2008 Woodie Awards
Terrell Owens: Love Him or Hate Him? Part 1
Steve Conoscenti Sports Columnist
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: Sports
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I'm not the biggest T.O. fan. As a matter of fact, I don't think I know too many Owens fans. He is one of the most gifted athletes I have ever seen, yet even Eagles fans dislike him. You have to try hard to be a top player at your position and still have your hometown fans boo you.
Let's go back a little bit, back to the 2000 season in which T.O. had the first big season of his career. He finished with 1,451 yards and 13 touchdown catches. Owens was finally making a name for himself. But how did he make a name for himself? Putting up good numbers is not enough for T.O.
Normally, a player who put up those kinds of numbers would be remembered for his play. Not Terrell Owens. He made a name for himself by starting controversy. From that game forward, it seemed like T.O. made sure wherever he went he had to bring drama. Lets see if you remember these classic TO stories...
In 2001, the 49ers lost a game in overtime to the Chicago Bears, blowing a 19 point lead in the process. The Bear's game-winning score resulted from an intercepted pass mishandled by Owens. After the game, T.O. blamed Head Coach Steve Mariucci, saying Mariucci was trying to protect his personal friend and Bears' head coach Dick Jauron from a loss.
In 2002, during a Monday Night Football game in Seattle, Owens celebrated a touchdown reception by grabbing a Sharpie out of his sock, signing the ball he caught, and giving it to a person seated in the end zone luxury box of Shawn Springs (the cornerback he had just beaten). Later that season, T.O. celebrated another touchdown catch by taking pom-poms from a 49ers cheerleader and dancing around.
In 2004, the 49ers tried to trade Terrell Owens to the Baltimore Ravens, but he declined to report to his new team, forcing the 49ers to rescind the trade offer. He expressed his desire to play with the Eagles and even filed a grievance, claiming he should be a free agent.
In another Monday Night Football game in the 2004 season, T.O. appeared in a skit with Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan that involved some risqué behavior and other controversial material. The skit was later investigated by the FCC. Could ABC have found anyone better to stick in such a controversial skit?