Chickenhead

As the hip-hop world continues to stain the sports world, allow me to further haunt society with a brief vocabulary lesson for those who may be unfamiliar or need to be reacquainted. Please do note the extreme sarcasm in that introduction since sarcasm has been mistaken for cloaked truth.

To quote Memphis rap "icon", Project Pat:
bwok bwok, chicken chicken
bwok bwok, chickenheads

Yes, boys and girls, today's word is chickenhead.
There is one definition for mature audiences only, however, it just may apply if you stretch your imagination enough. In this case, the definition that came to mind is a little less graphic. If you are from the hood, you know about all of the criteria that comes to describe a chickenhead. Loud for no good reason. Constantly talking about a whole lotta nuttin. Stirs up more drama than (insert biggest alcoholic on any season of the Real World here), Skip Bayless and Jason Whitlock combined. An unnecessarily angry and/or nonchalant attitude about everything, everywhere and everyone. Signature head movements as if the person is, well, a chicken.

Unfortunately, it happens to be the first word that pops up when it comes to Mr. Terrell Owens. Unfortunately being the word because he used to be my favorite player in the entire National Football League.
Then he arrived in Philadelphia.

I cannot deny the "about time" tone of my post as it had been sitting in publishing abeyance (you like that big word) since he opened his flap this weekend. Everything has been said, read and fed to the American sports world since he cried foul about his contract, so this sounds no different. Yet, as others, I was an unapologetic fan of Owens since he cracked into the starting lineup in San Francisco in 1996. This was a guy who was originally was to have been to JJ Stokes what the underrated John Taylor was to Jerry Rice, the next second fiddle of the future of the 49ers. He surpassed Stokes in terms of dependability and health, even as he was criticized for too many dropped passes. And what was considered a unique personality may have not been the most well-received in the public view, but Owens once had the admiration and respect of fellow teammates. The occasional outlandish statement was brushed under the rug so long as he was part of the movement to keep San Francisco in contention into the new millennium. The celebrations that were deemed excessive in conservative circles were thoroughly enjoyed by those who wanted to see the F (as in fun) back in the NFL. And with Randy Moss as the other controversial great receiver, there was another name to debate along with Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt and Marshall Faulk for the best fantasy draft pick that wasn't a QB. Mike Ditka once said he won't shut up until you beat him. Well, it was how he was beat once to prove that he was amongst the top in the game.

After his press conference this afternoon, former cornerback and ESPNEWS analyst Eric Allen felt that the turning point of Owens' career and reputation came in 1998. The Catch II as faithful Niners fans call it. Four dropped passes and miscues against destiny's football child, Green Bay. Each catch dropped could have quickly exorcised the 49ers' demons (and bad calls) against Favre & Co. He was his own harshest critic, but demanded much, much more of himself with each pass Steve Young lobbed to him. Shortly after Rice's "catch", he made the second-most famous grab in franchise history. Flooded with his own tears and emotion, the man vindicated himself for a team, fans and... well, himself. As all wide receivers, even the mum Harrison, each have an individualistic nature that says in Owens' own words, "Who can make a play? I CAN! I can make a play!" However, the man thanked the team, the fans and God for having the continued confidence that he could make that play.

Fast forward to what notoriousjtb may not want to be reminded of. 2002 Wild Card Playoff. The New York Giants were on their way to the divisional round by the end of the first half. Jeremy Shockey wanted to show America that he could be talented and obnoxious like Owens, even on the field of play when headhunting for Julian Peterson. Michael Strahan was caught on camera pointing to the scoreboard. Even Tiki Barber wanted the crowd to have been as quiet as he normally is when handing the Niners a beatdown. Yet, T.O., normally not the most loquacious player on the team, challenged his teammates to step up in the half. Not then-coach Steve Mariucci. Not Owens' first QB thrown under the bus, Jeff Garcia. Not even the other longtime veterans of the team such as Ray Brown, Derek Smith and Fred Beasley. Of course, the rest was history.

See, the man was once a good teammate. And he was once likeable guy, even for non-49er fans who appreciated his sense of ingenuity. The Sharpie. The pom-poms. And yes, his most daring exploit, posing on the Cowboys' star (and a second attempt) kept the Niners as the most hated non-NFC East team in Dallas as of the previous twenty-five seasons. Never heard a thing about him off the field, even if the more explosive Moss got himself out there a few times. Played hard and hardly made an excuse.... when things were going well, that is. And the celebrations were actually worth talking about because they were great.

Something happened long before he arrived in Philadelphia. Of course, by the looks of things in the last 22 months, most people damn near forgot. San Francisco struggled and Owens decided to say a little too much against Mariucci. Against Garcia. Against team ownership (which, as a fan, no one was too upset when he criticized Dr. John York and Denise DeBartalo-York). Despite the constant state of change in the Bay Area in his last two seasons, he distanced himself more and more from those very teammates he rallied after a big playoff deficit. He didn't even workout with them in his last few months as a 49er, his own choice. We forget that he was shipped to Baltimore, but talked enough up about the lack of stability and talent at quarterback that he spurned a chance to play with Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Jamal Lewis and some of the league's best teammates. He found a way to come to Philadelphia. Much more high profile than Baltimore. Much more attention with Donovan McNabb and Brian Dawkins than with Tim Rattay and Kevan Barlow. Much more media to hear him scream.

I didn't like that he spurned the Ravens, partially because the aforementioned players are some of my favorites in the league. Yet, I absolutely hated his signing with the Eagles. Starved for a title and even more starved for national attention for the city's tough image. The media that once vilified him for his behavior on the field suddenly interrupts its local programming to show surgery on his leg days after injury against Dallas. The experts who reserved placing Owens at the top perch of receivers in the NFL suddenly made him number one above receivers with greater numbers and greater tracks of winning. Hell, even NFL 2K5 put him on the cover and gave him a 99-rating before he played his first game with the team.

I wasn' t too thrilled that he called out his coaches, even letting now-Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp have it during a losing effort. I heard about his alienation from teammates with a none-too-happy ear. Like many of his fans, I forgave those because they weren't on the field with him. Yet, my respect was lost for him with his parting shots as he left for the Media Champion Eagles. I disowned my T.O. jersey when he made off-color comments in Playboy a while back about Garcia's sexuality, even as the quarterback was dealing with his own personal issues. Sounds like a chickenhead who doesn't know when to quit. Yet, this isn't the 'hood, this is American football we're talking about.

Now, just as big of a player in this mess has been ESPeN... sorry, ESPN. The MTV of sports can make anything seem like they found Osama bin Laden walking the streets of Bristol, but for once, there is one article that says what fingers are too tired of typing. This is far from the first indictment of the channel's bold journalism of the past five years, but Philly Inquirer's Phil Sheridan has said what no one wants the big bad wolf to hear.

This is the last I shall speak of this pariah, this fool, this... chickenhead.

Say What?!?!: The Clippers are 3-1 with what will definitely become a greater scoring threat once Corey Maggette returns to the lineup. So far, I don't think folks with think there is a changing of the guard in the California ranks as the Warriors try to eclipse the Kings as Northern Cali's best squad and the Clip Joint overshadows the Lake Show. Yet, this entire season is about shifts. The Western Conference is not that great for the first time since Shaq and C-Webb dominated the Left, but this season, expect some changes with the teams that will push hard for the playoffs. Just don't bank on Utah (for the love of dunks)