares” attitude because you always show-up. But you also relentlessly show-out. It’s hard to focus on how talented you are, or how many records you hold when you are causing your team penalties.
I am disgusted that you take your God-given opportunity for granted and risk your career with such coontastic antics. And with your behavior, it’s nothing but God’s grace allowing you to keep finding new NFL homes. While you feel it is in jest, your on-the-field comedy shows are viewed by the rest of the free world as arrogance. That’s why when I saw the preview for “The T.O. Show” I was none too thrilled about the idea of you acting a sight in front of millions of white folk viewers. I had no intention on watching, but as my history proves with much of VH1’s programming, I caved.
Talk about your God-given talent. Glory be...
After watching every episode, I admit that I had you all wrong. You are more than just a fool guy in a jersey. You have a wonderful spirit and a kind heart. Your sincere disposition with your family, and your closeness to Mo and Kita made me reconsider my negative opinions of you.
I realize that you aren’t unlike many of us out here just trying to find your way. You know you need to change, and you are putting forth the effort to try and be more responsible in life and love.
I was shocked by your reaction to Jessica “Google me” White when you returned home to find her nearly naked on your couch. I just knew you would follow her up those stairs. But you didn’t…at least not that we, the viewers, could see.
As you stood there evaluating where you are now, where you want to be and how your actions will affect those who care about you made me feel like men people really can grow, and change for the better. I was proud of you for taking a moment to reflect on your commitment issues with Kari. I’m even more blown away by your acknowledgment that attempting to be with both women was not going to work.
You concluded that you must make a choice. And that’s what life is all about. We choose when we do right or wrong. And when we make bad choices that lead to self-destruction, we repent and pray for a chance to try again.
As you enter the season, I hope you will have regard for your teammates before you get crunk in the end zone and set the team back 15 yards. I hope that you consider what type of role model you are being for your son as he watches you in every moment. I hope you will continue to become a better man with each good choice you make.
I have no doubt you will have a wonderful, successful season in Buffalo. Why wouldn’t you? After all, you are T.O.
Keep moving the chains,
Monica
P.S. Are you and Kari working things out? I hope so. I think you two are great together.
I’m kinda shocked that it took a mediocre reality show for you to look past the bullshit ESPN shovels everyone year after year about T.O. being a selfish narcissist.
Theres a reason T.O. continues to find new team after new team (aside from the fact that he’s 2nd all-time in receiving touchdowns)…. its because when people really talk to him, instead of listening to what other people are saying…. then they realize he’s not a bad guy.
I can’t even think of anything to say after looking at that amazing picture. I gotta go get a cup of ice water…..
co-sign
::follows Tam to get that cup of ice water::
I always said if you put a paper bag over his head he’d be d@mn near perfect…
@jlbd: Funny…but true.
lmao, you ladies are hillarious!
I only have one thing to say to all of this. It’s the quote of 2009:
“YOU LIE!”
And i didn’t approve that picture. That is all.
Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about that pic Damon. I mean, my wife be buggin her eyes out too, but . . . there’s just principle. -2 man points for your inability to intercept this. i’m dissapointed.
@weave: Just wait. There will come a day (or five) when………. and none of these women will be able to say nothing.
Well I approve lol. I think it shows how introspective he is…:)
Can I borrow someone’s mop to wipe this drool off of the floor?
Gotta agree w/ Dell. Say what you want about T.O. but when he is on that field he’s not gonna cheat you out of anything. No “plays off”, or laziness or fear of going across the middle. People used to get on Keyshawn Johnson’s head about the same stuff but every week we saw him getting blown up going across the middle and still had the testicular fortitude to do it again week after week. It makes me sick that people will hold someone like LeBronze James who doesn’t win because he wants to but because he’s talented. He doesn’t take the game serious but because he smiles at you everything is okay, yeah right.
Then when you look at T.O. off the field outside of his “suicide” attempt, you can’t name a single incident and in a league filled w/ women beaters, DUI’ers, drug abuse and Chedder Bob’ers, you have to give props.
