Pot Calling the Kettle Black

picture courtesy of newsday.com

In 2005 Jose Canseco’s book, Juiced, was a bestseller.  The book exploited several players in the MLB for using steroids throughout their careers.  Canseco was back in the limelight doing book tours, making appearances on talk shows, etc., explaining his own steroid use and what he knew in terms of steroid use among other players he played with.  He apologized for his steroid use and attempted to come out smelling like a rose by stepping up to the plate and taking one for the team, so to speak.  Well, three years later Canseco is still making the news and this time it was because of illegal drugs again.  Last week he was apprehended after attempting “to smuggle Spanish-labeled vials of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) through a border patrol checkpoint in San Diego.” (TMZ)  What is HCG you might ask?  HCG is a drug that helps with the shrinkage effects in males after long-term steroid use.  Talk about adding insult to injury.  Not only did Canseco get charged with a misdemeanor for transport of misbranded medication, he admitted to having a problem most guys never want to talk about.  Canseco’s publicist is probably shaking their head in disgust and disbelief.  But if I was his publicist I would try to spin this to look as if this is an ongoing problem he has to deal with because of his past actions.  I would downplay the actual “smuggling” incident but advise Canseco to deliver the message of, “this is another effect steroids can take on your body.”  Turn the situation into a positive message.  Hell, write a new book on the side-affects of steroid use.  But in the end, stop taking illegal substances, no matter what they are, because it’s ultimately just a major headache for you to have to deal with.

See you when I see you,

Wayne

Will it ever stop?

Picture from www.missxpose.com

Adam “Pacman” Jones (Cornerback, Dallas Cowboys) was involved in another altercation on Wednesday. (FOX News) Jones has been arrested six times since coming into the NFL with the Tennessee Titans in 2005. He has also been involved in several other incidents, such as this one, where the police arrived at the scene. Just last year NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, suspended Jones for the entire season for his involvement in a Las Vegas shooting. “Pacman” was re-instated back into the league in August. As for this hiccup in Jones’ attempt to “stay clean,” he simply engaged in a verbal disagreement with a security guard at a Dallas hotel. Right? Wrong. The security guard that was on the other end of this argument was one of the guards that Jones had assigned to him to look out for his safety and keep him from getting involved in any wrongdoing. This looks terrible in the eyes of the media. Their perspective is that you have somebody that has to be under constant watch, but those people hired to look after him can’t even control him. Granted, the details of the altercation haven’t fully come out yet. The “damages” caused at the hotel consisted of the breaking of a glass umbrella on the vanity in the bathroom. This sincerely could have been a friendly scuffle that went a little too far. This scenario is what, as his publicist, I would be selling to the media. Until the complete facts come out, downplay this situation as much as possible. When the details of the incident do come out, try to spin the situation to not look near as bad as everyone made it out to be. The last thing you want is the Commissioner coming down on Jones with a vengeance again. As his publicist, I would try to deter the negative press and create positive press. In the next couple of weeks, as the NFL Security looks into this issue, get Jones involved in the Dallas/Ft. Worth community. On his days off, advise Jones to volunteer and do service. But most importantly, as Jones’ publicist, tell him to stop. Ask him to evaluate his life and come to terms that he is throwing on opportunity of a lifetime away by constantly messing up. Tell “Pacman” to look out for his future, put the past behind him, and wash his hands clean of the present.

