Terrell Owens In GQ: I'm In Hell

[AnotherAlias]

Looks like Terrell Owens in close to being broke. How many of you feel sorry for him?

Terrell Owens In GQ: I'm In Hell | ThePostGame

[rudel.dietrich]

I think I feel sorry for him. A lot of what he did was minor compared to what went on around him. He never spent time in federal prison on gun chargers, drug charger, dog fighting or raping a woman in a Georgia bar.

But he has to put up with a lot of grief from fans that was on par with those crimes I mentioned.

But I am not going to defend him totally. He did and continues to have maturity problems and never has taken responsibility for his actions.

I think he fell too in the trap that a lot of black (and some white) athletes fall into that he did not grow up in the best of circumstances and once he became a professional athlete and the checks began to roll in he surrounded himself with awful people who robbed him blind.
He probably never put academics as a high priority and probably never had anyone pushing him to do so.
Society expects athletes to be perfect role models and then blames them when they fail.
We expect poor high school students who in most cases never finish college to be able to manage $80 million dollar fortunes.

If these people were not playing sports they would probably be lower middle class or lower class individuals and many of them unfortunately would probably have have had several run ins with the law.
Yet if they wear a uniform we suddenly expect a lot more out of them.

Hopefully as he nears 40 Owens will finally grow up and distance himself from those who robbed him and can smartly manage what money he has left.
He is without football but I think that will become easier over time. I also think if memory serves he has three kids. He seems pretty depressed in the interview and I hope he doesn't do anything to hurt himself.
He has three reasons to live and there is life after football.
Maybe through time he can find peace. Mike Tyson lost a hell of a lot of money too and went through years of hell but I think has finally turned himself around and maybe for the first time in his life seems truly happy.

[jbergey22]

Kind of hard to feel sorry for him IMO. So he cant figure out a way to hold on to 80 million now he is like many of us? Not being able to afford anything and everything you want.

His name alone can generate revenue. He really should have no serious financial problems. His complaint is not being able to afford to live the lifestyle many of us cant even imagine.

[Scottiedog]

Owens is a pampered little brat....he cried, moaned, complained and name called his way out of FIVE organizations. It time he grew up and acted like a man. He got what he deserved. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Just walk away and retire Terrell and never come back…..you are a wart on societies backside!
WHY SHOULD ANYONE FEEL SORRY FOR YOU?!?!

[Rizon]

I have zero sympathy for him. You are the captain of your own ship and a grown ass adult. Take some responsibility for your life.

[The Chase Davis]

Originally Posted by Scottiedog

Owens is a pampered little brat....he cried, moaned, complained and name called his way out of FIVE organizations. It time he grew up and acted like a man. He got what he deserved. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Just walk away and retire Terrell and never come back…..you are a wart on societies backside!
WHY SHOULD ANYONE FEEL SORRY FOR YOU?!?!

...because he's a human being...and like Rudel mentioned, what he is known for is quite minor when you think of the other characters the NFL has had over the years.

I wouldn't neccessarily say that I feel sorry for him. I mean he had a lot more resources available to him than I've ever had. It sucks that he's in the position he's in, but he's still alive and healthy and young.

It's what he does with the rest of his life that matters.

[Marberi]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

Looks like Terrell Owens in close to being broke. How many of you feel sorry for him?

I do think this is very hard for T.O. But I don't feel sorry for him.

I believe mistakes can become valuable experiences to learn from and grow (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, as the saying goes). But, sooner or later, you also have to pay the price for those learning experiences. And in T.O.'s case, we obviously know he made more than his share of mistakes.

So, obviously, there's a very important lesson for him to learn from all this. I do hope he does learn and I wish him well. Because I also believe that, once fallen, we should all have a chance to pick ourselves right back up.

[stevebydac]

I concur with what many have said...

He's done stupid things, but he's not been a criminal so I respect him more than some swine that play pro sports...

I don't feel sorry for him though -- he should have handled his money better...

Even if is starting with zero, he has the ability to make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year between TV, radio, speaking and autograph signing engagements. So he's still far better off than 98% of us.

