Chiefs LJ's father hurt by his remarks - Page 5

Sure-Oz · 10-27-2009, 10:51 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1534253.html

Posted on Tue, Oct. 27, 2009
Larry Johnson’s father among those hurt by his remarks
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

His voice comes through soft but pointed. He remembers his childhood in the Jim Crow South and understands the daggers of inequality and the tarnish of discrimination.

“I went through that,” he said. “My generation.”

Larry Johnson Sr. said that he vowed so many years ago that he would teach his children to treat everyone with compassion. He said he raised them to consider everyone equal, regardless of race, gender, beliefs or sexual orientation. He said it hurts that his son, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, used gay slurs in public two times in 24 hours.

“That’s just not who we are and not what we believe,” said the elder Johnson, 56. “It’s not how he was raised.

“It’s tough for me as a father.”

He said young Larry learned that hateful or inappropriate words are “just not tolerated.”

On Tuesday, Johnson learned that lesson again. After he issued an apology, the Chiefs instructed him to stay away from their headquarters and barred him from all team activities. Johnson remains on the roster, and he will continue to be paid. He was similarly benched for three weeks last season before being suspended by the NFL because of his alleged involvement in separate skirmishes with two women at Kansas City nightspots.

The Chiefs did not say how long Johnson would be out or whether he might face further punishment from the team or the league. An NFL spokesman said this week that the league is investigating the matter. But Johnson wasn’t at the team’s complex Tuesday, and his locker was undisturbed.

It was at that locker where Johnson muttered a gay slur to reporters on Monday morning, hours after he posted disparaging remarks on his Twitter profile about Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s lack of football playing experience.

“Get your bundle of sticks ass out of here,” Johnson said after saying he wouldn’t speak publicly until Thursday, his normal day of meeting with the media.

On Tuesday, Johnson apologized in a statement released by his agent, Peter Schaffer. Neither incident was addressed specifically, and the apology was directed toward Haley, the Chiefs’ fans, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Johnson’s teammates.

“I regret my actions,” the statement read. “The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate. I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said.”

Rashad Robinson, senior programs director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said Johnson’s apology was a good start. Robinson said it was a sign that Johnson takes seriously the inflammatory nature of the slurs, and Robinson said he hopes Johnson learned the hard way that words can be damaging.

“For him to use the word and feel that it’s OK,” Robinson said, “it’s disappointing and really reminds us of the ongoing challenges we have in our community.

“We hope the statement is the first step. He has a real opportunity here. There are kids no doubt being bullied in Kansas City and across the country. This is one of the many words that get hurled at them to … feel ashamed of who they are. He (Johnson) is in an opportunity to be a role model for young people.”

Johnson’s father was his role model, and the old coach said his son’s words didn’t match what he was taught. Johnson Sr., the defensive line coach at Penn State University, was raised in Williamston, N.C., and he remembers the segregated water fountains and the split schools.

He said that his son is not homophobic and that he was raised with an emphasis on equality.

“Both sides of the world,” Johnson Sr. called it, and he said his son grew up knowing the difference between right and wrong.

The problem for Johnson is that he hasn’t always put his upbringing to good use. His Chiefs’ career has been stained by messy incidents, arrests and an attitude the team hoped had improved as he approaches his 30th birthday.

About a year ago, around the time Johnson was benched and suspended, Johnson tried to cleanse some parts of his life and the way he was perceived. He hired a new agent, Schaffer, who wouldn’t coddle him, and that was part of the plan to reinvent Johnson as a self-aware, if not reformed, NFL player.

“If someone is doing something I don’t perceive as being socially acceptable,” Schaffer said, “I express myself. But at the end of the day, the client makes the decision.

“I really believe that Larry Johnson has matured a great deal in the last 18 months.”

But then Sunday happened, and Johnson turned to Twitter. This message was posted to Johnson’s profile about three hours after the Chiefs lost 37-7 to the San Diego Chargers: “My father played for the coach from ‘rememeber the titans’. Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn.”

Johnson Sr. said he spoke with his son about the tweets and that, while he was flattered that his son was trying to compliment his father’s coaching abilities, he could have found a more diplomatic way of doing it.

“Could he have done it a little differently?” the elder Johnson said. “Sure.”

Larry Johnson later posted two derogatory references to gays, including writing to one of his Twitter followers that his profile included a “bundle of sticks pic.”

