Denver Broncos WR Kenny McKinley was found dead, yesterday afternoon, by a female friend who found him after taking his child with her to run errands. Police believe the McKinley suffered from a self inflicted gunshot wound, thus ending his own life.
The irony of such a tragic event, is McKinley passed away the same day that Broncos CB Champs Bailey, former Broncos S John Lynch and other players attended a fundraiser that honored former CB Darrent Williams, who was killed New Years Day, back in 2007.
In addition to the deaths of McKinley and Williams, the Broncos have also dealt with the death of RB Damien Nash, who collapsed and died at a charity basketball game back in April, 2007… Three months after the Williams murder.
Prayers go to the family of McKinley as well as the Broncos organization. Dealing with suicide is never easy, especially when you think there is something you may have done to save someone’s life. And for the players who’ve been there to see all 3 tragedies, this can’t be easy for them to deal with.
Apparently, some fans don’t. Brown was being honored by being inducted into the Browns Ring of Honor this past weekend. Only Brown didn’t show up. The reason? He was boycotting the event because he was unhappy with the reduced role with the team’s administration. Brown even complained that he had been reduced to the likes of a team mascot.
This is America. Of course, everyone has the right to boo whoever they want, whenever they want. But booing Jim Brown is stupid. This is a guy who loves the organization, spoke out and fought to get a team back when the original Browns left for Baltimore and even tried to lure Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome to come back to Cleveland to run the operations of the franchise.
Jim Brown has never been known to be the quiet type. He speaks loudly and stands up for what he believes in. His personal beef with the administration is not a slap in the face to the fans, it’s a way of standing up for what HE feels is right. If you were one of the folks booing in the crowd, then shame on you. Clap for Brown for all things he’s done good for your team, not for the one thing that you don’t like. He’s earned that respect.
Last week, the Most Hated Athletes list was released and the Top 5 of the list was as follows:
1. Michael Vick*
2. Tiger Woods
3. Terrell Owens*
4. Chad Ochocinco*
5. Kobe Bryant
As you can see, not only are all 5 players of African-American decent, but 3 out of 5 of them are NFL players. Hmmmmmmm………………….
In contrast, the Most Liked Athletes list was released and list showed the following:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Apolo Anton Ohno
3. Peyton Manning*
4. Steve Nash
5. Joe Montana*
One African-American (who is retired, BTW) and two NFL players, one of which no longer plays and hasn’t in quite sometime.
Oh……. okay………………………….
Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? The race situation is another topic for another day and I’m going to try my harder to avoid that topic, so let’s stick to specifically the NFL players selected. While I understand that some folks will never like Michael Vick again, due to his dog fighting fiasco, what did Chad OchoCinco and Terrell Owens do to you?
I’m probably the last person to say that I love Terrell Owens. He annoys me and acts like a guy who lacks deeply in social skills. But do I hate the guy? No. Chad OchoCinco is well liked by many of his opponents who he trash talks to weekly, so why is the love so rare amongst fans? Neither of them have been arrested, convicted or had allegations toward them. Yet they are Top 5 in most hated?
What I found interesting was that a guy like Ben Roethlisberger was not listed in the Top 5 Most Hated. He did make the list at #8, however he’s been accused of sexual misconduct twice in one year, yet is ranked lower than 2 guys who have done nothing wrong off the football field. Where they do that at?
Also noted, Brett Favre was listed #8 in the Most Like Athletes list. As a former Favre Stan, I can admit that after the Green Bay fiasco (in which I totally sided w/ Green Bay and how they handled it), I became less and less of a fan of his. And after the yearly going back and forth of, “I’m retiring… wait! No I’m not”, he inched more and more on my, “Players I Dislike” list.Maybe I’m the only person that doesn’t care a whole lot for divas and bitchassness. Who knew!
The NFL is the cream of the crop in American sports, followed by the NBA. These players are put on pedestals. Things they do off-the-field are just as much newsworthy as the plays they make on-the-field. I understand that majority of the players we see are black, but I’m a bit baffled by this list. What say you?
