Flanagan: LJ rips Vermeil in HBO interview

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16118327.htm

JEFFREY FLANAGAN TOP OF THE MORNIN’
Kansas City Star

Johnson tuned out when Vermeil talked

Larry Johnson, appearing in a feature with Cris Carter on HBO’s “Inside the NFL” this week, makes it clear again that he really wasn’t all that interested in playing for Dick Vermeil.

“I wouldn’t pay attention,” Johnson said of playing under Vermeil. “My eyes, I would be up in the sky. You know, I would be sleeping in my locker. I wouldn’t carry my playbook because I was just trying to get away from this building, you know, when Dick was here.”

(It should be interesting when Vermeil calls the Chiefs-Oakland game for NFL Network Dec. 23.)

Carter’s interview with Johnson, which appears at 9 tonight, also focuses on LJ’s relationship with Herm Edwards.

Carter asked LJ, “Do you think Herm Edwards, being an African-American and you being raised, of course, by an African-American, that you see a lot of similarities in Herm that you saw in your dad that made you open up to him?”

LJ’s response: “I think so. I could relate to Herman. I couldn’t do that with the other coaches I had because they had not done it. You know, they haven’t put those pads or they haven’t been in the situation as a young black athlete and know what we had to go through.

“You know, when we go out, you know, we like to go out. You know, we like to hang out. We like to have fun. But then you got to worry about the guy around the corner with the gun. You got to worry about this girl on the block. You got to worry about, you know, your parents. You got to worry about your homeboys taking advantage of you.

“There’s so much things you got to worry about being a young black athlete. And to be able to have a father like mine and have a coach like Herm, I was able to escape a lot of those realities and find myself in a new ray of light.”

Edwards also contributes to the show.

“First time I saw (Johnson), I said: ‘Are you ready? Are you ready to touch the ball 30 times a game?’ ” Edwards said. “And he kind of looked up at me, and he probably thought, ‘I haven’t even met coach yet, and he’s — what, is he messin’ with me?’ ”

[FAX]

Originally Posted by johnnykev

Yeah, but it all begins with one person. I won't tell LJ and "some of those rapper friends of his". I'll worry about the possibilities of hatred existing in me. That's where change occurs. Perhaps you ought to consider that too instead of putting the responsibility to change on someone other than yourself.

What has Mr. Mr. Kotter done to LJ now?

FAX

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by johnnykev

Yeah, but it all begins with one person. I won't tell LJ and "some of those rapper friends of his". I'll worry about the possibilities of hatred existing in me. That's where change occurs. Perhaps you ought to consider that too instead of putting the responsibility to change on someone other than yourself.

You see dude, that's where you've got it all wrong.

I don't ask anything of others, that I haven't asked of myself.

I do. I have. I live it. I'm just annoyed and disappointed as hell, when I see people who can't seem to put it behind us. They want to dwell on it, and make excuses. And in doing so, THEY perpetuate it.

Originally Posted by FAX

What has Mr. Mr. Kotter done to LJ now?

FAX

I must be being "racist," for telling a black man....to grow up...and to

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by MVChiefFan

And, what did that stem from? A black person getting beat senseless by white police officers. We could just keep flip flopping hate crimes. I'm not saying that there isn't wrong on both sides but c'mon, blacks have been second class forever now. Sure, it may be getting better but it's still going to take time. All I'm saying is don't rip on people when you haven't walked in their shoes. For all we know, LJ may have had a horrible life. That's what frustrates me the most is that everyone has a damn opinion about what everyone else does or thinks, just let it go. We all need understanding instead of just "get over it".

I haven't ripped on LJ.

But I will rip on people who don't get it, regardless of color.

Second class? Sorry, I don't see it that way. Green is the biggest color that seperates us.

[Easy 6]

That middle class upbringing of Larrys must have been tough.

All of us hateful crackas just wouldnt understand.

Its whiteys fault...PERIOD.

[johnnykev]

Originally Posted by JonesCrusher

People like you are dependants of racism, you use it as an excuse for everything, you would be lost without it, you might have to start being responsible for your own actions without your poor little old picked on me crutch.

Grow the F**k up!

Where am I leaning on a crutch? I am my own man, is that a crutch? Is being able to be proud of who I am rather than the color of my skin make me "dependant" on racism? It sounds more like you're the one making some excuse. I make no excuses for who I am. Why should I? Responsible? You don't know me just as I don't know you. Don't try to place your standards on my life. And as for growing up, that's just funny...

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

So we are gonna give him a pass on playing the race card, wallowing in the victim mentality....and seemingly taking pride in being a "thug"...because he is black?

Seriously, WTF are you reading? Is it the same article that was posted at the beignning of this thread? Please point out to me exactly where LJ "played the race card" when he ANSWERED A QUESTION ABOUT RACE. And point out where he claimed to be a victim. And where he took pride in being a thug.

