JAG’s Sports Blog

After all the negative comments about Terrell Owens when the Philadelphia Eagles put him on the shelf after their falling out during the season, T.O. has found a new home. How many people questioned the likelihood of Owens not being picked up by another team and if he did, no one would pay him much. Well folks, the lesson in this tale is the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones, think enough of his extremely superior talent that they signed him to a 3-year $25 million dollar talent. Talent will always be recognized whether you play at USC or the smallest school in the country.

T.O. has the infamous incident in Dallas while playing with the 49ers where he ran to the Dallas star at midfield to celebrate his two touchdowns. The first celebration they let go, but the second one was met by a charging Dallas player that knocked Owens down. Owens has promised that he’s learned his lesson and will be a better teammate and man for all that he’s gone through. I don’t think many people believe this, but talent in sports will always offer a guy a second chance to prove himself no matter what he did in the past. Many people get second chances because they have talent, so there’s no real reason to be surprised when you see people switch teams. Dallas has earned a bit of a reputation for taking on these difficult players. Charles Haley helped Dallas win three Super Bowls with his superior pass rushing skills. Michael Irvin’s problems became as prominent as his skills on the field. Without this level of talent, irvin nor Haley would have ever lasted in the league.

Daunte Culpepper is now a Miami Dolphin because he has proven that he has talent from his past performances. Culpepper says he will be ready for the regular season after shredding at least three tendons in his knee last season. By going to Miami, Culpepper gets a chance at redemption and can leave behind the ‘loveboat’ episode on the lake. How many chances did Lawrence Phillips get in football without ever really putting those talents together on the field for a team when it was all said and done. Go to baseball and second baseman Steve Sax was suspended for using drugs at least 7 times. The commissioner would have liked to kick Sax out, but the union wouldn’t let it happen. The most important element of that case was some team kept picking him up because they felt he could still play. I can’t leave out former NY Mets teammates Darryl Strawberry and Dwight “Doc” Gooden. Someone always gives talent a second chance and overlooks the problems that may come with it.

On the positive side of talent will always be recognized is the case of having NFL football combine camps and pro basketball camps that help players to decide if they want to leave school early or for players to be noticed so teams will take a chance on them. Look at any football roster and you see players from colleges you’ve never heard of. This would be their only chance to play pro ball based on the level of competition they faced while playing at Podunk University. I would be remiss to leave out all the international basketball players that the average fan has never heard of, but are now in the NBA because of scouting.

For all the negatives you hear about a player, what teams that really want to win won’t take a chance on a guy that might be slightly suspect in the character issue? Sometimes the difference in winning and losing might be the ability to grit your teeth and overlook someone’s character flaws. Is there any other explanation for Dennis Rodman lasting as long as he did in the NBA? Rodman was a guy that could drive you crazy when he took his shoes off after being taken out of the game. What if you needed to get him back on the court quickly?

Truth be told, fans are just as much at fault. You talk about how bad a guy is and as soon as he hits a home run, scores the game winning 3-pointer or catches his first touchdown pass, you’re cheering him like he’s been your favorite player for years. We all forgive and forget if the results are what we’re hoping for. If the fans are willing to forgive and forget, why wouldn’t an owner be willing to do whatever it takes to hopefully get his team over the hump. I would bet every penny I own and don’t own that if a team had the chance to get Barry Bonds, they would jump at the chance and the fans would cheer like crazy after his first home run with them.

Whether it’s Terrell Owens, Barry Bonds, Daunte Culpepper or a Samkon Gado (Liberty University) Green Bay Packer running back, talent will always be recognized be it good or bad. Is it always right to give a second chance, no. Is it always wrong to give a second chance, no. Sports is a business and the people that make the best decisions will reap the biggest benefits for taking the chances. Like it or not, talent will always be recognized, be it for the good or bad.

                                        Side note:

Brett Favre seems to be a perfect example of talent being recognized. Is he hurting the Packers or not for taking so long to make his decision on whether he’ll be back or not? Isn’t waiting until after the draft too long to figure out if he still wants to play? Won’t they have to go get a veteran quarterback if he waits until after the draft to give the team his decision? Who will be available that will help the team or is that what they call simply being in the rebuilding stage? You tell me because I just don’t understand this whole situation.