http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=bayless/050415&num=0
By Skip Bayless
Page 2
This is for the army of T.O. worshippers that have attacked my e-mail over the last few weeks.
This is also for Terrell Owens himself.
Sorry, Himself.
No, I am not "hiding" from Owens, as many e-mailers, with particularly vile and cowardly language, have accused me of doing. They claim that Owens Himself has fired back at me in responses to chat room questions on his Web site, saying I don't have the, uh, guts to face him on television. I hear that Owens likes to cyberchat like that with his idolaters, but I don't know for sure and I don't care exactly what he has or hasn't said about me.
And I refuse to visit his cybershrine.
But I now publicly offer Terrell Owens an open invitation to join me on ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" to discuss and debate any or all of my criticism of him. Any weekday between 8 and 10 a.m. Eastern. Just the two of us, one on one. Owens can have the first and last word on every issue.
Nothing will be off limits.
Yes, I've been tough on Owens. But no, I don't have a single second thought about a single word I've said or written about the guy.
In fact, astute Eagles fans are surely starting to agree with me. They're starting to see the real Owens -- the one I closely observed during his final three years with the San Francisco 49ers, the one who was despised by many of his teammates.
So to all of you -- and to him -- I say: Any weekday, any time.
I'll even telegraph my punches. I'll tell you -- and him -- exactly what I want to get into.
We can begin with our history. Through the first year I wrote about him, I was his lone supporter among Bay Area media members. I defended Owens in his clashes with then-coach Steve Mariucci and constantly reminded readers and talk-show listeners that Owens kept himself in bodybuilder shape, that he avoided off-field trouble and that, according to 49ers adviser and coaching legend Bill Walsh, Owens knew the offense as well as the quarterbacks did.
Other media members scoffed at my stance, basically saying, "You'll see." Several 49ers players and front-office staffers pulled me aside and told me I wasn't seeing the real T.O. They said Owens was all about Owens, that he was aloof from and condescending toward teammates, that he always blamed everyone but himself and that he constantly portrayed himself as the victim of phantom plots on the part of coaches or front-office staffers.
Those people surely are laughing now over the predictable problems Owens is causing in Philadelphia.
I defended Owens to the point that a member of his inner sanctum told me I might be T.O.'s choice to write his book.
But I fell out of favor quickly, after that turning-point Monday night in October 2002. That night in Seattle, Owens pulled the Sharpie from his sock to sign a touchdown-catch ball -- and his descent began in San Francisco.
From that night on, I wrote, Owens crossed the line between football player and celebrity -- from Owens to T.O. He further alienated teammates by ignoring their high fives after he scored touchdowns so he could focus on his celebration routines. "SportsCenter" viewers outside the Bay Area knew far more about Owens' choreography than about the many passes he dropped in 2003 as he crumbled under the pressure to enhance his upcoming free-agent appeal.
Remember, the 2003 49ers were considered a cinch playoff team. They finished 7-9. Yet Owens blamed quarterback Jeff Garcia -- to the point that, eventually, he publicly questioned Garcia's sexual preference.
That's when I concluded that T.O. is nothing but bad news. That's when I nicknamed him Terrible Owens.
That's what I want to talk about on TV, T.O.
Let's probe why your agent, David Joseph, blew the free-agent deadline.
Let's talk about how I believe the league feared you might turn the mess your agent made into a racial issue -- you once called the franchise tag "like slavery" -- and how the league let you out of a trade to Baltimore so you could play in Philadelphia.
And about how the Eagles were under no obligation to tear up your existing contract, but gave you a reported $10.3 million signing bonus and a back-loaded seven-year, $49 million deal.
And about how you had a terrific season -- though your new quarterback, Donovan McNabb, had a better one, which allowed you and your Eagles to front-run without pressure.
And about how your team won two pressure-cooker playoff games without you.
And about how I believe you hampered your team in the Super Bowl by playing with a lower-leg injury that took away your top-gear ability to run past New England defensive backs on deep routes or after catches.
Who caught the deep touchdown pass that got your team back in the game, T.O.? Speed demon Greg Lewis, who should have played much more.
So let's talk about how you've now shifted blame onto your "roommate and soul mate," McNabb, by saying you weren't the one who got tired in the Super Bowl. No, you didn't use McNabb's name, but I want you to try to convince me you were referring to someone else. Who? McNabb's mom?
