11/05/24
December 03, 2005
Johnson gets shafted for his putts: The National Football League has docked Cincy wide receiver Chad Johnson $5K for removing an endzone pylon and putting the football after his touchdown last week against the Baltimore Ravens. Learn more about our intrepid hero, and make the call on his fine -- Crime Stoppers or No Fun League?
Hmmmm. Many millions minus 5k equals a lot more money than most people.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:11 PM on December 03, 2005
Chad Johnson as anti-hero. It's a stretch, but I'm still trying to like the kid.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:18 PM on December 03, 2005
I'd have to say that I come down on the side of No Fun League. Most of these celebrations are pretty funny, rather creative, and completely harmless.(with the exception of he who will not be named's misadveture in Dallas) Why not let the players show some color and liven things up. I know some will say that players should all be class acts like Barry Sanders, and just flip the ball to the ref. These showboaters however just make players like Barry look that much more classy. The fun police at the NFL fining players for celebrations, fining guys for wearing the wrong color socks, fining guys who wanted to make tributes to fallen heros(plummer & manning). Things must be going real well for them overthere in NFL land for these to be the problems they worry about. Major League Baseball and the NHL would cut their right arm off to be in a similar position.
posted by Fade222 at 08:21 PM on December 03, 2005
I loved the T.O. star game in Dallas. It was straight out of pro wrestling, and the season wasn't particularly memorable otherwise. Chad Johnson's demonstrations are funny. I don't know how he'll keep coming up with new ones, but it's a nice bit of harmless showmanship.
posted by rcade at 09:00 PM on December 03, 2005
If the NFL believes the entertainment (celebration) is enhancing its product-- the game -- then it'll look the other way. However, if the NFL believes the entertainment is showboating the player as opposed to enhancing the product, then the fines come. The NFL wants to make it clear that no hotdog player is above the NFL and its product. Kind of like "Here's the Sharpies, but you do it my way."
posted by roberts at 09:06 PM on December 03, 2005
If they wanted to reinforce the no player is bigger than team concept, they wouldn't have banned planned team celebrations. I hate to take the thread down this path, but I honestly feel that there is a certain amout of racism involved. The league thinks that it's fans, many of them white and older will be turned off by the site of "those da^m be boppin darkies dancin on the field". Sad thing is they are probably right that alot of people don't like the celebrations for just that reason.
posted by Fade222 at 09:14 PM on December 03, 2005
Fining Chad Johnson $5k is like the average person losing a quarter in the couch. Big deal!!!!
posted by mcstan13 at 09:35 PM on December 03, 2005
The 5k is nothing. The fact that the NFL will now make him take pylon abuse courses. Then the embarrassment of telling your family that you have a problem, OUCH!!! His actions are harmless and add to the fun of the NFL experience. After all without the fans there is no NFL.
posted by injury-prone at 09:47 PM on December 03, 2005
Why does the NFL not give the $5000 to a charity of the player's choosing? Then it would give the appearance that the fine is not to playing favorites, but the whole thing is absurd. Why do some players have to tempt their fate every week and others (like Brett Favre) not? Just look at their character in an interview and the reaction is the same. The ones that do the celebrations that get fines are the same ones that have to say 'You know' or 'Know what I mean' sixty four times before they say nothing. Players with class don't get fines because they let their talent do the talking, not their celebration.
posted by mrhockey at 10:04 PM on December 03, 2005
Add this to the list of things that makes the CFL more entertaining than the NFL.
posted by grum@work at 10:15 PM on December 03, 2005
Didn't see a "you know" or "know what I mean" even once in CJ's interview.
posted by tselson at 10:25 PM on December 03, 2005
First off, I'm old-school, I like the team player and the sportmanship in sports. All this celebration stuff is bull$hit! Quoting Chuck Noll..."There is no celebrating touchdowns on this team, no spiking, no acting like a fool, act like you've been there before." An occassional Stallworth-Swann high five is about all you saw from the Steelers in the 70's. As far as the T.O.'s and the C.J.'s and the rest, these guys are acting like jackasses, its not entertaining, its not funny and its not being creative. Its putting an "I" in the word "Team". Just another prime example of the "Hip-Hop Generation" taking a crap on society.
posted by CountDracula58 at 10:45 PM on December 03, 2005
See my last post in reference to countdracula58' comments. Although on furthur review although I still think race plays a role in this, I also think that it is a generational thing. You know the concept of "Those kids and their darn rock music". Every older generation says the younger generation is out of control and has no morals, like they did "back in the good ole days". On the other hand every younger generation thinks "Those old fogeys just don't get it". So in light of this it's a problem that won't be solved because it's just apart of a continuous cycle of the battle between "old" and "young" and "traditional values" vs. "the new wave".
posted by Fade222 at 11:00 PM on December 03, 2005
Count, have a bowl of Boo-Berry's they are fun to eat. Watch CJ play it's fun too. Maybe try to get past the Chuck Knoll thing, he was boring IN the 70's...it's 2005.
posted by tselson at 11:11 PM on December 03, 2005
Add this to the list of things that makes the CFL more entertaining than the NFL. The CFL ones always seem to be a lot more playful, whereas a lot of the controversial NFL ones seem a little more arrogant. This one definitely falls into the "playful" category, though. Saw the replay and thought, "man, that's worthy of OUR league."