Through a spokesman, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt referred The Kansas City Star to the team’s statement on Johnson’s benching, which said the Chiefs are “continuing to investigate the alleged comments made by Larry Johnson. Until that review is complete, the Chiefs have instructed Larry to refrain from practicing with the Chiefs or participating in other team activities.”

Haley said he hoped that the Chiefs’ latest obstacle would somehow make the team tougher, similar to a practice last week in a cold, steady rain.

“I want, first and foremost, a mentally tough team,” Haley said, “and this will be part of that hardening.

“I truly believe that this will all be part of making us a team that is competitive and has a chance to win Super Bowls.”

Johnson Sr. said his son wants to be a part of the Chiefs as the team moves toward the future. He said his son still enjoys football and wants to finish his career in Kansas City. He said he fears that, despite the progress he said his son made in the past 12 months, that Johnson will now be known as an angry bigot who’s not in control of his words or actions. Johnson Sr. said his son’s latest outburst began with frustration and ended with a mistake — a mistake the elder Johnson said he hopes does not define his son.

“Now you’re labeled,” Johnson Sr. said. “It’s unfortunate.”

He said his son is different.

“He does not hate gays. That’s not Larry, and that’s not our family,” he said. “He’s my son. You can’t disown him. We just talk to him, listen to him, and help him move forward.”

@ Go to KansasCity.com and the Red Zone for the latest news on Larry Johnson and the Chiefs.

patteeu · 10-28-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewPhin

This is how I feel, more or less. I'm not really any more outraged that he called the pillowbiters than if he'd called them bitches, mother ****ers, or jackasses. It's just a symptom of the problem of LJ, and the Chiefs should rid themselves of the problem.

Also the fact that he can't keep his mouth shut on twitter and feels the need to go back and forth with a fan reveals just how deeply insecure and immature LJ is. Really pathetic.

Ditto. Aside from LJ's general immaturity and selfishness, the back and forth with the fan is what bothers me the most.

ChiefsOne · 10-28-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

I don't know if this proves that he hates gay people. Sure the remarks are offensive to say publicly, but many people make gay slurs and jokes all the time. Its part of life. In a way it degrades gay people but I don't think most people mean to actually poke fun at the fact of a homosexual. I say stuff sometimes jokingly about homosexuals to be funny, but I have nothing against gay people at all. Its in movies, songs, plays, all the time. People still make racist jokes about blacks, whites, Mexicans, and all sorts of people, but that doesn't mean they are racist. If that was the case Larry would be racist and a homophobe. So would nearly every other normal person in the world who has ever said anything degrading about another race....Maybe he does hate gay people? But nothing shows me proof of this.

My thoughts exactly, but you said it more eloquently than I ever could.
Well said.

Sticks-n-stones!

KCUnited · 10-28-2009, 07:54 AM

He needs to apologize to Bowe, who was probably offended the most.

PhillyChiefFan · 10-28-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Ditto. Aside from LJ's general immaturity and selfishness, the back and forth with the fan is what bothers me the most.

There is a line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to fans. It reminds me of LeGarrette Blount after the Boise State game.

It was bad enough that he suckerpunched an opposing player, but then when he got into it with the fans, he really lost any and all credibility.

Professional athletes should never cross that line with fans, no matter what the reason IMO.

jidar · 10-28-2009, 08:21 AM

I've called people pillowbiter hundreds if not thousands of times over my lifetime.

I shouldn't, and I know it. I'm about as homophobic as Elton John, in fact you can suck my dick if you think I'm homophobic, but it's just been the insult of choice for my generation and the one that followed.

It sucks ass that all the best insults have to be so hurtful to some people.

ps, I'm not in any way defending what Larry did. His dumb ass should have known better.

CoMoChief · 10-28-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyChiefFan

There is a line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to fans. It reminds me of LeGarrette Blount after the Boise State game.

It was bad enough that he suckerpunched an opposing player, but then when he got into it with the fans, he really lost any and all credibility.

Professional athletes should never cross that line with fans, no matter what the reason IMO.

If you're a fan and write on an athlete's twitter/facebook wall and talk shit....

Prepare to get it back. That's all.

Everyone says its the athlete that needs to hold the higher standard. Lets not forget the fan needs to show some sort of responsibility too.

Brock · 10-28-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

If you're a fan and write on an athlete's twitter/facebook wall and talk shit....

Prepare to get it back. That's all.

Everyone says its the athlete that needs to hold the higher standard. Lets not forget the fan needs to show some sort of responsibility too.

your and idiot.

CoMoChief · 10-28-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jidar

I've called people pillowbiter hundreds if not thousands of times over my lifetime.

