Trying to KILL himself?!
I'm sorry, I didn't include enough punctuation there:
?!?!?!?!
It's mind-boggling: This is sports' ultimate narcissist...
...Trying to commit suicide?
If you thought there were other sports storylines today, you can just forget about that now.
Before we know anything, a few questions:
What were his motivations?
Was it the meds he was on?
And, finally, this one:
Was it the pressure (and result) of being the fans' -- and absolutely the media's -- No. 1-ranked "Bad Guy" that drove him to it?
I'm going to predict this: Fan and media treatment of T.O. will lighten up substantially after this. (Well, maybe except in Philly.)
Update: I'm going to point to the Deadspin coverage, which includes a Comments section to the story that is absolutely NOT for you if you see absolutely no humor in this. But humor is also a way to deal with or filter the news; this just about covers it.
This is a great example of a breaking-news story where bloggers are ahead of mainstream media in terms of offering opinion/reaction/analysis... and blog COMMENTERS are even ahead of bloggers themselves.
When I wrote the Quickie, I always loved it when a story broke in the morning, because I could be first on the site with an opinion take -- even if it was only a place-holder until the appropriate sport columnist came in with a longer opinion. I always felt like I was adding value and taking full advantage of the medium -- even if the opinion was "insta-gut" or half-baked. Readers want their opinion as fast as the story itself is posted.
Mainstream media (even online) is still trying to catch up to consumer appetite -- that's why blogs are so effective (and why comments on blogs are even more effective: The opinion of many, instantly, being even more effective than the opinion of one, instantly.)
That's a lot of "inside baseball" -- the story itself (and everyone's reactions) remains jaw-droppingly fascinating. I mean, of all the possible athletes, it just HAD to be T.O., didn't it?
-- D.S.
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45 comments:
Yeah, this is really crazy man. I hope he's OK.
attention grabbing is he is yelling for people to stop him...
taking that many pills does not seem like he was expecting anyone to stop/find him.
I hope he does get the help he needs.
Eric, that's an assholic thing to say about someone who just tried to pump 35 pills down his throat.
Love him or hate him, he's awesome on the field, I hope he can bounce back, get well, and get back on the field because football is better off with Owens.
I think whatever we think of TO as a player/team guy clearly it is not something to end your life over. Here is to hoping he has a good recovery from this.
...and of course, I broke it first on danshanoff.blogspot.com. I'm awesome.
In all seriousness, I'm guessing he's what one would call clinically depressed. What some people don't understand is that having fame, riches, etc, can actually make depression worse. Because first you're depressed. Then you're like, I shouldn't be depressed, I'm rich and famous. But the fact that you're rich and famous and depressed makes you even more depressed. And if being rich and famous can't make you non-depressed, then really, what can? At least poor non-famous depressed people can cling to the idea that if they had money/fame they'd be ok.
I dunno...he was the only Eagle to show up for the Super Bowl..I think he's a pretty good player for the game.
I once saw a story where they talked to TO's grandmother, who I believed raised him. He had a really unhappy childhood and this act he has put on for the past few years was his way to make up for being too quiet and introverted. But I guess he couldnt keep up the "TO" personna and he cracked. Underneath he has always been that introverted kid with emotional problems. I think this is serious and hope he can recover.
I gotta tell you, this might go down as the single most bizarre sports story in the last five years. When does Owens' get his own sit down (again) with Barbara Walters, to tell us how everything gets blown out of proportion, how no one understands him (except Rosenhaus of course), how the media has portrayed him badly, and how his NEXT book will clear everything up...
By the way, one of the commenters on Deadspin made a good point: First Alexander (Madden Cover), now T.O. - Wasn't he on the ESPN 2k5 cover?
Maybe there's a 1-year delayed reaction.
Honestly, I'm done talking about T.O. If he was serious about ending it all, he'd have just gotten a gun (not hard for someone with as much money as he's got) and done it right. Popping pills and then TELLING YOUR PUBLICIST just reeks of a P.R. stunt.
And I know how sad it is that I'm this cynical, this young (24).
One - sometimes the people who appear the happiest/most stable, are the ones with the deepest problems/issues.
Two - here's the question though. Didn't they say he's been sent home? If so, then the suicide report is untrue. If you attempt suicide there is no way the hospital sends you home.
The October 8th game in Philly is going to have some incredible signs, whether TO is there or not. I just wonder what kind of comments we can expect to hear during the 'boys game this week.
Hospitals send people home as fast as they can anymore for liability issues. Suicide or anything.