Please, let's talk about how you gratefully signed your contract last year and about how you're now trying to use your many media mouthpieces to pressure Eagles management into giving you more money after one season of a seven-year deal.
I want you to explain how you initially said you did not hire agent Drew "The Renegotiator" Rosenhaus because you wanted to renegotiate -- and about how Rosenhaus said Thursday evening on "SportsCenter" that you "have the most leverage any player has ever had to renegotiate."
I want to see you cry the hypocritical tears you cried Thursday on CNBC about how traumatic it was to fire Joseph, the agent you've called "like a brother."
Please enlighten me about how you're "not being greedy" but just trying to provide for your family. Please convince me you deserve as much money as Randy Moss makes when you're not as fast or as athletic as Moss and you don't have his hands or hops. Please explain how and why "people inside the organization are leaking stuff" to make you look bad.
Were you late for a meeting during Super Bowl week -- or not? Are you really going to alienate your fans by holding out -- or is that just a negotiating threat?
Please, let's publicly discuss why your coach, Andy Reid, recently "came at" you and said, "I thought you weren't going to cause any problems." At least, that's what you told the Philadelphia Inquirer's Stephen A. Smith.
While we're at it, let's get into the message you sent by agreeing to do that "Monday Night Football" skit with an eventually naked Nicollette Sheridan -- heck with my teammates, I'd rather stay in the locker room with this hot babe. I'll divulge right here, up front, that I've spoken with several black coaches and officials who were angry that you fed the stereotype that white women have always been Kryptonite for black stars.
I'll give you plenty of TV time to set them straight.
As you've said about your renegotiation, my offer to debate you isn't personal, it's business. I have absolutely nothing against you personally. You never denied me an interview or chewed me out in the locker room.
I simply believe you've been swept away by all the misguided hero worship inspired by your touchdown routines and your outrageous comments and your "Monday Night" skit -- and that you've lost all perspective on yourself and on what it takes to win championships.
The Patriots don't have a T.O. and don't want one.
But convince me I'm wrong, T.O. On television, at your convenience.
I dare you.
Page 2
This is for the army of T.O. worshippers that have attacked my e-mail over the last few weeks.
This is also for Terrell Owens himself.
Sorry, Himself.
No, I am not "hiding" from Owens, as many e-mailers, with particularly vile and cowardly language, have accused me of doing. They claim that Owens Himself has fired back at me in responses to chat room questions on his Web site, saying I don't have the, uh, guts to face him on television. I hear that Owens likes to cyberchat like that with his idolaters, but I don't know for sure and I don't care exactly what he has or hasn't said about me.
And I refuse to visit his cybershrine.
But I now publicly offer Terrell Owens an open invitation to join me on ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" to discuss and debate any or all of my criticism of him. Any weekday between 8 and 10 a.m. Eastern. Just the two of us, one on one. Owens can have the first and last word on every issue.
Nothing will be off limits.
Yes, I've been tough on Owens. But no, I don't have a single second thought about a single word I've said or written about the guy.
In fact, astute Eagles fans are surely starting to agree with me. They're starting to see the real Owens -- the one I closely observed during his final three years with the San Francisco 49ers, the one who was despised by many of his teammates.
So to all of you -- and to him -- I say: Any weekday, any time.
I'll even telegraph my punches. I'll tell you -- and him -- exactly what I want to get into.
We can begin with our history. Through the first year I wrote about him, I was his lone supporter among Bay Area media members. I defended Owens in his clashes with then-coach Steve Mariucci and constantly reminded readers and talk-show listeners that Owens kept himself in bodybuilder shape, that he avoided off-field trouble and that, according to 49ers adviser and coaching legend Bill Walsh, Owens knew the offense as well as the quarterbacks did.
Other media members scoffed at my stance, basically saying, "You'll see." Several 49ers players and front-office staffers pulled me aside and told me I wasn't seeing the real T.O. They said Owens was all about Owens, that he was aloof from and condescending toward teammates, that he always blamed everyone but himself and that he constantly portrayed himself as the victim of phantom plots on the part of coaches or front-office staffers.
Those people surely are laughing now over the predictable problems Owens is causing in Philadelphia.
