Off the Field Issues

The Larry Johnson Rap isn't Larry Johnson

by Chris on Sep 15, 2007 9:28 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

This will be the last time I report on this. The "LJ rap" isn't him:

But, he said that the words said by Johnson were moved around and formed into the rap listeners heard. "It wasn't his words in order," Tinberg said. "It's so simple to move it around, it's just a couple of clicks. It's like Photoshop with music."

Since then, Tinberg has changed his story, telling the AP that the rapper isn't Johnson at all, but someone imitating the athlete's voice.

When asked about his previous statement, he said he lied and that he "used the media" as a publicity stunt to promote his label.

I, like a lot of people, sniffed this out for what it was- a cheap stunt to promote this rap group. They're so hard, they've got a MySpace page. Anyone else think a rap about HTML and .jpeg files could take off? What I'm really interested to find out is if the number of friends on your profile translates into any sort of street cred.

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Tony Gonzalez Gets the Scare of His Life- Twice

by Chris on Sep 10, 2007 7:51 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

Great article by the consistently good Joe Posnanski. This past offseason, after feeling a shooting pain in his head and being unable to feel part of his tongue, Tony Gonzalez went to the hospital.

After the scan, though, the doctors determined he had Bell’s Palsy, a usually temporary condition that paralyzes facial muscles. For three weeks, Gonzalez lived with the paralysis. He could not practice football because his eye would not close. He slept with tape holding down his eye. He ate all his food on the one side of his mouth where he could still taste. He proposed to October, his wife, with his face drooping.

My brother had Bell's Palsy in high school and it wasn't as serious as you'd think. Oddly enough, I received an email from a reader months ago asking about Tony Gonzalez's face. The reader had seen TG recently and actually asked if he had had a stroke. I didn't think much of it at the time because I hadn't heard anything like it from anywhere else.

After a few weeks, Tony's face began to return to normal. During a routine blood test to determine if he had full recovered, TG got some more bad news.

Gonzalez rushed to the hospital again, and this time the doctors would not even tell him what was wrong. They just kept saying that it was very bad. They said something about white-cell count. Gonzalez was so scared, he started crying.

Turns out, Tony's normal blood sample had been switched with the sample of someone who was really sick.

"Did it change me? You better believe it changed me," Tony said.

Amazing story. I'm surprised the media kept this one under wraps for so long.

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Bill Maas Arrested

by Chris on Sep 6, 2007 6:37 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

Again.

Former Chiefs defensive tackle Bill Maas was detained by police at Kansas City International Airport on Wednesday for allegedly having a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag, authorities said.

Maas was making his way through a screening checkpoint in Terminal C when he was detained about 11 a.m., airport spokesman Joe McBride said.

Maas' excuse was that he picked up the wrong bag. Sweet lord that is a horrible excuse. If you recall, Maas was arrested in Illinois after being pulled over in July. The police found ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and .22 revolver in that particular case.

I guess the "bright side" is that he didn't try to bring any drugs onto the plane. If you can call that a bright side...

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Former Kansas City Chief Todd McNair Involved in Dog Cruelty

by Chris on Aug 29, 2007 7:54 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

Todd McNair, who played running back for Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 to 1996, "was twice convicted on charges related to mistreatment of dogs in the 1990s." And you know what? Our very own Bruins Nation scooped everyone else on the story. The following is from the Wizard of Odds coverage:

In March 1994, police in the New Jersey Borough of Paulsboro shot and killed a pit bull for biting and locking onto a neighborhood dog. They suspected the dog belonged to McNair, and discovered six more chained in his yard. He agreed to move them.

On March 30, 1996, McNair was charged with cruelty to animals, failure to obtain licenses and keeping animals for the purpose of fighting on his property in East Greenwich, N.J. Animal control officers found up to 22 pit bulls, including 17 adults and five puppies.

The Wizard of Odds then went on to say, "The Rocky Mountain News reported later that year that the dogs were attached to heavy automobile towing chains. Some of the dogs were found in standing water, and many were scarred. Several had fresh wounds and one had a broken leg." Tick, tock. The countdown to the connection between "animal cruelty" and "dog fighting" has begun.