[mirrf]

How can I feel sorry for the guy? I mean, at worst, he can take one of those analyst jobs on Fox. That's a cushy, well paid job that anyone (and I mean anyone) can do. -He's a big enough name that practically guarantees him a spot behind the desk.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

...because he's a human being...and like Rudel mentioned, what he is known for is quite minor when you think of the other characters the NFL has had over the years.

I wouldn't neccessarily say that I feel sorry for him. I mean he had a lot more resources available to him than I've ever had. It sucks that he's in the position he's in, but he's still alive and healthy and young.

It's what he does with the rest of his life that matters.

Don't compare apples to oranges. The question is "Do you feel sorry for TO", not "Do you feel sorry for TO compared to other players".

I have zero sympathy for him. He made his bed, now he can lay in it.

I've had financial hardship plenty of times over the years, and I didn't whine like a little baby about it on some show or in some magazine. I sucked it up like a man and moved forward. He's in this position now for one reason and one reason only - because he didn't manage his finances well. It's not like there aren't any good financial advisors out there.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by mirrf

How can I feel sorry for the guy? I mean, at worst, he can take one of those analyst jobs on Fox. That's a cushy, well paid job that anyone (and I mean anyone) can do. -He's a big enough name that practically guarantees him a spot behind the desk.

I'm not sure that's actually the case - I've never, for instance, seen him show himself to have the potential to be a decent analyst - and those guys who provide little more than their name tend to get kicked out after a year or two. Michael Irvin and Shannon Sharpe stay around because they're funny/bombastic/make good points occasionally.

I've always gotten the sense that TO has some sort of mental illness like bipolar disorder which he's never gotten treated because he's been surrounded by people who have never told him he needed to do so. I think that's pretty sad in and of itself. Money, as they say, doesn't buy happiness. It does appear to purchase emnity though, if this thread is any sign.

[The Chase Davis]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Don't compare apples to oranges. The question is "Do you feel sorry for TO", not "Do you feel sorry for TO compared to other players".

I have zero sympathy for him. He made his bed, now he can lay in it.

I've had financial hardship plenty of times over the years, and I didn't whine like a little baby about it on some show or in some magazine. I sucked it up like a man and moved forward. He's in this position now for one reason and one reason only - because he didn't manage his finances well. It's not like there aren't any good financial advisors out there.

My reply was in regards to Scottiedog's extreme response..."you are a wart on societies backside!"??

Seems extreme. Because he was arrogant he deserves to be in financial ruin?

I don't feel "sorry" for him, for reasons I explained above, but he's not someone who harmed other people or committed crimes.

In regards to him 'complaining' in a magazine. The reason why you haven't done those things is because nobody would pay $7.50 to hear about it. T.O still has an audience and because of that GQ featured him.

Having pity for a single person requires context and his character in comparison to others he played with doesn't deserve my contempt...only my apathy.

[Marberi]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I've always gotten the sense that TO has some sort of mental illness like bipolar disorder which he's never gotten treated because he's been surrounded by people who have never told him he needed to do so.

I feel the same. I remember when the guy was playing for the Cowboys, there was this "incident" at his apartment that suggested a suicide attempt. It was rumored that he suffered from deep depression/borderline disorder and now, this article mentions depression again.

I'm no shrink, so I wouldn't know what it is exactly, but T.O. definitely shows traits of mental illness and that would explain a lot for sure.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

My reply was in regards to Scottiedog's extreme response..."you are a wart on societies backside!"??

Seems extreme. Because he was arrogant he deserves to be in financial ruin?

He's in financial ruin because he didn't manage his money properly. I didn't say he was in financial ruin because he's arrogant. Maybe you could go back read what I said - in particular this part

He's in this position now for one reason and one reason only - because he didn't manage his finances well.

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

In regards to him 'complaining' in a magazine. The reason why you haven't done those things is because nobody would pay $7.50 to hear about it. T.O still has an audience and because of that GQ featured him.

I still wouldn't complain in a magazine, even if I had the opportunity. Whining and crying - ya that's a great way to get sympathy. If anything he's just making himself look worse by doing that.

Maybe I'm different, I don't know and don't really care, but whenever I've had hardships, be they financial or whatever, I didn't look to others and complain, I looked in the mirror and told myself "the best and only way you're going to get through this is by helping yourself."

