The Tale of A Basketball Wife & A Football Player

All we can say is damn! We thought the Kim Kardashian marriage ended fast; the marriage between Evelyn Lozada and Chad Johnson/Chad Ochocinco, or whoever he's supposed to be made that marriage seem like an eternity. When will these men learn, you can't turn a Reality TV h-- into a housewife. And a man who's had his own reality show (T.Ocho Show) so to speak, can't be trusted.

So when Chad and Evelyn got together initially, some people thought it was a cute couple (for TV) and others thought, really? Truth be told, she's just another pretty face benefiting from America's sad fascination with watching peoples lives on TV. Oh, we can't forget she was engaged to former NBA player Antoine Walker. Maybe that counts for something. But technically, she's not even a basketball "wife." 

Her website meta description on Google search says she "is one of the most sought after reality personalities to date." Sought after for what? Toot it and boot it! Perhaps Chad Johnson was sprung for whatever reason, but a smart man wouldn't have married her. In 1990, Bell Biv Devoe said you can't trust a big butt and a smile. Ain't nothing changed. 

Ok enough about Evelyn. Chad isn't really too great himself these days. Reports have it that this whole drama actually started because of him and his possession of extra "helmets." Furthermore, his career in the NFL has went belly up for the most part since 2008, with a somewhat descent season in 2009. He stunk like a week old dead body last year while playing for the New England Patriots. So they sent him to the coroner's office, aka free agency. 

The Miami Dolphins decided to give him a chance and signed him in the off season. Then soon as WWE star Chad Johnson headbutted his wife, the Dolphins cut him immediately once the news hit the press. Now he's waiting for the legal process to run its course as Evelyn has filed for divorce. In addition, VH1 has canceled the premier of the couple's reality show due to air next month. 

How Bout Dem Saints!

Just two years ago in February 2010, the New Orleans Saints became the NFL's best-in-class thoroughbred as a resilient franchise overcoming crisis, and winning a Superbowl in a previously ravaged city. The team seemed like they could do no wrong, they were model citizens and it appeared everybody loved them. Unfortunately, those days are long gone.  

That Was Then, And This Is Now 

The Saints' organization looks just as scummy as some of the city's projects before Hurricane Katrina flushed them out. A bounty program scandal shocked fans and the media nationwide, as everyone learned the team gave rewards and incentives for seriously injuring opposing team's players or knocking them out of games. An investigation by the NFL found the Saints had this program in place from 2009-2011. The main culprit who spearheaded the bounty system was usual suspect Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams. Former coaches and players have said coach Williams was responsible for running similar systems with other NFL teams as far back as 1997. 

Punishment from the NFL for this bounty program came down fierce suspending three coaches, four players (current & former), and the general manager. Player suspensions ranged from three games to the entire 2012-2013 season. The general manager and assistant coach Vitt were suspended for six games. Head Coach Sean Payton was suspended without pay for the entire upcoming season. And even though coach Williams left for the St. Louis Rams he was immediately suspended indefinitely. The New Orleans Saints also had second round picks for the 2012 & 2013 NFL Drafts snatched away, to go along with a half million dollar fine. 

Now the standalone positive the franchise has is their Superbowl MVP Quarterback Drew Brees. He's brought the team to respectability by winning the Superbowl and breaking records as an elite NFL Quarterback. The quarterback has been bravely standing up for the Saints during the whole scandal and continuously being a strong team leader on and off the field. However, his positive outlook is beginning to subtract very quickly because the team isn't showing him that same love. Brees was a free agent and has been in unsuccessful contract talks with the Saints since late in the 2011-2012 season. 

Currently the Saints don't want to give him a top dollar long-term contract extension that the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have received. Although, the Saints have been kind enough to give Drew Brees an annoying franchise tag, instead of a long-term contract of elite value that he deserves. It's hard to know or not if the Saints owner is completely oblivious to the operations of his team, or if he is part of the problem. 