ESPN can be very agenda related and when it decides it likes you there’s nothing you can do wrong (Ben Rothelsberger, LeBaby) and when it hates you, there’s nothing you can do right (Kobe, T.O., Chad Ochocinco…)
How dare you say LBJ23 doesnt take the game seriously? He dropped 20lbs in the offseason and worked on the mid range. Was so passionate that he couldnt even shake hands after his loss, ppl dont really watch sports they just watch the games
But instead he decides to play stupid games and shoot basketballs from half-court underhanded in pregames. He likes to take fake pictures and do stupid powder gimmicks on the court. I’m as fierce as a competitor as you can find but that was not passion that compelled him not to shake hands it was his “LeBaby” attitude. Passion wouldnt be joking and playing around before games. MJ didn’t do it, Kobe doesn’t do it, Peyton Manning doesn’t do it…they all have rings…
LeBaby does it, Dwight Howard does it…they do not have rings.
Taking the game seriously and being talented are not the same, friend.
This is where you’re wrong. How you prepare for the game is up to how you prepare? I know folks who ran gassers before every football game. I know people who slept. I know people who were like me who chilled in the stadium. How are you going to prescribe for me what gets me ready to play a game? He’s out there enjoying himself, that doesnt mean he’s not serious about the game.
It hurts my heart when ppl say stuff like this b/c its clear that they just dont understand. I can tell you this from experiences in college and the NFL, ppl do whatever it takes for them to get ready to plan a game and shooting half court shots and playing in the powder is one of them so be it.
“Chedder Bob’ers” … Good comedy.
He doesn’t have problems off the field and I think he’s a great player. But I’d rather have Moss every day of the week because TO does have a knack for starting drama on a team. He’s done it everywhere he’s been.
Randy’s only done it with the Raiders. And… yeah. The head coach punches coaches. Enough said.
Morning, y’all.
I don’t follow T.O. enough to know firsthand about his shenanigans but I do hear commentary from time to time. I don’t watch the T.O. Show but my husband does & sometimes he’ll tell me about what went on in an epsiode.
If I remember correctly, I think he caught a lot of flack (along with HBO), during the Cowboys season of Hard Knocks for promoting his t-shirts. I thought that was funny & asked my husband why everyone was going so hard about that and he responded similar to @Oates & @Dell, saying that he gets a bad rap for a lot of stuff. I don’t have enough first hand knowledge about T.O. but it looks like he is not given fair coverage. If he’s going to be knocked for showboating, having his team penalized, spitting in someone’s face (which is an absolute no-no), etc. then he should also be praised for what he does right…but that goes for anyone.
BTW…that second photo is very nice.
I feel the exact same way, Monica!
Monica,
I’m glad you came to this realization about TO that the media doesnt see but teams and coaches see. Whenever he gets into it with a player its because that player wasnt doing their part.
However, I have to ask you a question. Have you ever played a sport at a high level? Collegiate, NFL, NBA, really good high school? This post make it seems like you didnt. “Are you content with being known for your flamboyant touchdown celebrations? ” You mean to tell me that I can work my arse of for 9-10 months out of year and I cant celebrate when my hard work pays off. This is the No Fun League. This no celebration sh!t is for the birds. I pay money to be entertained. Let the man dance, i find it entertaining. One of my favorite NFL moments is when he stood on the star at the cowboys stadium. I feel like all of these sports purists who say ppl shouldnt celebrate and all that trash never played this game at high level and dont understand what goes into it
@peyso: As much as I can find the end zone foolishness entertaining, I hate it when it’s over the top. I don’t care how much time or effort or energy one puts into getting themselves to be good at what they do.
That mess TO did at Cowboys stadium when he ran to the 50-yardline Star was an absolute fool. As entertaining as it was to see him get knocked the hell off of that Star, that mess was beyond excessive…
And there’s no room for that mess in sports. Period. I can get with being a little cocky or talking a little trash or a little celebration. But the mess TO and others have done is the past is too much. No matter how entertaining it is.
Maybe it’s because I grew up playing baseball, and I’ve bean the hell out of a few people for showboating before at the request of a manager. Maybe it’s slightly different in other sports. But you just don’t do stuff to show your opponent up. It ain’t cool.