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:22 PM on December 03, 2005
Also haven't you ever wanted to propose to a cheerleader? I do every Saturday and Sunday when the networks show us some eye candy. Also the USC cheerleaders are omg beautiful.
posted by Fade222 at 11:32 PM on December 03, 2005
forgive my poor spelling and lack of punctuation i'm ripped at this point.
posted by Fade222 at 11:34 PM on December 03, 2005
To be honest, I think the NFL fining CJ just adds to the entertainment. I get to see the replay a few more times plus we get to find out if Chad will defy his corporate masters and come up with something big on Sunday (completely ineveitable, but beside the point).
posted by panoptican at 12:45 AM on December 04, 2005
Just an aside, but the discussion is long standing about whether a team such as USC could beat a pro team. My answer was and is, they could if played under NCAA rules. If the NFL wanted to stop the celebrations/demostrations, they would mandate a 15 yd Unsportsmanlike Conduct flag. Then watch the "fun" end. My opinion is that they embrace it behind closed doors, fining for outward appearance, but loving the added ratings and butts in seats.
posted by elovrich at 01:30 AM on December 04, 2005
This is simple, a $5000 dollar fine is invisible to a player making this kind of money. Its purely a token fine, and the NFL and CJ know it. the NFL knows that the type of celebrations that CJ and TO are doing will bring young fans, and that the fine will make old guys, like the Count, happy. It's purely CYA. Second, Elovrich, there is no way that a team like USC could beat an NFL team... none... period. Size alone would give the NFL team a clear advantage. I heard someone today say that Reggie Bush is one of the top five RBs in the NCAA or the NFL... What? That is ridiculous. I am sure that both Lienart and Bush (and Lendale, and... ) will do well in the NFL... eventually but for now, they are still babies.
posted by everett at 03:22 AM on December 04, 2005
Its dumb and dumber. If anyone is actually getting one dollar more due to the additional advertising or attendance due to people wanting to watch these celebrations, then thats dumbest.
posted by sfts2 at 06:50 AM on December 04, 2005
I love Chad Johnson and think he (along with Steve Smith of Carolina) is/are the two top receivers playing. As long as both of them don't make complete jackasses of themselves off the field I support their right to celebrate success ON the field. If opponents don't like it, pop him harder when given the chance.
posted by dyams at 08:36 AM on December 04, 2005
Good point FADE22! It is old vs. new, like you said. Its not a race thing, although the African Americans are primarily the guys that are acting the fool, in any sport. By the way, I am black, NOT African American as the blacks of today want to be called. I dont see the "white" guys acting like idiots on the playing field. The field is just that, it isnt a rap video. As for the comments made by TSELSON, Boo-Berry sucks. I prefer Count Chocula and CJ isnt funny, in fact, plain and simple, HE ISNT THAT DAMN GOOD EITHER! OK, Noll and the Steelers were boring, if boring equals DAMN GOOD, the best team ever many would say. You're right, it is 2005, and its a damn shame isn't it!
posted by CountDracula58 at 09:10 AM on December 04, 2005
Celebrating six points is fine. Celebrating every tackle is what gets me.
posted by catfish at 11:08 AM on December 04, 2005
I dont see the "white" guys acting like idiots on the playing field. No, they save it for the sidelines. (see: Shockey, Jeremy)
posted by grum@work at 11:11 AM on December 04, 2005
Everett, I think that your comment about T.O. and C.J.'s antics bringing in the young fans is what is wrong with America. We are teaching our kids that it is OK to break rules and generally act like a jackass as long as you make millions of dollars. Even if we don't agree with the rules doesn't mean that it is OK to violate them. I am a "younger" fan and I think that it is asanine that these grown men make millions and act like fools. I hope that my daughter learns a little more respect for the rules then most of the public.
posted by mcstan13 at 12:04 PM on December 04, 2005
...is what is wrong with America. Save me please... Nevermind, alcoholism, methamphetamines, racism, and a high propensity towards obesity, because Mcstan has it all figured out; The real problem is that the people who get paid to entertain us on TV are celebrating after they have excited the fans. Of course... It was so simple all along... Those "asanine football players... I think that a relaxation on punctuation and grammar are probably helping to contribute as well. I bet CJ's blog has spelling errors all over it.
posted by everett at 02:12 PM on December 04, 2005
You're right grum@work. Catfish hit the nail on the head also! Everyone wants to be a showmen!
posted by CountDracula58 at 02:24 PM on December 04, 2005
Count...I was born in 1971, I pretended to be Lynn Swann or Stallworth, or Bradshaw in the backyard, all while rooting for the Bungles. Remember, I was 8-9 years old ...save the fair weather crap. I still love "Mean Joe" but dude, it's not a shame it's 2005. Seriously, "CJ isn't that damn good"...you have to be smokin some Mcweedy. I really don't need to defend CJ, let his stats do the talking. Man, CJ walks the streets, goes to McDonalds, sleeps in the film room...I know he's trying to be flashy but he does his job first. He acts like a showboat sometimes but if you pay attention he really is a team guy. How about that a-hole Hines Ward? All he can do is copy Bengals celebrations! Does that mean I'll try and say he isn't that damn good? Nope, Ward is pretty damn good. Give CJ some love. Try some Boo-Berry. Wait till the milk turns blue... nothing better.
posted by tselson at 10:54 PM on December 04, 2005
CJ is the man. Wish we had him instead of the pretend wide outs we have in Detroit.
posted by Fade222 at 11:50 PM on December 04, 2005
I can't believe I worked three phallic words in the headline and I got no love. Golden Grahams rule.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:51 AM on December 05, 2005
Now that you mention it: Get your mind out of the gutter!
posted by dyams at 10:14 AM on December 05, 2005
Steve Smith's celebration yesterday vs. Atlanta, where he took out a cloth and wiped the bottom of the ball like he was cleaning a baby's butt, was pure genius (not really).
posted by dyams at 04:51 PM on December 05, 2005
He's entertaining, I'll give him that. He's got to realize he's got a target on his back though, so the 5k he's losing in fines must really not matter at all to him. In which case, noone really loses here.