I defended Owens to the point that a member of his inner sanctum told me I might be T.O.'s choice to write his book.
But I fell out of favor quickly, after that turning-point Monday night in October 2002. That night in Seattle, Owens pulled the Sharpie from his sock to sign a touchdown-catch ball -- and his descent began in San Francisco.
From that night on, I wrote, Owens crossed the line between football player and celebrity -- from Owens to T.O. He further alienated teammates by ignoring their high fives after he scored touchdowns so he could focus on his celebration routines. "SportsCenter" viewers outside the Bay Area knew far more about Owens' choreography than about the many passes he dropped in 2003 as he crumbled under the pressure to enhance his upcoming free-agent appeal.
Remember, the 2003 49ers were considered a cinch playoff team. They finished 7-9. Yet Owens blamed quarterback Jeff Garcia -- to the point that, eventually, he publicly questioned Garcia's sexual preference.
That's when I concluded that T.O. is nothing but bad news. That's when I nicknamed him Terrible Owens.
That's what I want to talk about on TV, T.O.
Let's probe why your agent, David Joseph, blew the free-agent deadline.
Let's talk about how I believe the league feared you might turn the mess your agent made into a racial issue -- you once called the franchise tag "like slavery" -- and how the league let you out of a trade to Baltimore so you could play in Philadelphia.
And about how the Eagles were under no obligation to tear up your existing contract, but gave you a reported $10.3 million signing bonus and a back-loaded seven-year, $49 million deal.
And about how you had a terrific season -- though your new quarterback, Donovan McNabb, had a better one, which allowed you and your Eagles to front-run without pressure.
And about how your team won two pressure-cooker playoff games without you.
And about how I believe you hampered your team in the Super Bowl by playing with a lower-leg injury that took away your top-gear ability to run past New England defensive backs on deep routes or after catches.
Who caught the deep touchdown pass that got your team back in the game, T.O.? Speed demon Greg Lewis, who should have played much more.
So let's talk about how you've now shifted blame onto your "roommate and soul mate," McNabb, by saying you weren't the one who got tired in the Super Bowl. No, you didn't use McNabb's name, but I want you to try to convince me you were referring to someone else. Who? McNabb's mom?
Please, let's talk about how you gratefully signed your contract last year and about how you're now trying to use your many media mouthpieces to pressure Eagles management into giving you more money after one season of a seven-year deal.
I want you to explain how you initially said you did not hire agent Drew "The Renegotiator" Rosenhaus because you wanted to renegotiate -- and about how Rosenhaus said Thursday evening on "SportsCenter" that you "have the most leverage any player has ever had to renegotiate."
I want to see you cry the hypocritical tears you cried Thursday on CNBC about how traumatic it was to fire Joseph, the agent you've called "like a brother."
Please enlighten me about how you're "not being greedy" but just trying to provide for your family. Please convince me you deserve as much money as Randy Moss makes when you're not as fast or as athletic as Moss and you don't have his hands or hops. Please explain how and why "people inside the organization are leaking stuff" to make you look bad.
Were you late for a meeting during Super Bowl week -- or not? Are you really going to alienate your fans by holding out -- or is that just a negotiating threat?
Please, let's publicly discuss why your coach, Andy Reid, recently "came at" you and said, "I thought you weren't going to cause any problems." At least, that's what you told the Philadelphia Inquirer's Stephen A. Smith.
While we're at it, let's get into the message you sent by agreeing to do that "Monday Night Football" skit with an eventually naked Nicollette Sheridan -- heck with my teammates, I'd rather stay in the locker room with this hot babe. I'll divulge right here, up front, that I've spoken with several black coaches and officials who were angry that you fed the stereotype that white women have always been Kryptonite for black stars.
I'll give you plenty of TV time to set them straight.
As you've said about your renegotiation, my offer to debate you isn't personal, it's business. I have absolutely nothing against you personally. You never denied me an interview or chewed me out in the locker room.
I simply believe you've been swept away by all the misguided hero worship inspired by your touchdown routines and your outrageous comments and your "Monday Night" skit -- and that you've lost all perspective on yourself and on what it takes to win championships.
The Patriots don't have a T.O. and don't want one.
But convince me I'm wrong, T.O. On television, at your convenience.
I dare you.