@ Damon – Maybe it is different in football. Who says this doesnt have a place in sports? I dont like the dudes on the other team, I’ll show them up. This isnt Polo or cricket. I dont have to have class. But maybe this is only football. Football is violent as hell and we’re talking about ppl show boating to show the other team some respect? I cant get with that
@peyso: If you haven’t already, I think you should read “Forty Million Dollar Slaves.”
It delves deep into this issue, and gets to it’s root. There’s always been some celebration in football because of the energy exerted to do something special. I get that. But you gotta admit, some people take it over the top.
TO and Chad top that list.
@ Damon – I will read it but I like the over the top stuff and most ppl who play/played the game like it too
“” You mean to tell me that I can work my arse of for 9-10 months out of year and I cant celebrate when my hard work pays off. This is the No Fun League. This no celebration sh!t is for the birds. I pay money to be entertained. Let the man dance, i find it entertaining.”
@Peyso: I agree with this…to a certain extent. It doesn’t have to be over the top or in poor taste. I grew up with the Ickey Shuffle being ‘popular’ and appreciated and it was entertaining. I don’t see anything wrong with celebrations like this at all. I think it’s funny how the rules have changed.
I remember watching a football game with the beau and somebody did some over the top showing off and got penalized and I was confused. I said ‘why are they penalized?’ and he said ‘because they’re not supposed to do that’; I was scratching my head and looking all bewildered like….’why not? It’s just a game and they are happy they scored…’ *shrugs shoulders*.
I don’t think that it should be in poor taste or offensive, but there’s nothing wrong with showing off your win to the other team, it encourages competition and gets the crowd amped up…
“I said ‘why are they penalized?’ and he said ‘because they’re not supposed to do that’; I was scratching my head and looking all bewildered like….’why not?”
@jlbd: Me too! I asked my husband this before too when someone was being penalized for celebrating a score. I had no idea.
“I don’t think that it should be in poor taste or offensive, but there’s nothing wrong with showing off your win to the other team, it encourages competition and gets the crowd amped up…”
@jbld: Agreed.
I also think it’s funny that the PROFESSIONAL football players are allowed to do it to some extent but the COLLEGE KIDS can’t because it’s unsportsmanlike behavior. Doesn’t it seem like if it’s going to be allowed at all it should be allowed on the ‘lower’ level? Or is that just me?
I think the reason the “good sportsmanlike conduct” rule is there is to prevent over the top or offensive gestures of celebration. You have to have an all inclusive rule on “celebrating” in the end zone or every case becomes a full blown trial and in game play, it is inappropriate to act unprofessionally. Whether we like to see it or not, these athletes are at work. They are being paid to do a job, not show their behinds.
I’m not a professional athlete, but yes, I played varsity volleyball for all of HS. I may not understand what it’s like to work my “arse” of everyday at a sport, but I do understand teamwork (in any capacity) and that my behavior should not hurt the team’s ability to be successful. I don’t think the celebration of a TD is wrong, I’m just not on-board with pushing it to the penalty limit. It’s about self control and not being so selfish that you conduct yourself in a way that is damaging to the team.
Like i said to Damon, football might be a different beast. However, I think the penalties are wrong. As long as you dont slow down the game or hurt someone you should be able to celebrate however you want.
The No Fun League is desperately trying to protect their image but they dont know that they are losing alot of fans w/ alot of these BS rules. Its not about being selfish, its about being an entertainer cuz none of that would exist w/o the fan.
If everytime a team scored they did a choreographed celebratory dance then perhaps I’d be more interested in watching……
I remember when the Alanta Falcons made it to the superbowl and I watched that entire game hoping that they would score so that they would do the “Dirty Bird” dance. Did they? NOPE!
To the guy up above that was hating on Lebron:
Why? Why must the guy garner so much disrepect? All he did was average over 20 points, 6 assist and 6 rebounds, every year so far. (only two other players in history have ever done this and Michael Jordan isnt one of them). All he did was take a team of nobodies to the Finals in his 4th year. All he did was score 29 of his teams last 30 points to ensure that they would get past Detroit. All he did was win 65 games with a team of future nobodies. All he did was listen to criticism about his jumper, and then come back and up his shooting percentage and become MVP. All he did was listen to criticism about his D, and come back and finish 2nd in voting for defensive player of the year. That’s all he did. And no he doesnt have a ring, but at 6 years in neither did Jordan. And if it hadnt been for Shaq neither would Kobe. It takes a whole team to win a ring, but Lebron has definitely given his all. He maybe cocky, he might even have an attitude problem, but when it comes to basketball he has time and time again proven that he will give everything he has got to win. You dont have to like the player, but please respect his game. (and no I’m not a Cleveland fan, I am a Spurs fan, Tim Duncan is the best big man in the league, but real recognize real).
