Oedipus Wrecks?

[The PatternMaster]

Jason Whitlock goes pretty hard on the young Mr. Johnson in his latest column..

Whitlock's 10 truths, according to him

. Marvin Lewis is learning the lesson Dennis Green learned in Minnesota: Don't turn your team over to wide receivers.

Remember when Dennis Green partnered up with Randy Moss and Cris Carter and basically named them assistants to the head coach? Moss and Carter went wherever Denny went. Denny fought to get Randy a mammoth contract.

How'd that work out for Denny?

The exact same way Marvin Lewis' partnership with Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh is working out. T.J. yelled at Marvin about play-calling on the sideline during Cincy's embarrassing loss to the Patriots. Johnson continues to bojangle for the cameras at every opportunity and turn the Cincy sideline into a re-enactment of "Flavor of Love."

And guess what? Marvin could be overheard by the media screaming at his team about being selfish and telling his team that the coaches will call the plays without being second-guessed by the players (receivers).

Johnson and Houshmandzadeh are great players. You can win with them. But if you coddle them, they will undermine team discipline. If Lewis continues to allow Johnson to play by one set of rules and turn the Bengals into Chad's personal reality show, the team will not come out of this funk.

Just ask Denny Green.

Marvin can't ask 52 guys to play like men and allow Johnson to tap dance and shuffle for the amusement of a TV audience. Yes, I realize TV broadcasters are fond of gushing about how much they love Johnson and how "fun" he is.

Johnson isn't the first black man to be loved for bojangling. But there isn't a long list of bojangling idiots who led their teams to Super Bowl titles.

So he basically said CJ was a modern day minstrel show and TJ & CJ's new nicknames should be Man-Tan and Sleep'N Eat. Wow, I know there's no love lost between the Whitlock and Bengals but he is going over board, he's making it a racial issue when it isn't one.

[Jet23]

Jason Whitlock goes pretty hard on the young Mr. Johnson in his latest column..

Whitlock's 10 truths, according to him

. Marvin Lewis is learning the lesson Dennis Green learned in Minnesota: Don't turn your team over to wide receivers.

Remember when Dennis Green partnered up with Randy Moss and Cris Carter and basically named them assistants to the head coach? Moss and Carter went wherever Denny went. Denny fought to get Randy a mammoth contract.

How'd that work out for Denny?

The exact same way Marvin Lewis' partnership with Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh is working out. T.J. yelled at Marvin about play-calling on the sideline during Cincy's embarrassing loss to the Patriots. Johnson continues to bojangle for the cameras at every opportunity and turn the Cincy sideline into a re-enactment of "Flavor of Love."

And guess what? Marvin could be overheard by the media screaming at his team about being selfish and telling his team that the coaches will call the plays without being second-guessed by the players (receivers).

Johnson and Houshmandzadeh are great players. You can win with them. But if you coddle them, they will undermine team discipline. If Lewis continues to allow Johnson to play by one set of rules and turn the Bengals into Chad's personal reality show, the team will not come out of this funk.

Just ask Denny Green.

Marvin can't ask 52 guys to play like men and allow Johnson to tap dance and shuffle for the amusement of a TV audience. Yes, I realize TV broadcasters are fond of gushing about how much they love Johnson and how "fun" he is.

Johnson isn't the first black man to be loved for bojangling. But there isn't a long list of bojangling idiots who led their teams to Super Bowl titles.

So he basically said CJ was a modern day minstrel show and TJ & CJ's new nicknames should be Man-Tan and Sleep'N Eat. Wow, I know there's no love lost between the Whitlock and Bengals but he is going over board, he's making it a racial issue when it isn't one.

I am on board with CJ toning it down, but that was a personal attack. No way does a white man get away with writing that crap, nor should he. That is the most insulting piece of 'journalism' that I have seen in a long while.