See you when I see you,

Wayne

Josh Howard at it again…

Over the last year or so, Josh Howard (Forward, Dallas Mavericks) has been known for his controversy. Howard easily has the most talent out of any player on the entire Mavericks roster, yet it is his mouth that makes him look terrible. In the past, Howard had a red flag on his name in the NBA draft because of involvement with marijuana in college at Wake Forest. Then just last spring before a playoff game, Howard let the media know that he does occasionally use marijuana and went on to convey that a lot of guys in the NBA do. What? Sell yourself out…maybe okay because it’s your problem, but to accuse players from all over the league, come on. Howard was also arrested in North Carolina for street racing just to add to the mix. And now this Wednesday, his latest stint surfaced to the media. Josh Howard was volunteering at Allen Iverson’s (Guard, Denver Nuggets) charity flag football tournament in July of this summer when he was caught by a local rapper on a cell phone video during the national anthem saying, “’The Star-Spangled Banner’ is going on. I don’t celebrate this [expletive]. I’m black.” (Josh Howard) Wait a minute. Hold on. Josh, you had to know that this wasn’t going to go over to well. If anything, give some reason as to why you would have the audacity to say such a thing. From his publicist’s standpoint…WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING! No, but really, his publicist should first and foremost make sure that the video wasn’t taken out of context. Such as the mere fact it is a possibility that it was some kind of joke or they were just kidding around. Secondly, make this man apologize for his actions. This story broke on Wednesday and there still hasn’t been a public apology. That should have happened within hours of the story being released. You would also have to explain to Howard that the national anthem doesn’t embody racism. If anything it embraces freedom and independence no matter what race you are. There are still some racial tensions in the U.S., but the “Star-Spangled Banner” isn’t a piece of art, yes art, that expresses any form of racism. The bottom line is, nobody cares what color you are Josh, this was just a very foolish move on your part. But you get the pleasure of looking like an idiot in front of thousands of fans, before all 82 games, with your hand over your heart as that national anthem plays throughout the arena…and we all know that deep down you just don’t give a damn.

Vince Young Falling Off?

picture courtesy of newsday.com

You’ve got to be kidding me! University of Texas athletes at the professional football level are truly pieces of work. Ricky Williams (Running Back, Miami Dolphins), Cedric Benson (Running Back, Chicago Bears), and now Vince Young (Quarterback, Tennessee Titans). Ricky Williams, a Heisman Trophy winner, was an outstanding running back…until he fell off the deep end and decided it would make more sense to smoke pot and go into seclusion, than to make millions playing football. Cedric Benson was an “alright” running back in the NFL, but he also messed it all up. He thought it would be a great idea to get extremely drunk and resist or not resist arrest after being accused of driving a boat while intoxicated (verdict is still out). After this incident, the Bears haven’t let him play and are shopping him around the league hoping somebody takes a chance. That leads me to my man Vince Young (VY). VY is arguably the greatest college football player of the last decade if not the best ever. Over the summer, stories broke out that he seriously considered retiring after his Offensive Rookie Player of the Year Award season. He somewhat silenced that rumor by saying his words were simply taken out of context. Good. But now the same thing has surfaced after only being into Week 1 of the NFL season. Last Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, VY threw two interceptions and appeared to be disgusted with himself as he sat on the bench with his head in his hands. Jeff Fisher, the Titans head coach, had to get VY off the bench at notify him when the next offensive series was starting. The following day, after the game, a story from ESPN reported that VY went missing for around four hours after up and leaving his home while visiting with family. VY left with no cell phone and with no information about where he was headed. His publicist and the Titans organization later informed the media that he was at a friend’s house and that it was no big deal. Once again, good. Oh, but the next day ESPN released another story. This time it was VY’s mother who stated that her son “was hurting inside and out” after being booed by fans for is lack of performance during Sunday’s game (VY’s Mother). His mother was worried about his emotional state of mind and was worried that her son was suffering from depression. VY’s agent, Major Adams, seemed taken back by all of these allegations. Adams told reporters that these rumors weren’t true and that he didn’t have a “fragile” emotional state of mind. So, regardless of what is or isn’t true, here are my words of advice to you VY…Hang in there man. Prove people wrong. If there is some emotional problems or depression that does exist, seek help. Do whatever you have to do to get back on track. Don’t be another let down as another University of Texas football player that just couldn’t hack it in the NFL. Don’t let the pressure get to you. Overcome that and prove yourself as the outstanding athlete that you are. I believe in you VY, go out there and wreck it.