There's dumb stuff, and then there's really dumb stuff, and then there's this.
Maybe receiver Chad Johnson can go by the name that his head coach hates.Johnson, who's never met a camera he didn't love and a verb he couldn't split pulled a similar stunt a few years back.
The Cincinnati Bengals receiver has legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco in Broward County, Fla., a switch that became official this week, according to several media reports. Johnson, who lives in Miami, didn't return a message left on his cell phone Friday night.
"It's something I don't think anyone has ever done before," he told the team's Web site. "Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do? I'm having fun."
Two years ago, Johnson gave himself the moniker - a reference in Spanish to his No. 85 - and put it on the back of his uniform before a game. Quarterback Carson Palmer ripped it off before the kickoff. After the season, coach Marvin Lewis - who dislikes Johnson's attention-getting stunts - referred to the receiver as "Ocho Psycho."
Never mind the idiocy of changing your name to something that's not even technically grammatically correct. Personally, I just wish the dude would shut up and play the darn game. He more or less ruined my fantasy season last year with this lackluster performance.
Still, how dumb is this?
Question: Is this a prime example of Extreme Niggadom™, or does Chad Javon Ocho Cinco have a marketing bonanza on his hands?
What's in a name? Well . . . Ocho Cinco [AP]
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This is looking real Dennis Rodman-like. Good luck with that Cinco de Mayo.
Johnson is trying his best to get cut or traded. As soon as he is successful, he'll start calming down. Cincinatti doesn't want to trade him, but I see Oakland in his future.
The problem is that he's talented, but his antics tend to be disruptive. He and QB Carson Palmer are still not getting along. The Bengals as a whole have been a train wreck after that promising season a few years ago.
EG
What is with all the attention getting idiocy? I mean, really... you're making millions of dollars, why add acting a fool to the list of things to accomplish?
I like to think if I was making millions of dollars, I'd have other things to do with myself and my time. But, hey... that's just me! That blonde mohawk and the fronts are just not right either... Just NO!
AveBro,
I really don't see the big deal about him changing his name. It's sports right? Why be so serious about sports. This reminds me of how everyone was criticizing Usain Bolt at the Olympics because he was enjoying himself.
I really don't get how people in sports are vilified because they have fun. My only question would be; what if he’s traded to a team where the number 85 is not available?
Mr. Ocho Cinco typifies what is wrong in much of major league sports; runaway vanity....and the trickle down of runaway vanity to college, high school, and pee wee league sports.
Chad is not one of the league's premier receivers and instead of working harder to lead the league in catches, YAC, or touchdowns, this Ocho Cinco crap is how he makes a name for himself....not to mention the gold teeth and the mohawk...WTF?!?!?!
Now, Chad has every right to change his name and in and of itself, a name change is not a big deal. Lots of players have changed their names for religious or family reasons and that is good sh*t.
Here's my issues...whether athletes want to be role models or not, LOTS of kids and young adults worship these guys. Chad's antics let these young fans know that image is more important than substance. Athletes have every right to lead their lives anyway they want but I feel they have some responsibility to not promote boneheadedness....now, instead of looking at all the hard work Chad puts into his craft (he is highly talented and works hard), all these kids see are these stunts he pulls to put himself above his coaches, his teammates, and his sport....more disturbing is that players that do things right like LaDamien Tomlinson are minimized because they do not share in Chad-like self promotion....
And, we all wonder why kids today (generally) don't listen to their coaches, don't try to learn the fundamentals, have poor work ethics, showboat, and worry more about their haircuts/new Jordan's over learning their positions....I'm not trying to suggest this is all Chad's fault but clearly he is a major contributor.
Besides, changing his last name to 'Ocho Cinco' is plain dumb. It would be different if that nickname was given to him but he made this up himself. Usually sports nicknames are given based on performance...much like Air Jordan, Dr, J, Mr. October, A-Rod, The Intimidater, Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson, etc...This is not like Marvin Hagler changing his name officially to Marvelous Marvin Hagler....this goes WAAAAAYYYYY beyond that. What if Chad has some kids, they will have to carry his farce around with them...
In my opinion, the only person who gets a pass for giving himself a nickname is Muhammed Ali..first he changed his name for religious reasons and then nicknamed himself 'The Greatest' because...well, HELLO...he was the Greatest....
Way to go Chad, you are a real superstar and role model....NOT!
I disagree it's dumb and here's why.
We have only one life to live and most of die alone, so if changing his name or wearing a wild mohawk this makes him happy, why shouldn't he do it his way on own his terms?
He also speaks the way he was taught, and no, it's not the King's English, but he ain't the king. I'm not into sports and never heard of him before today, but dig his remaining true to his culture (or subculture) and being who he is.
Is he vain? Probably. Does it matter? Nah. Most of us are in our way, and his style makes him more interesting.
I'm with Huntdaddy. He can say all day long that he isn't in this to be a role model but when it's said and done, he plays professional football that in and of itself makes him a role model, like it or not. It's not like singers, or hip hop artists or even (c)Rappers. Children generally aren't taught to rap as a way to keep themselves out of trouble and stay in shape but we put them in sports for those reasons. It makes sense for little boys to work hard, and practice harder to be like Mike; like TI, not so much. All this is teaching these aspiring football stars is how to act a damned fool. He doesn't appear to have any respect for his coach and by effing up the number and blatantly using the wrong grammar he's disrespecting the whole Spanish language. So what's the lesson kids are learning from him? It's cool to do whateverthefuck you want as long as you are drawing attention to yourself and getting paid while doing it. Extreme Niggadom? In a word, YES! Sometimes I wish it was legal to just walk up to people and smack them for being stupid, or at least make them wear sticky tags identifying them as "Stupid" so the rest of us know to steer clear.
AveBro,
Have you heard that Palin's (17 year old) daughter is knocked-up?! And now the fun starts.......
Funny, just this morning I was conteplating changing my name to Happy Golucky.....
One word: Both.
I wonder how many degrees of separation he has from Latarian?
I agree that Chad could do better when it comes to his behavior.
Johnson does understand that personality sells in sports. We all recognize that some athletes would benifit everyone by being classy in addition to being talented.
But fans can't be hypocritical.
Take the San Antonio Spurs and superstar Tim Duncan. He's a champion player with a clean character. The Spurs are a great "role model" team, but they are BORING, BORING, BORING!
No personality at all, and that's why they bombed in the TV ratings during each appearance in the NBA Finals this decade.
As much as we like to harp to our kids on fair play, teamwork, etc...it's guys like "Ocho Cinco" that make the millions of casual fans tune in and buzz.
Ultimately, players like Chad will make the big money.
As mentioned above, Dennis Rodman was out there too, and the NBA hasn't seen a boom since he was with the Bulls second 3-peat.
Charles Barkey, ("I'm not a role model.") was once one of the most
unpopular players in the NBA. Now he's one of the most beloved.
EG
Lol @ "E.N." ...
~blk
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