[HairOnFire]

First reaction? A pretty solid article that unfortunately strayed in the last two paragraphs. But then again I can see how a black journalist might think it appropriate to expess his displeasue and frustration while watching a very talented & hard working player wear the trappings of a jester, clown, or fool.

Again, you can complain all you want about how unfair all of this is but Chad has brought it upon himself. What's more, unless things change immediately the number of articles like this one are only going to increase.

Like the man said....

"Those who demand the spotlight must be prepared to accept the criticism. Too true, Bill. Too true." ---Chad Johnson

[COB]

“But if you coddle them, they will undermine team discipline.”

I believe this should read, “But Marvin coddled him, and he has undermined team discipline.”

The high decibel F-bombs flying through the locker room door Monday night spoke loud and clear. Team discipline, at least in the opinion of the head coach, has been undermined.

One thing I agree with: Letting receivers evolve into prima donnas does hurt team chemistry. About seven things have to go right in a pass play before the receiver gets the opportunity to catch a pass. So it’s no surprise that resentment builds in Willie, Levi, etc., when Chad does his Chad thing. When a receiver is the beneficiary of everyone’s hard work, but instead of celebrating with his teammates he runs to the nearest tv camera and enacts some sort of planned stupidity, he’s diminishing that ultimate collective feeling of accomplishment.

One thing I don’t agree with: trying to portray these attention seeking antics as a black thing. And he most assuredly did that with his references to Mr. Bojangles and the Flavor of Love. For decades guys spiked the ball, high fived teammates, and jumped around together. The first player I remember who shooed his teammates away so he could go off on his own and make an ass of himself was white. Mark Gastineau and his grotesque sack dance. Only when he was done preening and posing and proclaiming loudly and clearly, “I did it”, would he allow his teammates to approach him. Sound familiar?

[HairOnFire]

One thing I don’t agree with: trying to portray these attention seeking antics as a black thing. And he most assuredly did that with his references to Mr. Bojangles and the Flavor of Love. For decades guys spiked the ball, high fived teammates, and jumped around together. The first player I remember who shooed his teammates away so he could go off on his own and make an ass of himself was white. Mark Gastineau and his grotesque sack dance. Only when he was done preening and posing and proclaiming loudly and clearly, “I did it”, would he allow his teammates to approach him. Sound familiar?

We're on dangerous ground here. I'm in no position to speak for the black race but Whitlock's remarks don't seem to be aimed at celebrations in general or the differences in black and white players. Instead, he makes it perfectly clear his distaste for Chad Johnson's specific manner of celebrating is based upon differences found within black culture. Specifically the resentment some blacks feel whenever they feel another black is playing the fool specifically to appeal to whites. Or the resentment they feel when attention seeking black players like Chad or TO are seen as better role models than a Marvin Harrison or a Hines Ward.

I hesitate speaking for Jason Whitlock but if you somehow get beyond the incendiary remarks about Mr. Bojangles and tap dancing you're left with an appeal for quiet professionalism, dignity, and class....all things that, without injecting race into the debate, many of us branded as being old school have begged for.

[The PatternMaster]

“But if you coddle them, they will undermine team discipline.”

I believe this should read, “But Marvin coddled him, and he has undermined team discipline.”

The high decibel F-bombs flying through the locker room door Monday night spoke loud and clear. Team discipline, at least in the opinion of the head coach, has been undermined.

One thing I agree with: Letting receivers evolve into prima donnas does hurt team chemistry. About seven things have to go right in a pass play before the receiver gets the opportunity to catch a pass. So it’s no surprise that resentment builds in Willie, Levi, etc., when Chad does his Chad thing. When a receiver is the beneficiary of everyone’s hard work, but instead of celebrating with his teammates he runs to the nearest tv camera and enacts some sort of planned stupidity, he’s diminishing that ultimate collective feeling of accomplishment.