I never said LBJ wasn’t talented. He is probably the most talented person to ever set foot in the league, period. Those stats that you listed above are incredible. But there is an extreme difference between winning because you are better and winning because it is your desire and if you can’t see the difference then I can’t help you.
@ Oates – And this is based on what? HAve you spoken to him? Have you been at his preseason work outs? Are you a part of the media and had the chance to interview someone? You cant judge someone based on how they get ready for a game in pregame. I judge someone when I read about the offseason workouts and how he came to camp in the best shape of his life. And how he’s getting the ball to more people. I think ur just and LBJ hater
No not a LBJ hater, just a realist. On the other hand I bet you were the guy who said “Iverson is better than Jordan” when AI crossed him or “Vince Carter will be the best thing ever” or “Reggie Bush will eat the league alive” when in those cases and many more that have been overhyped, it should have been obvious that they are talented individuals who could care less about winning (and in Bush’s just can’t do the same things in the NFL as in NCAA)…nothing more, nothing less. Till LBJ show me something, he’s still in the catagory for me. You are more than welcome to “Witness”
Nope b/c I understand sports as an athlete and a spectator. I thought Bush was overated in college (He and big L. White getting all the gritty yards for him, he was fresh most of the game). Anyone who knows anything about sports knows that on any given day any player can beat another player, that’s why they’re in the league (AI’s case).
You’re comments about LBJ just seem baseless. AI was never known to be a team player, I dont know much about Vince and Bush’s major knock since high school was that he was soft. What’s LBJ’s knock?
I enjoyed this letter. Good read.
I think I have always been on Team T.O. That doesn’t mean I agree with his antics, but I’ m on his team in the sense that I’ve always seen through the bull and realized that he’s a good person who’s been through some things. It’s people like that who you just want to find happiness and their place in the world. That may be too romantic and optimistic for some, but that’s how I feel about him. Everytime he has a misstep, I hope that he does better.
Now about the excessive game preps and celebrations of athlete.s Yeah this is a business, but it’s also a game. One that everyone in the world would love to play for a living. We shouldn’ t be criticizing Lebron, Chad Johnson, T.O. and the like for loving what they do and having fun with it. That’s silly to me. I was telling someone before that I HATE the quote “Act like you been there before…” Nay, I say act like every time is the first time.
T.O. wouldn’t have had this problem if the XFL was still around.
**looks arounds**
**crickets**
**hangs head in shame**
But seriously, I do find it troubling that the NFL tries to preach sportsmanship by discouraging celebrations, but a dude can use steroids and only get suspended for 4 games AND be described as a “workout fanatic who spends countless hours in the gym” on their official league bio **cough**Shawne Merriman**cough**. The NFL is a league of inconsistency.
I think T.O. and some other WR’s in general are attention whores. I don’t have a problem with on field celebrations, but doing things like publicly bashing your teammates are unnecessary. You can’t talk bad about people on each squad you’ve been on to the media then get mad when the media calls you out on it. That’s why everybody’s parents taught them to keep in-house business in-house.
RVS – I have no problem when someone gets called out for not performing like TO did to Donovan but what TO did to Garcia in SF was completely uncalled for
I agree with the performance issue. The only problem is, he made the uncalled for comment first, so once he got on Donovan it was like the media said, “Here we go again.” That put more fuel on the fire. If he had kept the situation with Donovan in-house he could’ve, at least somewhat, avoided having to now prove that he’s not that bad a guy as he is made out to be.
Sorry, that was supposed to be @peyso…
I need him to read this. Ima send it to him via Twitter. If Steve Harvey, Chrisette Michele and others can respond to me, so can he!