Chad Ochocinco Honors Chris Henry – NFL Football
Monday, December 21, 2009 12:30
Editor’s Note: Something new we’re trying here at Deep Into Sports: brief introductions–quick summaries, if you prefer–to our articles. Here I discuss the rare display of honest emotion from Chad Ochocinco in honor of deceased Cincinnati Bengal teammate Chris Henry.
The NFL’s Clown Prince Is Humbled
Chad Ochocinco is without a doubt the current clown prince of the National Football League. At times I’ve been quite critical of his antics (such as his ludicrous color blindness discrimination lawsuit), but, to tell the truth, I’ve grown to like the guy. Sure, he can frequently act out of line, but he represents the more humorous side of ego and cockiness that Terrell Owens is the epitome of negativity.
Heck, even the whole name-changing of Johnson to Ochocinco–which I formerly refused to recognize–in retrospect, you have to love the fact that he found a way to thumb his nose at the restrictions of the No Fun League in a manner they could not squelch. Audacious? Absolutely!
But in Sunday’s game versus the San Diego Chargers, we saw a hitherto unseen side to Ochocinco. After another much publicized squawk over his desire to wear fallen Cincinnati Bengals teammate Chris Henry’s jersey in honor of his deceased friend–a request that #85 eventually backed down from so as not to be seen as drawing attention away from Henry towards himself–Ochocinco exhibited pure, raw emotion on the field after he scored his touchdown.
No showboating. No scripted antics. No Ochocinco. Just kneeling and tears. The most simple of tributes, yet the most powerful.
Whether such simplicity and humbleness were a one-time deal or a new course of action for Ochocinco remains to be seen. But for that one moment in time, his expression of feeling was one to which we can all relate.
3 Responses to “Chad Ochocinco Honors Chris Henry – NFL Football”
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Gairzo
says:
December 21st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
But, you wrote a column–albeit an excellent one–about Ochocinco and what he didn't do. You didn't write an article about Chris Henry celebrating or examining his life. Of course, many of those had already been written. The point is whatever actions 85 took, be they heartfelt or not, ended up making Henry's passing still all about Chad–and that's exactly what he wanted.
I agree there is, usually, a playful element to 85's antics, but a lot of blogs, print, and broadcast commentary this week was aimed at convincing the selfish child to not use someone's untimely death to serve his own ego.
Shouldn't a grown man know better–on the gut level?
And, I'm sorry, even verbalizing you want to wear a dead man's number is creepy and disturbing.
Nate Barlow
says:
December 21st, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Would this even be a question if it were someone other than such a controversial figure as Ochocinco, say a Donovan McNabb or a long-tenured lineman? Are we thus placing our own double-standard on the situation based on who is making the tribute?
Watching the game live, I believe 85's intent here was genuine. Yes, it may have drawn attention to himself, but that was a side-effect, not his goal. And if it is not the intent, then does any tribute make it about the person honoring instead of the person honored.
I wrote about Ochocinco and not Henry for the very reason that I watched the game, saw his response and saw how out of character it was for him. I freely admit that I do not know much about Henry other than what was written in the last week and did not feel the need to regurgitate it.
Gairzo
says:
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 am
Nate, he wanted to wear a very recently dead man's uniform!!!!
I don't care if it was Joe Biden, Jesus Christ, or Albert Einstein–if they wanted to do that, they're really creepy.
85's intent is not my issue. He's at the point where everything he does is seen through "what's the selfish narcissist gonna do now?" glasses. He's earned that cynicism.
Many athletes expect the world to accept what they do without question. Is it too much to expect some maturity , tact, consideration, or respect from supposedly grown men?
I absolutely disagree Ochocinco's action was "out of character". It was in perfect step with his egocentric, childish behavior he's exhibited since he got drafted.
Go to your friend's funeral, say a prayer, and shut the hell up.