December 28, 2017

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments

Johnny Manziel conditionally cleared to play in CFL next year.

"I refuse to let my entire life of sports from the age of four be squandered by partying," Manziel said in a message sent Friday to ESPN's Ed Werder. "I just got sick of it. One day I didn't like what I saw in the mirror and realized I could really help people in the position I'm in.

"I love sports, I love football and when you take something away from yourself you realize it the hard way. The happiness from doing it sober has been astronomical. Beyond my wildest imagination and once that continued other good things started happening in my life and it just clicked."

posted by rumple at 08:01 PM on December 28, 2017

Upside to this is he won't be able to continue a $5K per day blow and champagne habit on a CFL salary.

That is IF he can actually cut it in the CFL.

posted by cixelsyd at 10:29 AM on December 29, 2017

I wish Manziel the best. As a former fuck-up who made good, I always cheer for those who made mistakes to find a level of redemption.

posted by tahoemoj at 11:46 AM on December 29, 2017

It would be fitting if he were allowed to suit up for the Stampeders and Roughriders, but perhaps just as well that he go to the Ti-Cats.

He certainly has the potential to redeem himself, and he has plenty of prior examples to refer to.

Hollywood Henderson cleaned himself up and became a motivational speaker and drug counselor, while his nemesis Terry "(c) - (a) - T" Bradshaw has only gotten nuttier in his role as a "motivated" speaker as the years have gone by.

I think for a person in the public eye to succeed at redemption, people have to want to see them succeed. I'd be happy to see Manziel grow up and accomplish something. On the other hand, I will forever want Romanowski to walk off a cliff while tweeting shit at whomever.

posted by beaverboard at 12:04 PM on December 29, 2017

Added CFL note: intriguing to see our former regional high school coach Mike Sherman tread where immortals like Rod Rust and Dan Hawkins have trod before, and sign on to coach the Alouettes.

posted by beaverboard at 12:19 PM on December 29, 2017

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