Wow. This story is still spreading around the Internet and the traditional media. The original diary breaking the story is here. Congrats to the Bruins Nation community for their hard work.

Granted, this story probably doesn't mean much without the Michael Vick plea a few days ago. Still, its fun to see a UCLA blog possibly shake up the staff of the USC football team.

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Jared Allen Mugshot and Booking Info

by Chris on Feb 21, 2007 5:53 PM CST in Off the Field Issues

Love you as a defensive end, just not a designated driver. He looks pretty laid back in that mugshot actually.

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We Can Probably Count Jared Allen Out Until Week 5 of '07

by Chris on Feb 14, 2007 3:55 PM CST in Off the Field Issues

This could easily be a mug shot. (Photo source here)

Because of his two, stupid DUIs. Allen pled no contest today and will serve two days in court, two days in a lockdown treatment and more than likely a four game suspension from the NFL. Check out the NFL's substance abuse policy here.

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Jared Allen Refuses Breathalyzer; Charged with DUI

by Chris on Sep 30, 2006 8:08 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

According to the Kansas City Star, Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen was pulled over earlier this week by Leawood cops and charged yesterday with driving under the influence (Photo source here).

And from the Kansas City Star today, we grab some more details:

Meier said police stopped Allen after a motorist called authorities to report a car that was weaving and had possibly crossed the center line. Officers spotted the vehicle, which was headed east on 135th Street, at Nall Avenue and stopped it at Roe Avenue.On May 11, Allen was arrested at 5:37 a.m. at 135th Street and U.S. 69 in Overland Park, records show. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding."

In what seems to be NFL tradition, Allen will start Sunday and more than likely not sure any disciplinary action unless he is convicted. Remember, this is Allen's second DUI in a year.

Why didn't Jared Allen just grab an area high school kid who could have told him NOT to speed in Kansas AND could tell him where the cops sit? Too bad and more to come on this later. Allen seems to have a rough and tumble attitude, which is totally fine, but not when it steps over the line. In the meantime, until I finish some laundry and get something to eat, write up your own diary and make sure you've created an account for Arrowhead Pride.

Hat tip to the Fanhouse for the story.

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Terrell Owens Suicide Attempt?

by Chris on Sep 27, 2006 8:56 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

Terrell Owens, who was admitted last night to a Dallas area hospital, apparently was there because he attempted suicide by ingesting a large amount of pain medication.

Keep checking Blogging the Boys for more updates.

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ESPN Dismisses Jason Whitlock

by Chris on Sep 26, 2006 11:43 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

Last week, Jason Whitlock officially left his duties at ESPN's Page 2. On the way out, he made some harsh remarks about fellow ESPN columnists. Today, we find out from Whitlock himself that Jason will no longer be associated with ESPN in anyway. No more Sports Reporters and no more Pardon the Interruption. In the man's own words:

James Cohen, an executive at the network [ESPN], called me Monday and asked me whether the comments attributed to me in the interview were true. When I said "yes," he informed me that I could no longer appear on ESPN television shows and that my November appearances on "Pardon the Interruption" would be canceled.

Jason Whitlock knew what he was doing when he made those comments about Scoop Jackson and Mike Lupica. I believe he intentionally burned that bridge, just for controversy's sake. He didn't tell us the "truth" in his Big Lead interview. He simply made ad hominem attacks on Lupica and Jackson.

If Whitlock had avoided the insults and stuck to legit criticisms, he would have come off more like an unsatisfied employee rather than someone who runs their mouth...well...to just run their mouth.

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Priest Holmes Should Stick to One Woman

by Chris on Aug 22, 2006 7:01 AM CDT in Off the Field Issues

According to NBC News 4 in San Antonio, two women who Priest Holmes has children with got into a fight.

One of the women, Jennifer Sanchez, says she went to the other woman's house in northwest Bexar County to pick up a child support check from Holmes.

Deputies say Sanchez keyed the other woman's car and punched her.

After police arrested Sanchez, the Minister of Offense showed up and took custody of her two-year old daughter. Damn. Since when is Priest Holmes involved with such crazy women? Google this topic. I am getting nothing previously reported about Priest Holmes having multiple children with multiple women. Not that there's anything wrong with that. He's just one of the last guys I expected to be involved like that.

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