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Terrell Owens arrived fashionably late, received a white jersey with his favorite number, and got a smattering of applause for doing even the simplest thing.
Every catch was an event.
A few thousand fans showed up for Owens’ first practice with the Cincinnati Bengals, who signed him to a one-year deal on Thursday evening, then got a glimpse of what the 36-year-old receiver has left.
”He hasn’t slowed down,” said quarterback Carson Palmer, who worked out with Owens in California this month. ”He’s a guy that’s kind of ageless and he’s still got a lot left in the tank.”
Owens enjoyed the reception — fans cheering every catch and screaming his name to lure him over for autographs when the two-hour workout ended.
”This team is special,” Owens said. ”I really feel that there is something around the corner for this team. With me being here, (it) has really created a buzz. I think the guys feel the energy.”
The energy came a bit late.
Owens missed an overnight flight that would have brought him to town earlier in the day, allowing for a proper introduction. Instead, he caught a later flight, rolled in less than an hour before an evening practice and quickly suited up.
He and buddy Chad Ochocinco were the last two to jog onto the field, drawing loud applause. Owens occasionally waved to the fans in appreciation, but played it low-key throughout the practice.
FOX SPORTS POLL
How will Terrell Owens fare with the Bengals? He’ll get very little playing time He’ll be a decent contributor He’ll be a crucial piece of their team So began the T.O.-and-Ocho era.
”It’s a circus,” Palmer said. ”Him and Chad, them being them. It’s funny. I was laughing.”
Palmer knows that Owens has a reputation for turning on
his quarterback. Owens got a chance to join the Bengals in part because Palmer lobbied to sign him after watching their workouts in California.
”Carson being that quarterback that can get the ball up and down the field at any given point on the field — that makes my mouth water,” Owens said. ”I’ve longed to have a quarterback like Carson.”
Now he’s got him. Got his favorite number, too.
Owens wore his customary No. 81 at practice, part of a deal he made with the previous owner. Receiver Antonio Bryant got the number when the Bengals chose him over Owens in the offseason, giving him a four-year deal. Bryant agreed to give up his number.
”I’m a realist,” Bryant said. ”I said, ‘Hey man, I’m not going to make no big spectacle about it. You’ve got a bigger legacy and a number than I do. I’ve been on several teams like you, but I’ve changed my number several times. You’ve had the same number.
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Create or Join a League Today!”I don’t need your money,” Bryant said. ”All I want you to do is take care of one of my little league programs in Miami. Send them a small donation and we’ll go from there.”’
First, Owens had to arrive. It wasn’t as easy as planned.
The Bengals expected him to show up early in the day, take his physical and sign his one-year contract while the rest of the team held its first workout. They scheduled an introductory news conference after the morning practice.
The news conference had to be rescheduled for after the evening session because Owens missed his redeye flight.
With Owens showing up late, Bryant was a focus of the Bengals’ morning workout — for his knee, not his number.
He had surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee during training camp with Tampa Bay last year. He was limited to 39 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals signed him to a $28 million deal, hoping he would provide another outside threat with Ochocinco.
Bengals at a glance
Looking for more dirt on the Bengals? Get the inside slant, stats, scores, schedules and more scoops right here. Bryant backed off workouts last month because the
muscles around the left knee didn’t feel strong enough. He went through drills tentatively on Thursday, never running at full speed.
”The only thing I’m struggling with right now is just being comfortable and mentally just putting (the left foot) down and doing what I want to do without thinking, ‘Oh, I might feel pain,”’ Bryant said. ”That’s my biggest hurdle.”
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis insisted that Bryant’s knee problem had nothing to do with the decision to sign Owens. Bryant isn’t so sure.
”If I owned the team, I would definitely go after the best players, if possible, especially with the situation they acquired him,” Bryant said. ”I definitely would have went after the guy.”
Running back Cedric Benson fully participated in the workouts. Last week Benson met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about his offseason arrest in Texas on a charge of misdemeanor assault. Benson is accused of punching a bar employee, a charge he has denied.
Benson hasn’t heard anything more from Goodell, who could discipline him.
”We had a good talk, a good session,” Benson said. ”I guess no news is good news.”
(sidebar) T.O. you are not all that ok, let’s get that straight. Yes you are a good NFL player, but
not by no means the greatest. Keep your ego in check my man, or the 2 million dollars will feel like
a $2 bill. You have been given a chance to return to the game you love don’t blow it with your
ego, or you will be right back where you started. No one wants a loud mouth diva playing the game.
Prove yourself, and let’s go from there and see what happens.
Stedman Graham was born on March 6, 1951 in Whitesboro, NJ, a community founded in 1901 by a group of prominent African-Americans which included Booker T. Washington and Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Stedman attended Middle Township High School where the 6’6? phenom starred on the varsity basketball team.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Hardin-Simmons University, he played professionally in Europe for a few years before returning to the U.S. to work on his Master’s in Education from Ball State.
An enduring, high-profile relationship with Oprah Winfrey has perhaps overshadowed the long list of business and charitable accomplishments accumulated over the course of Mr. Graham’s impressive career as Chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates, a management and marketing consulting firm specializing in the corporate and educational fields.
A prolific writer, he is also the author of ten books, two of which became NY Times bestsellers. And he has taught at several colleges, including a course on leadership at the University of Illinois and one on strategic management at Northwestern.
