The Real Chad

Ochocinco [written 8/20/10]


I just read the rules on broadcasting NFL games on TV.

Why? What are the cool kids doing on a Friday night?

As I sit here, cursed with the knowledge I have just obtained, one thing stands out in my mind. NFL really does stand for No Fun League. Yes, business is business, and I'll probably understand when I join the rat race myself, but it was still a sobering experience to see just how much business there is to the game I love so much. Wouldn't football be so much better if we didn't have to worry about contracts, blackouts, union deals, player lockouts, and uncapped seasons? Of course, all of these things are necessary evils for the NFL we know and love to function normally. But they just make me appreciate the lighthearted fun in the league even more.

Enter Chad Ochocinco.

I know a lot of people dislike him for his flashy style, endzone celebrations, and trash talk, but why do you think he does it? Because it's fun. Many people try to paint the artist formerly known as Chad Johnson as an arrogant, selfish crybaby who only cares that everyone is watching him. However, this is simply not the case. Chad Ochocinco does the things he does for the love of the game, but at the same time he cares about winning.

Think about it. When were the Cincinnati Bengals at their best? The answer is arguably 2005, when “eighty-five” was setting records and incurring fines left and right. When Chad stopped being Chad, everything seemed to fall apart
. For his, and the team's sake, I hope Ochocinco is back up to his old tricks, and we get to enjoy a successful, entertaining season.

Seven months later...

Today, Chad Ochocinco (Johnson? No? Ok, Ochocinco) will set foot on the field for practice. But it wont be at Paul Brown Stadium. The field will not be 120 yards long and 50 yards wide. The goals wont be marked by the Bengals logo. It wont even be a football field.

At least not an American football field.

Chad will be tweeting about this all day, telling of his practices with the Kansas City Red Devils, using the term "pitch" like there's no tomorrow. But he won't be doing it because he knows people are watching (although I'm sure that doesn't hurt). He'll be doing it because he loves the game; he loves sports and competition in general. And he doesn't even know if he'll get that from the NFL this fall.

Fans shouldn't complain about what some call a "sideshow," this is just Chad being Chad. And besides, wont this keep him in shape and more ready than anyone to play *cough* real *cough* football whenever the next season kicks off? I think so. Who knows? Ochocinco may even turn out to be the next Deion "Primetime" Sanders.

He certainly has the personality for it.