I shouldn't, and I know it. I'm about as homophobic as Elton John, in fact you can suck my dick if you think I'm homophobic, but it's just been the insult of choice for my generation and the one that followed.

It sucks ass that all the best insults have to be so hurtful to some people.

ps, I'm not in any way defending what Larry did. His dumb ass should have known better.

People just need to sack up. If you're gay, prepare to get made fun of. That's just the way it works. It's weird, not considered normal, and society looks down upon it because it's very queer. If you **** goats, you're gonna get made fun of, people are gonna think you're weird.

CoMoChief · 10-28-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

your and idiot.

douchebag

Brock · 10-28-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

People just need to sack up. If you're gay, prepare to get made fun of. That's just the way it works. It's weird, not considered normal, and society looks down upon it because it's very queer. If you **** goats, you're gonna get made fun of, people are gonna think you're weird.

Someday this attitude is going to earn you a brutal ass-kicking.

CoMoChief · 10-28-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Someday this attitude is going to earn you a brutal ass-kicking.

Not quite. Now go put your helmet on and get your crayons and book and go play sweetheart.

Brock · 10-28-2009, 08:42 AM

yeah, Como, the world is wrong and you're right. I'd like to see you go into work at whatever convenience store you work at and start throwing that word around. See how long you stay employed.

NewChief · 10-28-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

If you're a fan and write on an athlete's twitter/facebook wall and talk shit....

Prepare to get it back. That's all.

Everyone says its the athlete that needs to hold the higher standard. Lets not forget the fan needs to show some sort of responsibility too.

Seriously? Athletes and stars exist at the pleasure of the fans (consumers). Unfortunately, our society is in a bad habit currently of rewarding bad and idiotic behavior (Paris Hilton, Octamom, etc..), which has made stars think they can act like idiots and get away with it and even be rewarded for it. LJ is seeing that just because certain segments of the population can act like idiots and go back and forth with fans, the vast majority of America is disgusted by such behavior and won't reward it.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 10-28-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

People just need to sack up. If you're gay, prepare to get made fun of. That's just the way it works. It's weird, not considered normal, and society looks down upon it because it's very queer. If you **** goats, you're gonna get made fun of, people are gonna think you're weird.

Wow.

Sure-Oz · 10-28-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Wow.

