Oh Ocho Cinco

Oh the humanity. Oh the horror. Oh…the Ocho Cinco. We just had a latest burst of Chad Johnson and this time the federal government actually authorized the act.
Everyone’s favorite clown from the Bengals just put together his latest stunt that actually has legal backing by changing his last name from Johnson to Ocho Cinco. It used to be just his self-appointed nickname, now it’s his self-appointed surname.
Now I’m sure that there a few people who genuinely get a laugh out of all of Johnson stunts, and I’m sure that a majority of them are 3rd graders who get a laugh out of shooting spit-wads are the teacher. It goes well with what Johnson said, “I’m just having fun.” It’s the same thing that 3rd graders who shoot spit-wads at the teacher say but that doesn’t mean it the right thing to do.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m like having fun just as much as the next guy but there as to be a line. Especially for multi-millionaire professional athletes who get paid to win football games; something that Johnson hasn’t done a whole lot of. Let’s take a brief look at Johnson’s resume. A few pro bowls, one play-off game that he lost and well that’s pretty much it. But that doesn’t count all the pranks he’s pulled over the years that has won him exactly how many games? Right, not many.
There is no denying the direct correlation between teams that have players who are focused on the task at hand and teams that win Super Bowls. The Patriots, Colts and Bucs are some of the teams this decade that have been champions and for the most part they have disciplined teams that didn’t cause a lot of ruckus. That’s the problem with Johnson, he’s so busy worrying about end-zone celebrations that you’ve got to wonder how much he really thinks about the game.
Now I don’t know if he wasn’t hugged enough or hugged too much as child that he needs this much attention. Maybe he’s is just a Paris Hilton-type masquerading as a football player. But all his antics scream “Everyone look at me.”
Eventually someone has to draw a line. Either Johnson starts winning games, as the best player on a team should do or they get rid of him. They had their chance this off-season when he demanded a trade but I guess the front-office couldn’t pull the trigger on off-loading such a talented player. It kind of reflects the attitude of the whole organization when it comes to arrests, drug-test failures and other trouble makers. It happens off the field so it doesn’t affect what’s happening on the field. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If a team is always dealing with the law, the league office and loud-mouth receivers being distractions there is no way they are prepared to play on Sunday.
Johnson is hurting his team immeasurably. He is always creating this media frenzy that has to be causing everyone headaches. He needs to quiet down, focus on his job and the results will come. If he doesn’t, he’ll continue to make headlines for the sillies reasons and his team will continue to watch football in January and not playing it.