There's a fine line between having fun out there and being a showboating prick, and that line is self-awareness. I really get the sense that unlike a lot of other showboating prick wide receivers we could name, Chad Johnson actually gets that this is a game, and his TD shenanigans are his way of letting you in on the glee he feels at being where he's wound up. It's a show for him, sure, but not a desperate look-at-me plea for attention, or a way to work out childhood issues, or a demonstration of his own inflated sense of self-importance. I don't think he's got an inflated sense of his place in the world barely at all. He's not brokering peace in the Middle East by catching a football and then proposing to a cheerleader, or by keeping a "hit list" of CBs in his locker. He's not the most important person in the whole wide world; he's just one of 50-someodd schmoes in an orange helmet getting paid to run around and entertain the fine people of Cincinnati. It's all just a show, and he's an entertainer, and he knows it, and he's cool with it, and that's kind of nice.
As a Cincy fan, I thought the personality profile was itneresting, but the commentary on breaking the barrier between players and management very interesting, and as good a reason as any for why we lost all those years.
chico: dead on.
I think Chad is a good guy, obviously very talented, and a team player, but, if he is allowed to celebrate in such outlandish ways, then the whole league will be, and given the choice of watching it all the time, or never, I lean toward never.
I lean towards all the time. The NFL is supposed to be entertainment, but then again, it is the no fun league, so.....expect the thumbs down on any end zone celebration shortly. I actually laugh out loud at least once a week watching a CFL end zone celebration.
Chad went out of his way to be the last Bengal to sign autographs on the last day at training camp this year, and he did his best to sign for all the annoying, demanding, shouting children. I think he is a class act.
When it comes to these football endzone things, I don't go in for all the hoopla about respect, tradition, gamesmanship and the like. I have one simple criterion for touchdown celebrations: Is it any good? Chad Johnson's touchdown celebrations are good. He's funny. That is all.
Weedy, a couple more criteria, don't shove it in the other teams face, and two, make me laugh.
As others have said, there's "hey, look and me I'm a freak!" celebrations and then there's "Dude, check this out. You'll like this." celebrations. I think Johnson's figured out the difference. I watched him at noon in the middle of the week last season (can't remember what day of the week) in Tower Place (Downtown Cincy shopping center) with a Local TV news camera crew he was just interviewing random people in the food court. Laughing having a good time. Hi-f'ing-larious watching him sneak up on a guy wearing his jersey. Its the same atitude I see coming through on the field "Down there, South Beach, everything's open until 6 in the morning. There's none of that here. That's perfect. I'm not here to be in the clubs." ...paints a pretty accurate description of Cincinnati night-life, too.
don't shove it in the other teams face Thats exactly what your trying to do as a player. Isnt the point of the game to outdo the other team? Why not have a little FUN when you have accomplished something glorious like a one handed endzone catch or an incredible 65 yard rush. I can understand the point of good sportsmanship and all that, but these guys are professionals, if they cant take a little bit of showboating from the other team they are in the wrong league. Maybe go back to Pop Warner where those types of rules actually have a point? I think Johnson should celebrate every time he scores. I for one enjoy it.
I think celebrating in the endzone can either be "I'm so happy. I get to play a game for a living and make tons of money. This is so fun!" or "I am better than you. I bet you wish you were me, but you are not. Kiss my ass, bitches." I think Chad Johnson is solidly in the first category. Those are fun to watch as well. The other kind, with TO mocking the Ray Lewis dance, isn't really any fun.
Sounds like just lot of hype to sell the book and himself. Remember, sports is part of the entertainment industry and these entertainers need publicity to be known by the public. They all want to be known, somehow.
Believe me, if a wide out goes into the end zone over the middle and makes a leaping one handed grab while getting sandwiched by two DBs, I'll be entertained. If he does it on a routine basis, he WILL be known. If, however, he then feels the need to bust a move or mad-lib, he just pisses me off. I watch for the football. If I want to see people with over inflated egos shake their asses, I'll tune in "Dancing With The Stars".
I say let Johnson celebrate all he wants. It's fun for the fans and he's not an ass about it. Maybe it's time to put the "Old Time Hockey" type attitude to rest. 3 yards and a cloud of dust is sort of dull. If I want boring I can watch c-span.