I'm not surprised his publicist called 911. Athletes, celebrities, political figures...their publicist is practically glued to them..keep them organized and going..probably the one person TO sees/speaks to more than anyone else.
So not surprising that she is the one he called or the one that found him.
I have a feeling that being one of the most hated people in professional sports really takes a toll on someone like T.O.
I have always thought of him as someone who is very insecure. He just comes off as someone who tries very hard to give off this aura of invincibility but really what he is showing is a very vulnerable side - and this almost confirms it.
I really think that the TO machine actually took over Owens himself and I just hope that he can get the help he needs.
I'm not on the lets all give TO a hug bandwagon but I'd also never wish mental illness or suicide on anyone so lets just hope he gets all the help that he needs.
More breaking news from me (via Foxsports):
The Cowboys are expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET
My first thought was: "Well, he didn't succeed, which would be really the only way to know whether this was some sort of attention stunt."
Although, what percentage of suicide attempts really boil down to cries for attention/help? (I'm thinking here of the story that Elton John once tried the gas-oven death--but had a window open in the room)
I think it's really telling that the mumblings I heard around me in class were of the "crap, now this is all we're hear about for at least a week" variety.
Er, technically that's from Foxsports via me. But I'm feeling good today.
What. The. Hell. I don't know what to make of this. I think the question of whether he's really depressed or whether this is an attention ploy might not necessarily be either/or. T.O. very obviously craves attention, craves celebrity, craves people thinking that he's in the right, that he's the best, etc. However, people like that can and do suffer from depression and other forms of mental illness, and if the stories about him are true -- about Terrell, the man, being wholly different from TO, the self-made media image -- I can see this being a combination of something being wrong and him trying to get attention and sympathy for it. I never put any stock in those Terrell-is-not-TO stories, but who knows.
This is CRAZY. I do think 35 Vicodin is more than an attention-getting ploy (no one knows about those more than Owens, and he knows that a Sharpie or crunches in the driveway will cover that), even if it's not a 100% dedicated attempt to end his life. I think he needs help, I hope he gets it, and I hope he's alright. That boy's got issues.
Deep down inside, I can't help but wonder if Parcells threatened to trade him to the Raiders.
I don't think this is a ploy for attention at all. If there is one thing that has never been lacking, it attention on T.O. If he speaks there are 20 mics in front of him to capture it. He's one of the most covered athletes in sports. Look at the hamstring saga in the preseason. Hines Ward and Steve Smith were also nursing sore hammys, but all you heard about was Owens. He can always get attention, so there would be no need for this ploy
check out my blog for more thoughts on this story.
http://hman7708.blogspot.com
What does everybody think the reaction would've been if TO succeeded? Be it personal, media, etc.
How long before Donovan McNabb scores a touchdown and then fakes an OD as his touchdown celebration?
I don't know, he could've pulled a 'waitaminute, I just did WHAT?' moment. It happens.
Chris Mortensen just cancelled his chat on Sportsnation. TO can be so selfish sometimes.
All I know is, if every movement I made was in the media, if I could never get away, I'd want to kill myself too.
He brought it on himself with all the attention he wanted...but he probably underestimated the power and reach of today's media. I buy that T.O. would be dumb enough to miss the point that once you put yourself in the spotlight of the media, you don't get out until you die.
Lesson: Stay the hell away from the media's attention, if at all possible.
Listen I am an Eagles fan. I am not happy with how TO and Eagles season ended. I blame a lot of that on TO and som eparts on the Eagles Players and Organization with how it was all handeled. With That being said, I hope TO is ok, and that if he did indeed try to commit suicide He gets some help. My thoughts are, 1) he has never been able to express himself PROPERLY; and 2) that he wants to be liked by everyone and the last year and a half of constant hating from Coast (San Fran) to Coast (Philly) and now in som epart in Dallas has taken a toll on him mentaily.
Add to the fact the one place he could perform, i.e the football field is been stripped away (albeit a short time) with the hand injury.
I hope he gets better, and gets the help he needs. But I hope he goes to an AFC team. Go Birds!
His publicist found him putting 2 pills in his mouth, not 35. The other 35 just werent there. He could've given them away for all we know. I dont buy it. Sorry for not being all pussified like everyone else on here.
Jesus, people on this blog need to lighten the F up. Could you take yourselves any more seriously?
@ 1 of consequence
that is an extremely odd thought considering there is overwhelming evidence that 'money does not buy happiness' or have you never heard that saying?
