Angry Young Runner
 

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/16915995.htm

Angry young runner

Former Penn State and NFL star Larry Johnson had his game face on at charity dinner Thursday.

JERRY KELLAR jkellar@timesleader.com

READING – He walked into the historic Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Hotel late Thursday afternoon wearing a spiffy warmup and a menacing scowl. That frown has become as much a Larry Johnson trademark as the former Penn State football star’s fierce rushing style.

With L.J., some things never change. Only, his angry young man act is playing on Sundays these days – and playing quite well at that.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ All-Pro running back was the featured celebrity at the 8th annual Second Mile Kick-Off dinner. Run by former Nittany Lion defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, the Second Mile helps children who are dealing with “challenging circumstances.”

Johnson, who rushed for more than 1,700 yards the last two seasons for the Chiefs, was accompanied by his parents, Larry and Christine. Mom and dad looked happy to be on hand.

L.J. … well, he was typical L.J.

After changing into an expensive-looking suit, he signed his name to a few dozen items that were to be auctioned off for the charity later in the evening. He chatted with dinner officials and posed for autographs with fans, never once displaying even a hint of a smile.

During a 15-minute interview with newspaper reporters, L.J. appeared disinterested, continually fiddling with his Blackberry and staring at the floor.

He looked up occasionally, especially when asked if he is misunderstood as a human being.

“I really don’t care anymore,” he said. “I play football. That’s what I was born to do and that’s what I’m doing.”

It’s fitting that the 27-year-old Pomfret. Md., native places controversial NFL legend Jim Brown at the top of his football idols list. L.J. can appear every bit as cold and unapproachable.

“I think that’s what makes him who he is,” Larry Johnson Sr. said of his oldest son. “He likes to have a mystique. Larry likes to be intimidating. He likes to walk into a room and get your attention. ‘Wow, should we stay away or should we approach him?’ That’s the way he is.”

L.J. isn’t sure if he’s among the most disliked players in the Chiefs locker room, as was written recently by a Kansas City columnist.

“Guys think what they want to think. Not everybody gets along,” he said. “Like I said, I don’t really care what anybody else thinks. I do what I was born to do. That’s the only thing people expect of me. I show up on Sundays and I play.”

As for the writer’s comparison of Johnson to Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, L.J. responded: “I do what I’m gonna do on a normal basis and he wakes up and dreams to be me on a normal basis. So it doesn’t bother me.”

He has heard other such unflattering comparisons before.

“They also said that Penn State running backs won’t be able to do anything (in the NFL) either. … Basically, the way I look at it, I really wasn’t supposed to do anything.”

Unlike most of his recent Nittany Lion predecessors, L.J.’s career has taken off at the highest level. Last season, he carried the ball an NFL-record 416 times and gained 1,789 yards. That topped his personal-best of 1,750 yards, set in the previous year.

“Every opportunity that came his way, he went running through the door,” said Johnson Sr., Penn State’s veteran defensive line coach. “At Penn State he did it. Kansas City, he’s doing it, too. There’s something in his makeup that makes him who he is. So why change it? I’d like to see him smile all the time and be happy. But that’s not who he is right now.”

Although L.J. was never considered a bad teammate while at Penn State, that perception apparently has changed with the Chiefs, according to reports.

“At Penn State, we didn’t play for money, either,” L.J. explains. “So that’s usually a different situation. Guys get jealous. First year (in the NFL), you weren’t doing anything and (nobody) expected anything and now you’re the talk of the town. There’s a lot of jealously. It’s something that can’t be ignored, something that doesn’t go away. You just gotta accept it for what it is and keep moving.”

His goal is to make a mark on the sport he loves before giving it up.

“I want to win two or three Super Bowls and, hopefully, get into the Hall of Fame,” L.J. said. “I won’t say I can be the best-ever, but I do want to be mentioned as one of the best.”

As for the writer’s comparison of Johnson to Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, L.J. responded: “I do what I’m gonna do on a normal basis and he wakes up and dreams to be me on a normal basis. So it doesn’t bother me.” :spock:

It's true. I dream about being Larry. But I certainly don't say nasty things about him.

The kid needs to grow up, realize he isnt in a gang, and Carl should cut a deal and trade him before his bad attitude and lack of team motivation gets worse.

:rolleyes:

As much as I admire his play is just how much I detest him as a person. This thug crap is completely unnecessary and more then a little embarassing.

Good bye and good riddance LJ when you go east as a FA.

As long as he stays out of trouble and produces on the field. I'll bet there's a lot of Chiefs players who are pricks but just put up a facade. There is something a little phoney about a guy raised in the burbs acting like he's all street. Some people just aren't good at public relations functions. Maybe when he's in his comfortable element he's a totally different person.

LJ doesn't take s*** from anybody, which is the right attitude. He's not self-promotional. Leave him alone, and let him pound the rock.

Well said. just because Larry's not out kissing baby's does not mean he's not a good person.

<i>Some people just aren't good at public relations functions.</i>

It just doesn't take much PR talent to know to put the Blackberry down while doing an interview. Or to at least look halfway pleasant while doing a childrens charity gig. And he obviously cares what people think or he wouldn't go out of his way to put on the street thug show.

The man is pathetic.

The thing is, I don't think you could call LJ an attention whore. He's not out with a bunch of antics that get him noticed. When interviewed, he says some pretty controversial crap, but I honestly get the feeling that if he was never interviewed again, he wouldn't give a crap.

Run LJ Run! He's got the right attitude for the type of running back we are paying him to be. Shit, if he can be half as good as Jim Brown, I'll take the stupid attitude. Just as long as he doens't turn into a big showboat ala TO or Moss.

If Larry was white, this wouldn't be an issue. I am talking about his attitude because obviously white guys don't make good NFL RB's, but if any other player has this attitude and is other than black, it would not be a story. I could name a lot of Chiefs players that are self centered, rude, jerks, that we were more than happy to keep here. Nick Lowery was the biggest jerk I have ever met. Tony G tries to act polite, but when the cameras aren't on him I've seen him act like a jerk.

Larry isn't here to make us smile. He is here to play ball, and that is what he is going to do. Why should he care what the fans think? Trent Green is a perfect example. He came here, played his tail off, played through injuries, and played very well leading this team to the top of many offensive catagories. As soon as his play starts slipping he is getting booed by his home town team, and the fans are calling for him to be traded. I can understand the trade, but booing a man like Trent Green is as reeruned as all of the jerks that constantly boo Mike Sweeney. We, as the fans in general, treat the players as a product, then go all up in arms when they start acting like a product.

Well put

LJ is a Meetpeaker?

I never would have guessed.

I usually shy away from sentiments like this, but in this case, I totally agree.

It has a lot to do with race. But I guarentee ck_IN or anyone else who calls the guy a thug and says he needs to realize he's not in a gang doesn't have the balls to admit it.