This thread has gotten embarrassing.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

... Well, my experience has been that most "stars" are very down-to-earth and gracious. I live in a neighborhood were many "famous" people reside and let me tell ya, they're pretty much the same as you and me. I've yet to meet a *star* with an ego....

Damn, Dane...THAT'S exactly what I've been saying the whole time.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Seriously, WTF are you reading? Is it the same article that was posted at the beignning of this thread? Please point out to me exactly where LJ "played the race card" when he ANSWERED A QUESTION ABOUT RACE. And point out where he claimed to be a victim. And where he took pride in being a thug.

This thread has gotten embarrassing.

It's not just the article posted here. You can dig through the archives for other threads if you need context. There were even those video-links that were posted a while back.

This just reinforces all of those.

From the article though:

...“I wouldn’t pay attention,” Johnson said of playing under Vermeil. “My eyes, I would be up in the sky. You know, I would be sleeping in my locker. I wouldn’t carry my playbook because I was just trying to get away from this building, you know, when Dick was here.”

Carter asked LJ, “Do you think Herm Edwards, being an African-American and you being raised, of course, by an African-American, that you see a lot of similarities in Herm that you saw in your dad that made you open up to him?”

LJ’s response: “I think so. I could relate to Herman. I couldn’t do that with the other coaches I had because they had not done it. You know, they haven’t put those pads or they haven’t been in the situation as a young black athlete and know what we had to go through.

“You know, when we go out, you know, we like to go out. You know, we like to hang out. We like to have fun. But then you got to worry about the guy around the corner with the gun. You got to worry about this girl on the block. You got to worry about, you know, your parents. You got to worry about your homeboys taking advantage of you.

“There’s so much things you got to worry about being a young black athlete. And to be able to have a father like mine and have a coach like Herm, I was able to escape a lot of those realities and find myself in a new ray of light.”

So, you gonna tell me, now, you don't see it?

Everytime it seems LJ is gonna grow out of it, something like this comes along to stir up those older impressions.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Seriously, WTF are you reading? Is it the same article that was posted at the beignning of this thread? Please point out to me exactly where LJ "played the race card" when he ANSWERED A QUESTION ABOUT RACE. And point out where he claimed to be a victim. And where he took pride in being a thug.

This thread has gotten embarrassing.

Yep exactly what I was thinking. Some people need to take reading classes again.

LJ isn't talking about being black and growing up in the hood he is talking about the life of a young black athlete in the NFL with all of the hanger-ons, groupies, and the thugs that try to drag you down. He is saying because of his father and Herm that he has been able now to avoid those situations that could get him in trouble.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Seriously, WTF are you reading? Is it the same article that was posted at the beignning of this thread? Please point out to me exactly where LJ "played the race card" when he ANSWERED A QUESTION ABOUT RACE. And point out where he claimed to be a victim. And where he took pride in being a thug.

This thread has gotten embarrassing.

I agree that the thread has taken a dramatic turn. Things just tend to spill out when any mention of race is made.

I think its good to have discussions like this to clear the air.

But its never going away...there are hateful people of all colors that will never change their stripes, so there will always be racism.

Where i tend to get riled up is when people act like its all one sided.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by MVChiefFan

Everyone who is black or totally without a doubt understands what it is like to live your whole life as a black person please raise your hands.

No one?

Well, by all means, please continue ripping.

Everyone who is a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE SPORTS CELEBRITY or totally without a doubt understands what it is like to live your life as a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE SPORTS CELEBRITY please raise your hands.

No one?

Cry me a fucking river.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by FAX

Lets all just crack a pop in our ass and get along little dogies.

FAX

Just FYI and NTTAWWT, but it’s border’n on TMI.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by stevieray

I haven't ripped on LJ.

But I will rip on people who don't get it, regardless of color.

Second class? Sorry, I don't see it that way. Green is the biggest color that seperates us.

Greatest post on this thread. Very well said.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Everytime it seems LJ is gonna grow out of it, something like this comes along to stir up those older impressions.

Something like this? Something like what?

What did LJ say in this interview... or, more specifically since none of us have seen the actual interview, the portions quoted in this article?

He said he didn't like playing for Dick Vermeil. No surprise there.

Then, in response to a direct question about race that compared Herm to LJ's own father, LJ said he liked playing for Herm because he can relate to him. Both as a former player, which is the first thing LJ mentions, and because Herm is black and understands what young black athletes go through.

What is controversial about those comments? Absolutely nothing. Like Flanagan said in the article, the only thing that will come out of this is that Vermeil doing the commentary on the KC @ Oakland game might be more interesting.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Just FYI and NTTAWWT, but it’s border’n on TMI.

Gotcha homie.

FAX