I saw Jarhead on Tuesday night. Hell of a movie, I recommend it to anyone with a pulse. I think the film did a tremendous job of showing both the struggle, and the pride of modern American soldiers. The desert is a woeful place to fight a war, but nobody loves what they do quite like American servicemen. Who can blame them? They are the enforcers of the greatest power on Earth. What a sense of vitality that must fill you with. Anyway it's a solid movie to be checked out. Also, I think I heard a Tom Waits song in there at one point. I'm not certain, but maybe Ross could clear things up.

Now let me tell you something about Terrell Owens...

He's a bloody fool.

Seriously, look what an ugly pit of despair his career has become. Regardless of what he might do in the league after this, the moniker of TO will carry permanent tarnish. It's a shame too, because he's one of the most amazing wide receivers we'll ever see.

He's got everything you need to be a stellar wideout: speed, size, strength, hands... Have you ever seen a picture of Terrell Owens without a shirt on? He's freakishly chisled. Aside from all the physical gifts, he also has tremendous pride, and an unabashed confidence in his skills. He's a special breed of player that can talk trash all week, then burn you on the first play from scrimmage. He consistently walks the walk, and celbrates in a unique manner all his own.

You have to respect a guy that truly believes he can walk on water. While professional sports doesn't usually endorse a 'me-first' attitude, there's a lot of chutzpa required to be an NFL wideout, and TO has always done what he thought was required to keep him on top.

So where did he go wrong? Ugh... where do I start? My personal aversions to the Terrell Owens machine arose when he demanded his first trade. Not only was he refusing to play if Baltimore didn't deal him, he was refusing to play if Baltimore didn't deal him specifially to Philadelphia. That's really not the way things work. Players have much more control now over where they sign, and free agency has opened up a competitive market based on skill and team needs. But when someone demands that a team do this or that, it destroys all competitive integridy of the system. He basically wanted concessions to be made speficially for him, and being such a high-caliber player, he ultimately got just that.

Afterwards, everything should have been peachy between TO and the Eagles. They even went to the Super Bowl his first season in Philly. Again, mad respect for the man as he toughed it out that Sunday on an ankle he broke some 6 weeks before. But all was not well, the offseason came around, and Terrell decided he didn't like his contract. Just didn't like it. He figured he deserved more money than anyone else - and he might even have been right - but in the great system of the National Football League; things just don't work that way.

Terrell signed a fair contract, negotiated by an agent whom he hired, with a team that went out of its way to make him a member. He was very vocal about his displeasure though, and made it a prevelant issue during training camp. Clearly TO was starting to push his luck.  The 'me-first' attitude was becoming a little too much. He forgot the cardinal rule of being a professional athlete: The fans love a character, but that character must never disrespect the game he plays. TO had already disrespected opponents, and the system. Now he was bringing down his own organization, something the football gods will not tolerate for very long.

So now Terrell Owens can't play pro football this year. It's as simple and sweet as that. I haven't followed all the conforontations and off-color remarks of the past few weeks, but I know he must have really pushed the limits of professionalism. Guys do some stupid things in the leauge and don't get suspended for an entire season. He could have tested positive for a banned substance and only missed four games. This was some sad, dire shit. And he brought every bit of it upon himself.

As much respect as I have for TO the wideout, I have absolutely none for TO the person. He compromised the one thing that should have been all-important to him: catching footballs on Sundays. And for what? To badmouth a few teammates? To speak his mind about the way things should be? Dont even talk to me about conspiracy theories, or quotes coming out-of-context. The Philadelphia Eagles have suspended their best player for the entire season. You don't fake your way to that with a few misquotes.

For a man with so much talent who draws so much attention to himself, TO certainly isn't a good role model. Not that he has any obligation to be one, but why make yourself such a visible figure if you're not trying to reflect sound values? I guess it says something about his character. Enjoy your vacation Terrell, you and I will be doing the same damn thing next Sunday.