So, as I was on my way to BWI Airport to to windmill Flacco for his horrible ass play, I ran across this video on Black Sports Online, courtesy of WNST, from Ravens LB Ray Lewis about yesterday’s game:
Now, by any means did the Ravens lose because of the penalties. But I agree with Lewis 100%. There were 2 BAD calls that accredited to 6 points the Bengals received because of it. The tripping call on Lewis was bull, because he was blocked to the ground and he was trying to get up. The Suggs call was bull hockey, particularly because Palmer had the ball still in his hand as Suggs was taking him to the ground.
More and more, the NFL is becoming too technical and too Charmin-esque when it comes to the way they protect their QBs. We get it- the league is a QB-driven league. But by any means, let these guys play!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves Ray, Joe Flacco is why you lost, my friend. 4 INTs cannot happen for a team w Super Bowl aspirations.
P.S.- If I see Flacco anywhere around town this week, I’m still gonna windmill him.
Dear Arizona Cardinals- Call Kurt Warner and offer him $100 million NOW! Maybe he’ll reconsider. Without him you suck!
Did anyone see the Cowboys going 0-2?? Did anyone see Jay Cutler throwing ZERO INTs in a game??? What is the NFL world coming to?
Last April after Jason Campbell was traded to the Raiders, I suggested that Bruce Gradkowski should at least be able to compete for the starting job. I was told how dumb that was and how Campbell is better.. blah, blah, wonk wonk… but after yesterday’s game, Tom Cable got my memo and finally got it right. He benched Campbell, put in Gradkowski and he helped lead the Raiders to a victory over the Rams. In the words of Shaquille O’Neal, “Tell me how my ass tastes”.
Dear Mark Sanchez: Thanks for showing up at the party this week!
Dear Darrelle Revis: We saw you grab your hamstring after that Moss 1-hand TD. All I have to say is,
THAT’S the San Diego Chargers squad I know!
Aaron Rodgers, you are doing the damn thing, but your Lambeau Leap SUCKS! Work on that, mmmmmkay?!
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0?????
The Texans-Redskins game is reason number 1, why I love the game of football. Just when you think you can count someone out, they find ways to come back and win games. That game was by far the best game of the week. And it paralleled last year’s Saints-Redskins game. Down 10 points in the 4th Qtr, Matt Schaub hit Andre Johnson with the tying TD with 2 minutes left in the game. A blocked FG that would have given Washington a nice cushion was the leading factor into the game going into OT. I thought the Texans would lose for SURE after Gary Kubiak decided to punt opposed to kicking a 52-yard FG to try and win the game. But the Texans were given new life after Graham Gano missed his 52-yarder.
That game was exciting, full of offense and nail biting. This is why I love football.
PS- Is it crazy that I am (quietly) rooting for the Texans, week after week?!
Giants looked bad, real bad, Michael Jackson
Vince Young gets benched- again! Hey look, the sky is blue!
Michael Vick is balling…. and not looking back. And if Andy Reid brings in Kevin Kolb next week, he might have to say goodbye to his head coaching job. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Maybe Favre should’ve stayed retired after all……………………………
Yours Truly wrote an article about my beloved Ravens. There’s a snitch in the building, and I don’t like it. Someone needs to tell the Ravens to Stop Snitching. NFL Odds say it was a rookie that whined and complained too, LOL!
My sis Pigskin Loving Lady lets us know what former NFL player has turned in his helmet for politics and won the primary. Find out here.
If you’re a college football fan like I am, this is a MUST read for you. Ed The Sports Fan talks about the possible new alignments of the Pac 10, Big 12 and Big 10 conferences. Will this be the end of the great rivalries in college football? Find out what Ed thinks.
Remember Ahman Green, the RB for the Green Bay Packers??? Sure you do! Find out what he’s been up to this week, as MKRob tells us where Green found a home.
For my NBA lovers, Black Sports Online gives us a peak of a new NBA Finals 2010 music video featuring singer Shontelle. Not sure if the vid is a good as she looks, but you be the judge.