One thing I don’t agree with: trying to portray these attention seeking antics as a black thing. And he most assuredly did that with his references to Mr. Bojangles and the Flavor of Love. For decades guys spiked the ball, high fived teammates, and jumped around together. The first player I remember who shooed his teammates away so he could go off on his own and make an ass of himself was white. Mark Gastineau and his grotesque sack dance. Only when he was done preening and posing and proclaiming loudly and clearly, “I did it”, would he allow his teammates to approach him. Sound familiar?

That is the problem, I remember last year I saw Levi was visible upset after a touchdown in which Chad scored and proceeded to do his "Chad thing". Your right, it takes 7 guys to do their job for a wr to even get a chance to do his, so for a wr to celebrate like he did something on his own is just ridiculous. Me thinks a good ol' fashion ass whupping would solve this issue but for whatever reason that has hasnt happened, to Chad atleast, no Reggie Myles.

[The PatternMaster]

One thing I don’t agree with: trying to portray these attention seeking antics as a black thing. And he most assuredly did that with his references to Mr. Bojangles and the Flavor of Love. For decades guys spiked the ball, high fived teammates, and jumped around together. The first player I remember who shooed his teammates away so he could go off on his own and make an ass of himself was white. Mark Gastineau and his grotesque sack dance. Only when he was done preening and posing and proclaiming loudly and clearly, “I did it”, would he allow his teammates to approach him. Sound familiar?

We're on dangerous ground here. I'm in no position to speak for the black race but Whitlock's remarks don't seem to be aimed at celebrations in general or the differences in black and white players. Instead, he makes it perfectly clear his distaste for Chad Johnson's specific manner of celebrating is based upon differences found within black culture. Specifically the resentment some blacks feel whenever they feel another black is playing the fool specifically to appeal to whites. Or the resentment they feel when attention seeking black players like Chad or TO are seen as better role models than a Marvin Harrison or a Hines Ward.

I hesitate speaking for Jason Whitlock but if you somehow get beyond the incendiary remarks about Mr. Bojangles and tap dancing you're left with an appeal for quiet professionalism, dignity, and class....all things that, without injecting race into the debate, many of us branded as being old school have begged for.

There is nothing quiet about Chad Johnson nor should there be. If Chad wants to scream, yell, act a damn fool he should be able to without having to labeled "Mr. Bonjanles". For what I seen on tv and thru interview Chad seems to be a good natured guy who likes to have a good time, why does he have to be a coon just because he like to have a good time.

Whitlock is way off base and he comes off as a hater. Someone needs to tell the 4th member of the of the Fat Boyz to check himself before Kimbo Slice shows up at his door step.

[HairOnFire]

Someone needs to tell the 4th member of the of the Fat Boyz to check himself before Kimbo Slice shows up at his door step.

This is exactly why I feel uncomfortable discussing race issues that I beleive are rooted soley within black culture. I simply have no idea what in the hell you're saying.

[agreen_112]

Chad's not gonna to tone it down, and he's NOT going anywhere, it's not gonna happen... Get over it and support your team.

[The PatternMaster]

Someone needs to tell the 4th member of the of the Fat Boyz to check himself before Kimbo Slice shows up at his door step.

This is exactly why I feel uncomfortable discussing race issues that I beleive are rooted soley within black culture. I simply have no idea what in the hell you're saying.

Not really a black thing, just a pop culture thing, I'm sure there are plenty of white people who know who the Fat Boys and Kimbo Slice are.

You see there are three and Jason Whitlock would make 4.

Kimbo Slice

See Kimbo Slice in action..

Kimbo is based out MIA, I'm sure Chad could get in touch with him if he wanted to.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Someone needs to tell the 4th member of the of the Fat Boyz to check himself before Kimbo Slice shows up at his door step.

This is exactly why I feel uncomfortable discussing race issues that I beleive are rooted soley within black culture. I simply have no idea what in the hell you're saying.

I know who the Fat Boyz are, but who is Kimbo Slice?

nm

OHHHH, yeah.....that guy.......dude can throw hands for sure.

He wrecked some guy in this youtube video I watched.