Ick’s Corner

*Disclaimer* If your a Bengals fan, please do not read this article. Although I will not say anything that you don’t already know.

Chad Johnson is a prime example of whats wrong with sports today. Anyone remember the days when you did your talking on the field? You went out each and every Sunday and played the game with class, not boasting about how many touchdowns you were going to score. You didn’t have a schedule in your locker, and talk trash to the media about what you were going to do to the cornerbacks, and safeties. You didn’t talk about how there wasn’t a person on this weeks opposing team that could stop you. Then you go out and catch two balls for 20 yards.

Chad Johnson has made a career of making a spectacle of himself.

Self proclaimed greatest WR to ever take the field. He has also made a career of putting himself before his team, according to Chad, there is an “I” in team. Johnson has done everything he could possibly do to make himself the center of attention, including

Racing a horse

His stunt on Monday Night Football with the “Future Hall Of Famer” jacket,

In the offseason Johnson started making demands to be traded because he felt he wasn’t respected by the Bengals organization because of comments like  “He is cancer in the lockeroom”. Well Chad, buddy you have to give to get in this world. You can not publicly bash your quarterback, coach, and the franchise that signs your paycheck, and expect them to respect you.  I was very glad to see Marvin Lewis stand up to Johnson and say, “Chad is a man of his word, if he says he is going to sit out this season, then he will. He will not be traded” Bravo to a head coach, and franchise that will stand up to the pre-madonna players, and make them honor their obligations to the team. Once a Mel Kiper sleeper pick in the draft, Chad Johnson has turned into an excedrin size headache for Marvin Lewis and the Bengals organization. I think Johnson was upset to see that his off season temper tantrum not being given much press due to another off season temper tantrum..

Now he has legally changed his name to ocho cinco. Talk about a marketing ploy. The Bengals announced earlier this week that they would be changing all merchandise to reflect the wide receivers recent name change. In my opinion it should be Johnson paying for all the changes. Chad Johnson can play football, no one can deny that fact. His biggest problem is not his gold grille, his bleach blonde mohawk, or his contract, its his mouth. Johnson may very well be inducted into the NFL Hall Of Fame someday, but he will never play the game with class, or be given the respect that he feels he deserves.  He will never play the game with the class like the greats,

And in my opinion the greatest of all time

These greats got out on the field every Sunday and played the game. They didn’t run their mouth about how great they were. They let people see how great they were.  Class acts all the way. I list Marvin Harrison in the group because he is one of the true greats, and classy guys of the NFL. He has gone out each and every Sunday and been part of a team. (Minus last season/Injury). You didn’t  hear about off field issues, problems in the locker room, and none of them were every a distraction to the team. Each of these guys understand that it wasn’t about them, its about what was good for the team. At this time Jerry Rice is thought of as the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game. I’m sure at some point there will be another wide receiver to have better stats. None of them will ever have the heart, determination, work ethic, or team beliefs that Rice had.

The Cowboys currently have on their roster, one of the biggest pre-madonnas in the league in T.O. I do not like him as a person, I do not like the baggage he came in with, but I do not deny the fact he can play the game. I cheer when he scores a touchdown, but its because it was for the good of the Cowboys. I do not cheer him. He is currently 2 touchdowns receptions away for moving into 2nd place on the all time touchdown receptions list, I am very curious if he will humble about this great feat, or if it will be all about him, because as well all know.. “He loves him, some him”