Most importantly, Mr. Graham has exhibited a lifelong commitment to community via Athletes Against Drugs (AAD), a non-profit organization he founded in 1985 which remains dedicated to developing leadership in underserved youth through scholarships and education. Recently, Stedman talked to me about his work with AAD and other projects.
Police officials in Memphis have found the body of missing former NBA basketball star Lorenzen Wright in a wooded area in southeast part of the city.
A law enforcement source confirmed to the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper the body was that of Wright, who has been missing since July 19, though the Memphis Police Department won’t officially comment. Police are referring to their investigation as a “death investigation.”
Wright, 35, recently flew from Atlanta to Memphis to visit friends and his six children, friends said.
According to sources, a 9-1-1 call was made from Wright’s cell phone on July 19. A fire dispatcher could hear the loud blasts of several gunshots. The cellphone call ended at that point.
The body was found by someone who called police today.
The 6-11 Wright starred at the University of Memphis before being drafted No. 7 overall in 1996 by the L.A. Clippers. He played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1999-2001, spent the next five seasons with Memphis, and returned to the Hawks for two more years in 2006-08. He last played for Cleveland in 2008-09.
Before he went missing, Wright, split his time between Atlanta and Memphis, according to AJC.com.
He’s a got a hit reality show, but he can’t get a football gig to save his life. Terrell Owens, a.k.a. T.O, says he can’t understand why no football team has signed him. His last team, The Buffalo Bills, only kept him for a year. Owens has had previous stops with the Cowboys, Eagles and 49ers. He has a rep as troublemaker, but he has never been disciplined by the NFL for off field conduct. His reality show is currently in its second season. The T.O. Show airs Sundays at 10pm on VH1.
In a 2009 video that has just recently surfaced, NBA legend Michael Jordan was asked to weigh in on the debate about the league’s current best player – Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?
The Web site Ball Don’t Lie uncovered the clip, which was shot last year at one of Jordan’s basketball camps – before James left Cleveland to play for the Miami Heat, and before Bryant and his Lakers won another NBA title.
Air Jordan chose Kobe.
(clip is on youtube)
and the Oscar goes too………….”Comedy Show” by Lennis
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Click cursor on show to the right————————–Comedy S.O.B. (Sisters of Blackness)
Don’t look for Elin Woods on Oprah, but you may see her shopping. Elin got a divorce settlement worth $100 million from Tiger Woods, but there are restrictions. She can never speak about her marriage to Tiger: no interviews, no tell alls, no TV appearances. She will have sole custody of their young children, but Tiger will have extensive visitation rights. Tiger has restrictions too. He can’t let the bimbos….. (err..my bad!) girlfriends near their children. Elin, at the age of 30, is going to be one of the richest single moms in the world.
Is Mel Gibson a racist? After his latest public gaffe, it sure seems like it. Gibson, best known for his work in the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon movies has some explaining to do. Gibson made headlines four years ago during a drunken anti-Semitic tirade towards a Malibu cop. Now, Gibson has been battling his baby momma, and she saved the tapes of his other rants. In a voicemail message, Gibson is heard telling her she’s an embarrassment, a f******g pig, a woman who dresses like a slut and if she gets raped by a pack of n**gers, it’s her fault. What’s up with the racist rants Mel? You make your fortune off of the backs of minorities and Jewish people. Mel, get help! You only have yourself to blame for ruining your career.
Music Great Harvey Fuqua passed away this week. The 80-year old Fuqua was the force behind The Moonglows in the 50’s, and he was an early mentor to one of the group’s young members, Marvin Gaye. In addition to Marvin Gaye, Fuqua was known for his work with Tammi Terrell, The Spinners, Johnny Bristol, New Birth, Etta James, Sylvester and The Weather Girls, to name a few. Fuqua had been ill, and succumbed to a heart attack. Fuqua’s nephew is famed Director Antoine Fuqua. Antoine is married to Actress Lela Rochon, and he made headlines himself this week with his I.R.S. tax troubles. Antoine Fuqua is currently working on a movie about Legendary Rapper Tupac Shakur. He’s best known for his work on the movie Training Day featuring Denzel Washington’s Oscar winning performance.
Only 12 members of Congress voted to approve health benefits for “1st Responders” to 911 Twin Towers.
Yes the Democrats overwhelmingly passed it. It has been years since 911 and the folks that involved
their lives to save whomever are now greatly disturbed with health concerns – OK who knew. What the
outcome effects would be. These folks Fire Dept, Police Dept, Medics put there lives on the line to help.
And this is how Congress rewards them for a job well done to the best of their ability – well damn Congress.
And you wonder why – folks are voting for anybody other than the incumbent to stand for there City,
or State reps. How dare you put these folks on the back burner. Do you have no shame or guilt what you
are doing to these folks. Understandably the economics in this country are steep, why do you think that
President Obama wanted the Health Care Reform bill past. Not just for future clients, but present ones in
need as well. Congress when are you going to get off your azz and stop throwing a rock and then hiding
your hand. You took your offices with a “vow” to pledge and help your constituents of your state and
others. Do not turn a blind eye to the needs of Americans, families are involved here and future generations.
Have you thought about what your legacy would be when you depart your office? Was it to help or hinder
the causes of citizens of the USA? Or is it money talks and bullshyt walks Congressmen Republicans.