In my first week in Tallahassee, two of the subjects I wrote about are heading in totally opposite directions. One, FSU All-American shot putter Garrett Johnson, is off to Oxford this fall as FSU’s first Rhodes Scholar in 30 years. Johnson is intelligent, articulate and one of the most impressive interview subjects I’ve encountered.
On the flip side, former FSU linebacker A.J. Nicholson can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Despite being given multiple second chances already, Nicholson was arrested for breaking into former teammate Lorenzo Booker’s apartment and stealing stereo equipment and other items. His latest mental/moral blunder came only weeks after the Bengals selected him in April’s NFL Draft. Whether he is found guilty or not remains uncertain, but what is clearly obvious is that Nicholoson has some serious issues to take care of if he is ever going to lead a productive life beyond the football field.
I’m not sure if Nicholson and Johnson ever crossed paths during their time on campus, but if Nicholson ever decides to turn his act around, he might want to seek out Johnson for some advice.
On a lighter note, how does Nicholson’s latest arrest and the circumstances surrounding it rank with some of the biggest mental blunders ever made by big-time athletes? Remember former LSU running back Cecil Collins? What about Devil Rays prospect Delmon Young throwing his bat at an umpire? Think Ricky Williams really wants to play in the CFL?
What’s your favorite bonehead move by an athlete?
Posted by joe hillman, st. petersburg on 06/08 at 03:00 PM
chris webber may go down in history as pulling the biggest boneheaded move (call timeout with no timeouts at crunch time in a championship game). but with this nicholson:
what kind of mental patient who is about to sign (at least) a six-figure contract goes and breaks in and steals $1,700 worth of stero gear?
just stupid! also makes you wonder what kind of teammate he was if he would do that to one is his fellow seminoles?
Advertisement
Send Us Your Comments |
Terms & Conditions |
* Comments Must Include Full Name And Location
Posted by Scott Carter, Tallahassee on 06/08 at 09:43 PM
Joe, so far you’re the blog’s No. 1 fan. Thanks for reading.
At least Webber’s timeout goof wasn’t criminal. Of course, he later ran afoul of the law when he was hit with perjury charges for lying to a grand jury in a recruiting scandal at Michigan.