Consider the source

10-27-2009, 10:51 PM
Sure-Oz Stay positive, don't give up Join Date: Dec 2001 Casino cash: $1589383	LJ's father hurt by his remarks http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1534253.html Posted on Tue, Oct. 27, 2009 Larry Johnson’s father among those hurt by his remarks By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star His voice comes through soft but pointed. He remembers his childhood in the Jim Crow South and understands the daggers of inequality and the tarnish of discrimination. “I went through that,” he said. “My generation.” Larry Johnson Sr. said that he vowed so many years ago that he would teach his children to treat everyone with compassion. He said he raised them to consider everyone equal, regardless of race, gender, beliefs or sexual orientation. He said it hurts that his son, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, used gay slurs in public two times in 24 hours. “That’s just not who we are and not what we believe,” said the elder Johnson, 56. “It’s not how he was raised. “It’s tough for me as a father.” He said young Larry learned that hateful or inappropriate words are “just not tolerated.” On Tuesday, Johnson learned that lesson again. After he issued an apology, the Chiefs instructed him to stay away from their headquarters and barred him from all team activities. Johnson remains on the roster, and he will continue to be paid. He was similarly benched for three weeks last season before being suspended by the NFL because of his alleged involvement in separate skirmishes with two women at Kansas City nightspots. The Chiefs did not say how long Johnson would be out or whether he might face further punishment from the team or the league. An NFL spokesman said this week that the league is investigating the matter. But Johnson wasn’t at the team’s complex Tuesday, and his locker was undisturbed. It was at that locker where Johnson muttered a gay slur to reporters on Monday morning, hours after he posted disparaging remarks on his Twitter profile about Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s lack of football playing experience. “Get your bundle of sticks ass out of here,” Johnson said after saying he wouldn’t speak publicly until Thursday, his normal day of meeting with the media. On Tuesday, Johnson apologized in a statement released by his agent, Peter Schaffer. Neither incident was addressed specifically, and the apology was directed toward Haley, the Chiefs’ fans, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Johnson’s teammates. “I regret my actions,” the statement read. “The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate. I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said.” Rashad Robinson, senior programs director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said Johnson’s apology was a good start. Robinson said it was a sign that Johnson takes seriously the inflammatory nature of the slurs, and Robinson said he hopes Johnson learned the hard way that words can be damaging. “For him to use the word and feel that it’s OK,” Robinson said, “it’s disappointing and really reminds us of the ongoing challenges we have in our community. “We hope the statement is the first step. He has a real opportunity here. There are kids no doubt being bullied in Kansas City and across the country. This is one of the many words that get hurled at them to … feel ashamed of who they are. He (Johnson) is in an opportunity to be a role model for young people.” Johnson’s father was his role model, and the old coach said his son’s words didn’t match what he was taught. Johnson Sr., the defensive line coach at Penn State University, was raised in Williamston, N.C., and he remembers the segregated water fountains and the split schools. He said that his son is not homophobic and that he was raised with an emphasis on equality. “Both sides of the world,” Johnson Sr. called it, and he said his son grew up knowing the difference between right and wrong. The problem for Johnson is that he hasn’t always put his upbringing to good use. His Chiefs’ career has been stained by messy incidents, arrests and an attitude the team hoped had improved as he approaches his 30th birthday. About a year ago, around the time Johnson was benched and suspended, Johnson tried to cleanse some parts of his life and the way he was perceived. He hired a new agent, Schaffer, who wouldn’t coddle him, and that was part of the plan to reinvent Johnson as a self-aware, if not reformed, NFL player. “If someone is doing something I don’t perceive as being socially acceptable,” Schaffer said, “I express myself. But at the end of the day, the client makes the decision. “I really believe that Larry Johnson has matured a great deal in the last 18 months.” But then Sunday happened, and Johnson turned to Twitter. This message was posted to Johnson’s profile about three hours after the Chiefs lost 37-7 to the San Diego Chargers: “My father played for the coach from ‘rememeber the titans’. Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn.” Johnson Sr. said he spoke with his son about the tweets and that, while he was flattered that his son was trying to compliment his father’s coaching abilities, he could have found a more diplomatic way of doing it. “Could he have done it a little differently?” the elder Johnson said. “Sure.” Larry Johnson later posted two derogatory references to gays, including writing to one of his Twitter followers that his profile included a “bundle of sticks pic.” Through a spokesman, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt referred The Kansas City Star to the team’s statement on Johnson’s benching, which said the Chiefs are “continuing to investigate the alleged comments made by Larry Johnson. Until that review is complete, the Chiefs have instructed Larry to refrain from practicing with the Chiefs or participating in other team activities.” Haley said he hoped that the Chiefs’ latest obstacle would somehow make the team tougher, similar to a practice last week in a cold, steady rain. “I want, first and foremost, a mentally tough team,” Haley said, “and this will be part of that hardening. “I truly believe that this will all be part of making us a team that is competitive and has a chance to win Super Bowls.” Johnson Sr. said his son wants to be a part of the Chiefs as the team moves toward the future. He said his son still enjoys football and wants to finish his career in Kansas City. He said he fears that, despite the progress he said his son made in the past 12 months, that Johnson will now be known as an angry bigot who’s not in control of his words or actions. Johnson Sr. said his son’s latest outburst began with frustration and ended with a mistake — a mistake the elder Johnson said he hopes does not define his son. “Now you’re labeled,” Johnson Sr. said. “It’s unfortunate.” He said his son is different. “He does not hate gays. That’s not Larry, and that’s not our family,” he said. “He’s my son. You can’t disown him. We just talk to him, listen to him, and help him move forward.” @ Go to KansasCity.com and the Red Zone for the latest news on Larry Johnson and the Chiefs.
Posts: 46,342

10-28-2009, 07:54 AM	#63
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $-1681756	He needs to apologize to Bowe, who was probably offended the most.
Posts: 37,039

10-28-2009, 08:21 AM	#65
jidar MVP Join Date: May 2005 Location: a Casino cash: $10004900	I've called people pillowbiter hundreds if not thousands of times over my lifetime. I shouldn't, and I know it. I'm about as homophobic as Elton John, in fact you can suck my dick if you think I'm homophobic, but it's just been the insult of choice for my generation and the one that followed. It sucks ass that all the best insults have to be so hurtful to some people. ps, I'm not in any way defending what Larry did. His dumb ass should have known better.
Posts: 5,502

10-28-2009, 08:42 AM	#72
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	yeah, Como, the world is wrong and you're right. I'd like to see you go into work at whatever convenience store you work at and start throwing that word around. See how long you stay employed.
Posts: 47,314

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode