Exploited Pacman Just Playing His Role
Sorry to be the turd in the punch bowl, but I'm having a hard time with the amount of glee people are deriving from Adam "Pacman" Jones' latest bout of stupidity.
This particular piece of low-hanging fruit holds little appeal for me.
It's apparent the guy is not very smart. Dangerously not very smart.
Are we getting this yet? The guy is intellectually overmatched by the simple workings and expectations of society yet, by dint of his physical talents, he's "enabled" to come back and perform.
Either way, he's a crappy employee, but the Cowboys thought it might be kinda fun to have him under their big top (every circus needs a freak show) so they hired him. The Cowboys' motives in exploiting Jones were never more clear than during the HBO training camp documentary "Hard Knocks."
Given the pain Jones has caused himself and others and the limb the Cowboys made the rest of the league climb out on for a guy who's a lock to offend again, the honorable thing would have been for the Cowboys to somehow shield Jones' re-entry into the NFL from the cameras.
Would HBO have like it? No. Did it make for great TV to see Jones dumping trash cans filled with water from his balcony on unsuspecting teammates, catching six footballs at once, saying about T.O., "That boy crazy!" and sending correspondence to the league to ask for reinstatement? Yeah.
But the whole operation served to give Jones -- someone not mentally equipped to deal with the severity of his situation and the reality of the expectations set upon him -- the perception that he wasn't a person or an employee of an NFL franchise but a reality TV star.
And what do reality TV stars inevitably do? They melt down. And then they land on the scrap heap with the rest of pop culture's discards to go and do whatever it is they do until they make their next and final headline (before their obit) with an arrest in a Target parking lot.
But that's OK with Jerry Jones, the NFL's P.T. Barnum. Think P.T. cared if The Bearded Lady had esteem issues and a drinking problem that raged? Not if she showed up lookin' freaky.
I asked Jones point blank during training camp if the circus he'd created wasn't too much.
"A tradition of the Cowboys is for all this visibility to be here," he said in August. "When we’ve had our greatest teams, when we've had our most successes, that was said in spades. 'We were too visible, there were too many characters, too much attention.' I know first hand, it doesn't impact the play of the players in a negative way. I would almost go as far as to say that it's a positive thing."
So today, now that Pac is back in the news for public stupidity, we're supposed to cluck-cluck at how stupid he is. Sorry, I'm not with that program. To me, that fact was already clear. Instead, I shake my head at the team that's exploited him.
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Drilling deeply into the mantle layer of America's Passion, NBCSports.com's Tom Curran offers up quick hits and insights on all things NFL.
It's really incumbent on the league to set strict rules on one major incident and out. (As any other empoyer in any other industry would do)
As long as a criminal with atheletic talent is available, there will be some sleazewad team (Cowboys, Raiders, Bengals) that will close their eyes to reality and bring them on board.
Look at the most famous example of Steve Howe, who got 7 mulligans, not because of any attempt at rehabilitation, but because he was a good left handed pitcher.
The teams can't help themselves, (especially with owners like Jerry Jones and Al Davis), so it must be taken out of their hands higher up.
I normally wouldn't do this, but for some reason today just feels different! So without further ado, here ya go, I think this Mr. Curran is about as ill informed as just about any other sports journalist in today's news media. Please, I implore you, look at the facts and stop judging somebody for what they do outside of “work” when you don't know what actually happened. Six arrests okay...not a good look, but it does happen and to allot of people in the regular work force, they just aren't as visible. If someone has a record that doesn't make them a bad person and maybe that's not what your point is, but underneath all of your analogies and your jargon I if no one else does, get what it is you are trying to do. It's exactly the same thing everyone else is doing (non-cowboy fans that is), which is blowing a small story out of proportion. These guy’s are athlete’s…not rocket scientist! I should think that if a Nobel peace prize winner was to get arrested 6 times then their would be reason to question them, but come on we all went to High school (at least I hope so) and some even went on to college, you really think all of these guys had a 3.5 average? A lot of them got by strictly on the fact that they can catch a ball, or throw a ball or run really fast. Where is the mystery in all this? Why are your expectations so high for people that are just doing what they know how…play? And another thing, why is it every year when the Boy's do well everyone starts the "when will T.O. melt down" chatter? I believe he's been with Dallas for three season's now if I am not correct and is probably the most well rounded receiver in the game today. I am sorry, what makes the Cowboy's a Circus is the laughable opinions of these so called experts in the news media! Hey MSN give me a job, I'm sure I could crank out the exact same garbage and you could even pay me less! Sit down Mr. Curran until you have something relevant to say.
Just a quick comment or two about "Pacman" Jones and Tom Curran's take on the latest incident. I think TC hit the nail on the head about Pacman just "NOT GETTING IT". How many times does this guy have to be involved with the law before somebody else dies? He is playing a dangerous game and teh end will come with his "untimely demise". Then I am sure people will say it was all about the "race card" of his certain death instead of his obvious disregard for the law. I cannot believe that Anthony318 has the nerve to say "Well he's been arrested 6 times like that is normal behavior!!" This guy is going to end up in a puddle of blood outside one of his favorite strip clubs and somehow it will be society's fault not his. Just another indication that the National Football League has turned into the "National Felon League". It sure is sad these guys play a kid's game and somehow that elevates them above the law and society's norms of behavior.