I've seen far too many people who are unwilling to help themselves and always expect others to do it for them. If you don't help yourself, don't expect others to. Crying in magazine about blowing $80M isn't helping yourself - it's reaching out and hoping others will do it for you.

[The Chase Davis]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

He's in financial ruin because he didn't manage his money properly. I didn't say he was in financial ruin because he's arrogant. Maybe you could go back read what I said - in particular this part

That comment wasn't aimed at you...that was me explaining my previous comment.

You don't feel sorry for him because you feel you would have handled it differently...fine.

Everyone is different though. If he does indeed have mental health issues that may have attributed to his decisions, it comes off as quite callous to completely dismiss his situation because you would have handled it differently.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I've always gotten the sense that TO has some sort of mental illness like bipolar disorder which he's never gotten treated because he's been surrounded by people who have never told him he needed to do so. I think that's pretty sad in and of itself. Money, as they say, doesn't buy happiness. It does appear to purchase emnity though, if this thread is any sign.

That's why I feel sympathy for him. I really believe he has a mental illness and I've seen first hand how a mental illness can hamper someone's ability to make wise decisions and build a productive life. Yes, 80 million is a lot of money and yes, he should have done better managing it. But if he doesn't get treatment, whatever he gets going forward will have the result. I hope he gets some help.

[AnotherAlias]

I'm pretty sure if TO had some sort of mental illness, a professional would have stepped up and let the cat out of the bag a long time ago.

Just because a few armchair psychologists in this forum think he might have mental issues doesn't make it true.

If he is mentally ill, then that is something to feel sorry for, but being broke with the riches he has wasted in his life isn't a good reason to feel pity, IMHO.

If he has mental problems, he sure has had the opportunity to get help over the years. Instead, he pissed away 80 million and now wants sympathy?

[The Chase Davis]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

I'm pretty sure if TO had some sort of mental illness, a professional would have stepped up and let the cat out of the bag a long time ago.

Mental Illness can go undiagnosed for years.

[Marberi]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

I'm pretty sure if TO had some sort of mental illness, a professional would have stepped up and let the cat out of the bag a long time ago.

Just because a few armchair psychologists in this forum think he might have mental issues doesn't make it true.

You don't have to be a psychologist (or psychiatrist, for that matter) to know that mental illness can go undetected (even by professionals) and remain in a latent state for a long, long time until something triggers it.

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

If he is mentally ill, then that is something to feel sorry for, but being broke with the riches he has wasted in his life isn't a good reason to feel pity, IMHO.

Mental illness is not the same as mentally challenged. And even mentally challenged people do not need pity. Unlike mental retardation (which is an actual birth condition that cannot be helped), mental illness can be dealt with through the proper treatment and lots of hard work on part of the patient. If not treated, however, these people become their own worst enemy and they don't even realize it, thinking that the whole world is against them, instead.

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

If he has mental problems, he sure has had the opportunity to get help over the years. Instead, he pissed away 80 million and now wants sympathy?

Again, most times, people with this kind of condition are the first not to know anything about it. Any traumatic experience may cause this kind of malfunction, yet the problem may go unnoticed for years, decades even, till something triggers it. This is a fact; one that pretty much throws this "opportunity he has had to get help over the years" theory of yours out the window.

If dealing with mental conditions of this kind was so simple, they would've probably been eradicated a long time ago.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

That comment wasn't aimed at you...that was me explaining my previous comment.

You don't feel sorry for him because you feel you would have handled it differently...fine.

Everyone is different though. If he does indeed have mental health issues that may have attributed to his decisions, it comes off as quite callous to completely dismiss his situation because you would have handled it differently.

There you go putting words in my mouth again. Where did I dismiss his situation? All I said is I have no sympathy for him, period. He needs to try and help himself first, and if he can show he's doing that then fair enough. Until he does though, too bad so sad for TO and his financial woes.

I never have and never will have sympathy for someone who won't try to help themself, and right now, TO isn't doing that from what I've read. All he's doing is finger pointing - it's everyone's fault but his. You want to feel sorry for someone like that, that's your preogative. Go right ahead.