Of course I have. I was presenting it from TO's (or any other rich/famous person who pulls the plug on themselves) perspective, which, of course, is the media's perspective as well.
Remember, we're talking about depressives. They don't have a standard viewpoint of the world in the first place, so they're susceptible to outside influence.
@1 of consequence:
that is an extremely odd thought considering there is overwhelming evidence that 'money does not buy happiness' or have you never heard that saying?
Of course I have. I was speaking from TO's (or any other rich/famous/successful depressive) perspective. Remember, people who are depressive are so *despite* the reasons that make others happy. They have great families, or successful careers, and they're still depressed. Which, of course, is counter to what everybody says about what is supposed to make you happy. Which of course makes them more depressed.
For you or I, sure, we know that money can't buy you love (or happiness). But as I was trying to put across (and you missed entirely), if you have everything and you're still depressed, what else can you do?
Here's the real question: Where does TO go from here? If he comes out of the hospital and plays football in the near future everyone will say he was trying to gain sympathy and hate him.
If he doesn't come back to play football - nobody will feel bad for him because he put himself in the position to snap and go insane.
I think he just created a much bigger problem for himself then anyone is touching on yet.
TO's statement: Gotcha!
Now it seems that Deion says that he spoke to T.O. who told him, "Man, that didn't happen" about the suicide
Developing...
Yet again T.O. finds himself at the top of every SC broadcast and sports page in the country.
This from .com "It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide".(wow)
paul, did you seriously just compare TO's situation to 9/11?
See, this is exactly what's wrong with America today. And I'm not going to go off on some half-cocked political rant, but seriously people...
We're doing exactly what the T.O. Camp is hoping for. This story has become all-consuming for all of us. I'm sure most of the people posting on here (myself included) have spent most of the morning surfing the web, not necessarily looking for T.O. updates, but certainly not passing them when they have become available.
People attempt suicide in this country every day. The only ones who get media coverage are the "famous" ones or the ones who hurt others in their attempts.
And if this all turns out to be a media "Oops" moment, I ASSURE you that Drew Rosenhaus and Owens will find a way to turn Terrell into a sympathetic character by the end of the week.
A question to end on... how many HIPAA violations do you think could be filed on this one? 10? 20?
T.O.'s behavior reeks of bipolar disorder. Whether or not he actually tried to kill himself is yet to be determined.
However, I seriously think this guy has some mental issues he needs to straighten out.
If he did try to kill himself, lets just try to be at least a little sympathetic and hope he gets the help he so desperately needs.
I'd say if you take a some pills, have a bad reaction, and the media and police believe you tried to kill yourself the guy you want at your side is Michael Irvin.
Will TO go with the - It was my cousin's prescription defense?
until youve walked a mile in TO's shoes, i dont think its fair to start tearing this guy apart less than 24 hours after an OD attempt. even if it is a "stunt", i would still consider him mentally unhealthy to pull off something of this scale. i hope to God that none of you or anyone close to you ever falls into the throes of depression.
did he actually say "LOL"? clearly our vocabularies are on opposite ends of the gamut.
Just to note: the Police are calling this an allergy to pain medication now.
The way he was already decommitted from the hospital and the fact that he is planning a press conference suggests someone, somewhere down the line messed up.
Joe (Dayton)
all I know is i'm watching on WWL and Trey Wingo is being a bully and a bit of an ass with the people they are talking to (such as Clayton, Friend, LeBetard)
irvin was just on, and if anyone knows drugs it is irvin.
i'm a little sick of wingo telling me how many surgeries mark s. has had on his knee every time I see him. I get it, he's had surgery so he knows about how players react to injury.
Wow, T.O. sure picked a likeable group there. Deion needs to shut up and go away. When he left to go play for the Redskins, he lost his Dallas privileges. Go back to pimping your hot dog maker:
http://tinyurl.com/qxhgk
irvin, primetime, owens. 3 guys I would trust my daughter with.
greg s.,
Can I come lay on your couch and be psycho-analyzed?
And is the smug condescension extra, or does that come with the standard package?
I still don't get how someone who says we are all heartless for not taking what happened to Owens as serious--especially when once again this was nothing more than a media creation and not news--would be thoughtless enough to say to someone that their son will shoot up a high school or crash a plane into a building.
wait, I'm sorry, my learn to read helper monkey hasn't shown up yet, maybe I should just go to your level paul.
Paul: You're a moron. Hope you didn't cry in your cereal this morning over TO for no reason. Especially when at the end of the day, TO wouldn't care about you if you'd hung yourself with an extension cord because they cancelled Dr. Phil.
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