Just a quick comment or two about "Pacman" Jones and Tom Curran's take on the latest incident. I think TC hit the nail on the head about Pacman just "NOT GETTING IT". How many times does this guy have to be involved with the law before somebody else dies? He is playing a dangerous game and the end will come with his "untimely demise". Then I am sure people will say it was all about the "race card" of his certain death instead of his obvious disregard for the law. I cannot believe that Anthony318 has the nerve to say "Well he's been arrested 6 times like that is normal behavior!!" This guy is going to end up in a puddle of blood outside one of his favorite strip clubs and somehow it will be society's fault not his. Just another indication that the National Football League has turned into the "National Felon League". It sure is sad these guys play a kid's game and somehow that elevates them above the law and society's norms of behavior.
Pacman Jones.....ghetto thug!!!!!
Remember, Curran is actually a 16 year girl with emotional problems. My guess is he is fresh out of the hospital for suicidal ideation. She clearly hates men, probably was molested and definitely has self-esteem issues. Otherwise, why would she write and try to stick up for someone with problems almost as bad as hers? These are my rules for my classroom for students with emotional problems: 1. be nice 2. Help yourself 3. help others.
uh, you can't help others (pacman) unless you first help yourself. Counseling, please!
You ain't a playa if'n u ain't got hayta's mane!
HooHa Daddy....... and if you translate that to English, it means what?
Yeah, we get it - you hate the Cowboys, Tom. Be thankful for their existance though as you'd obviously have nothing else to write about...
Being From Tennessee, we've seen all of this before. It isn't that Adam 'don't call me Pacman' Jones is that stupid, he just doen't care or either thinks that he won't get caught again. This guy is just one headline after another, and it will always be that way. I like Dallas, and hope that they can calm some of the off-field drama. The problem is that Adam Jones is always going to create problems like this. He has some definite skills, and he's very fast, but all of the baggage he brings with him ends up hurting the team as a whole.
The Cowboys are no more exploiting him than he is them. Where else would he go right now and play for the kind of money he is making? Exploited, when he's making millions per year? I think not.
We can't all be wienies like Tom. Just because a guy bangs another guy around for a few seconds, and knocks over a bottle of toilet water in the bathroom, does NOT make one a thug. Name ANY football players who have not done same. In fact, NAME ANY GUY that hasn't done the same and I will show you a true geek...probably a sports writer, or a movie critic. Because ANYTHING happens on the COWBOYS, it gets blown up into a big verbal parachute, that holds air until everyone realizes...big deal....breaking the law and being a guy, are two different things..get over it wimps! As for the Cowboys...8 Super Bowls, when your team does that come back and talk some smack.
CYA
I do believe some of what Curran is saying. Maybe he is stupid. Or maybe he is use to being a superstar that can get away with anything. I look at what all of the problem NFL players have in common? They come from Big Time Colleges! I do not think they learned to appreciate what was give to them with the opportunity to be a Pro Athlete.
Not to mention to be a millionaire. West Virginia had Quincy Wilson, Chris Henry, and "PACMAN" in school. Do you think they were learning of respect, leadership and good values? These guys are treated as kings due to their abilities. If the cap was lower and the money cut, they would act better. Pacman would not be in the strip club if he made just enough money to pay for child support or those new cars!
Ask a Med Student if he would jeopardize those years of school and a great future, for one night of tossing money on girls in the strip club?
Teach more lessons of values and less of money makes you able to do whatever you want. Pacman should be in jail with the rest of the Bengals offender for their actions. Where would you be if you did the same stuff? Anyone? (Superstars need not answer)
I hope Rich does better with the Michigan players than those other guys.
Pacman is a moron, straight up. No rational person would fail to rectify his idiotic position repeatedly, placing themself in such legal positions over and over and over again. He has had multiple "interventions," been informed IN DEPTH of the repurcusions of his decisions, etc. He has no respect for himself, the law or the league. He's a hot-headed idiot, repeat.... and repeat... and repeat......... Bull S. Ban his a$$ for life, maybe conditionally. He's moron and a threat to society, he repeatedy fails legal stipulations, and he fails to align with his team(s) and/or the league on numerous occassions. Besides this, he's a horrible influence on all kids coming up in sports and life, and he should be removed from any visible position in life and entertainment. This moron should be a pathetic footnote in the pages of "Dumbasses who blew it all."
If Romo doesn't work out, they could always trade for Vick when he gets out of jail.
If Jones likes media attention, this would be a gold mine.
I have been a cowboys fan since a was a child growing up in the DFW area and will always be one. But I do have to add this to what "jh - Atlanta, GA" said...
Don't forget about OJ. He can be the head coach. Vick, Pacman & TO all under the Juice.
Wow, how badly can everybody blow this out of proportion? Sure, he's an idiot, but this was such a minor incident it is amazing.
Guess what? Hundreds of thousands of people starving around the world, global economic meltdown.....
Do I care about some football thug?
Nope -- Not unless he's in my driveway with a tire iron.
You guys spend too much time angry with what you are not. You are not Adam Jones. You are not an Athlete. And you are not rich. You are b*tches on the sideline trying to critique what you do not know. Get a life. Let Pacman live. In fact, let all of these athletes live. Do not be angry with them because they have more physical talents than you do.
Sorry, Haters!
Why does TO automatically get lumped in with OJ, Pacman, and Vick? Antics and conceit are one thing; violence is quite another.
Seems unfair to TO.
Get a real job!!!
HE BELONGS IN JAIL