Conclusion

The New Orleans Saints management needs an executive makeover and they need to show some dignity. Without Brees this franchise is going back to the days when Aaron Brooks was the quarterback (irrelevant). It's likely Drew will have a contract sooner than later that pays what he's worth, but if not, this contract issue along with the bounty scandal will continue to show an image that many people already felt about the Saints before their recent success; they are just a low-life NFL franchise that wallows in mediocrity and just so happen to reside in New Orleans. Who Dat!

The "What-if" theory concerning Michael Vick

It can be assumed by now that most football fans and many Americans in the general public have heard about the ESPN article - What if Michael Vick were white? This is a controversial subject, and honestly a never-ending topic anyway whenever race is discussed. In our opinion what if questions are never going to be answered with a real scenario because of the many variables that could exist. A couple of things make this article interesting to us; first ESPN really goes to the point of altering a photograph presenting Vick with a white face, and the article nonchalantly speaks of Vick and the "African American approach" to football as only natural talent.

The article writer while enjoying and appreciating the opportunity to see a Michael Vick play and the "African American approach", does not mention any belief or thoughts about Vick or African Americans possessing true skill from study of the game and hard work. Doug Williams and Warren Moon were likely the two most accomplished African American quarterbacks of all-time who did not play with the so called "approach." Given that it can be argued African Americans are naturally more athletic than their white counterparts, there is not a reason to label African Americans as having their own approach to football or any sport for that matter.

ESPN's article goes on to ask hypothetical questions as far as Vick's upbringing and quality of life as an inner city child. The question was presented what if it were a white player who enacted in the dog fighting activity that Vick did would they have received the same punishment. This is where the article dives into the background of Vick's existence from a child up until the dog fighting bust; and asks what if he grew up in a two parent household that whites usually tend to have.

There are some good things mentioned in the article overall. However, it fails to further discuss that even though Vick obviously committed a crime, sadly racism definitely still exists in America that leaves this so called what if story with a question unable to be answered like most what ifs. Though, race absolutely still plays a major role in how various situations are handled and confronted on a daily basis throughout America and it’s disheartening. Hopes are high that just maybe; one day this won't be the case.


The ESPN article or this particular blog is not about race and how it applies to right or wrong.

Show Me The Money.... Says Chris Johnson

So now being in the final year of his original contract signed as a rookie in the NFL, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans wants a new deal. Nothing wrong with this right? Well that depends. Johnson is not just looking for a new contract, but a contract that pays him top dollar. Not just top dollar among his NFL running back counterparts, but top dollar as in amongst the highest paid players in league. Now don't get it twisted, Chris Johnson is a tremendous talent, fun to watch, and deserving of a new contract that pays significantly more than what he's due to earn. Though, with that said being paid along side Manning, Brady, Bradford, and several others who are more tenured is a bit much to ask. The first three individuals mentioned are quarterbacks and understandably deserve the big bucks. Johnson as great as he is, plays the running back position and is more interchangeable with another back should he be injured unfortunately. The same can’t be said for those quarterbacks.

Running backs have a short life span in the NFL. As witnessed last season running backs can come a dime a dozen, and seemingly out of nowhere at times. Do the names Peyton Hillis and Arian Foster mean anything? Basically these guys were under the radar just like Johnson initially and proved to be productive and effective for their respective teams. Now they may not be as fun to watch as Johnson, but they do produce. Also, as much as Johnson carries the ball for the mediocre Titans, he is prone to getting warn down sooner than later. He doesn't take many hard hits, but with that team not having any other serious offensive threats and a rookie quarterback teams will crowd the line keying in on him. Therefore, the odds are likely high he may take more hits and start slowing down over the next couple of years even while being in his prime.

With all this said Johnson does deserve to get a very handsome pay raise that makes him among the highest paid top two running backs in the NFL. However, being paid "quarterback money" is out of the question. Sure he’s had three very good seasons, but on any given Sunday he can take a hit and be done like Bo Jackson. It's understood he wants to be paid what he's worth, but he's simply not worth the salary comparable of the league's best quarterbacks. Sorry Chris. Get a good deal and get on the field and stop dreaming.