Flanagan: LJ rips Vermeil in HBO interview - Page 12

tk13 · 11-29-2006, 02:43 AM

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?’ ”

**dirk digler** · 11-29-2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

The ratio has nothing to do with it. Why are the problems listed (groupies, hangers-on) limited to young black athletes? I'll answer it for you - it has nothing to do with color. It has everything to do with money and the power that comes from it.

I agree money and power are part of it but also the fact that young Black athletes have a completely different lifestyle than young white athletes and I would imagine that young black athletes hang out with other young black athletes.

DJJasonp · 11-29-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I agree money and power are part of it but also the fact that young Black athletes have a completely different lifestyle than young white athletes and I would imagine that young black athletes hang out with other young black athletes.

That's quite a broad generalization.......I remember growing up in the 80's and seeing George Brett on the town....with a group....chasing women....getting drunk, etc. etc...

Same goes for DeBerg when he was our QB in the 90's.......

Black and white will continue to exist as "different" as long as interviewers, writers, reporters, etc. continue to put color as a title in front of their profession....

**dirk digler** · 11-29-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

We disagree then; because I consider his comments in this article to be divisive, and an indirect use of the race card. And it's just unnecessary.

I'm not saying (in case you missed it) he's from trying to be from the ghetto; I'm saying he's invoking the race card, and embracing the whole thug-gangster-hip/hop persona to a degree that contributes to racist divisiveness.And THAT'S the part that dirk and PittGorilla and others are missing...this SHOULDN'T be about race, despite Carter's question. LJ chose to make it a racial issue--with several references.

What is divisive about what he said? He stated the truth and some of you old white farts don't like to hear it.

He didn't choose to make it a racial issue at all. Chris Carter asked the question about Herm being a black head coach. The first thing he said was because Herm played the game he understands and I think most would agree with that.

johnnykev · 11-29-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

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.

Right on, man. Same feelings I have about the subject. It's bound to get absurd at some point and I just felt it was far too one-sided to let things go.

Taco John · 11-29-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

What is divisive about what he said? He stated the truth and some of you old white farts don't like to hear it.

He didn't choose to make it a racial issue at all. Chris Carter asked the question about Herm being a black head coach. The first thing he said was because Herm played the game he understands and I think most would agree with that.

Dick Vermiel, a Superbowl winner, when he was young, put on the pads as a back-up quarterback for San Jose State. Dick was a young athlete once. He has never been black, though.

Hammock Parties · 11-29-2006, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Dick Vermiel, a Superbowl winner, when he was young, put on the pads as a back-up quarterback for San Jose State. Dick was a young athlete once. He has never been black, though.

San Jose State doesn't compare to the NFL.

**dirk digler** · 11-29-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJasonp

That's quite a broad generalization.......I remember growing up in the 80's and seeing George Brett on the town....with a group....chasing women....getting drunk, etc. etc...

Same goes for DeBerg when he was our QB in the 90's.......

Black and white will continue to exist as "different" as long as interviewers, writers, reporters, etc. continue to put color as a title in front of their profession....

No question DJ.

But when was the last time a young white NFL player had a posse?

**dirk digler** · 11-29-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Dick Vermiel, a Superbowl winner, when he was young, put on the pads as a back-up quarterback for San Jose State. Dick was a young athlete once. He has never been black, though.

I think he is alluding to NFL experience but nice try.

**Baby Lee** · 11-29-2006, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumbass Carter

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?

This is just plain poor interviewing.
LJ was raised by his parents. Who says "I was raised by an xxx-american," unless he was adopted by someone of a different race or culture than his own? And, correct me if I'm wrong, but LJ was raised by parentS, plural.
I'll grant that it's probably a limitation of Carter's intellect, rather than any actual intent, but Carter's question basically said "OK, LJ, I'm gonna inrterview you as a demographic, not as a person."

StcChief · 11-29-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Dick Vermiel, a Superbowl winner, when he was young, put on the pads as a back-up quarterback for San Jose State. Dick was a young athlete once. He has never been black, though.

and we all know the black athletes have had the hardest time of any one. /sarcasm

stevieray · 11-29-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

"OK, LJ, I'm gonna inrterview you as a demographic, not as a person."

Hootie · 11-29-2006, 03:58 PM

luckily for us, we're in a small market, so this won't be a big deal to anyone other than the fans of the Chiefs...and even so, I don't really care. DV is out, Herm is in, whooopdeedooo...

Hootie · 11-29-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Dick Vermiel, a Superbowl winner, when he was young, put on the pads as a back-up quarterback for San Jose State. Dick was a young athlete once. He has never been black, though.

how did your defense handle our young, black athlete?!

DAMN DUDE, KC IS WAY BETTER THAN DENVER!

Taco John · 11-29-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

San Jose State doesn't compare to the NFL.

Who cares? Dick Vermiel was still an athelete. Dick Vermiel has forgotten about more problems than LJ has ever had. LJ is the biggest poseur in all of sports. I had a harder upbringing than this fool did. His father was a former high school vice-principal. He's currently coaching the D-line at Penn State. In the 80's his father was a 6 time coach of the year in Maryland, winning 3 state champonships.

What a poseur.

Hammock Parties · 11-29-2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Who cares? Dick Vermiel was still an athelete. Dick Vermiel has forgotten about more problems than LJ has ever had. LJ is the biggest poseur in all of sports. I had a harder upbringing than this fool did. His father was is a former high school vice-principal. He's currently coaching the D-line at Penn State. In the 80's his father was a 6 time coach of the year in Maryland, winning 3 state champonships.

What a poseur.

You've misinterpreted the situation. LJ isn't trying to project some lie that he had a hard upbringing. He's just saying he related to Herm better because they have a common bond in that they were both young, black, professional athletes.

11-29-2006, 02:43 AM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1797500	Flanagan: LJ rips Vermeil in HBO interview 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?’ ”
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11-29-2006, 03:58 PM	#177
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	luckily for us, we're in a small market, so this won't be a big deal to anyone other than the fans of the Chiefs...and even so, I don't really care. DV is out, Herm is in, whooopdeedooo...
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