LJ's father hurt by his remarks

[Sure-Oz]

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.

[DBOSHO]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

lol, sorry, but Thigpen? Still?

We are getting him back this offseason.

I thought id save myself the trouble of changing it then.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

lol, sorry, but Thigpen? Still?

UP too this point, Cassel isnt much better and just as inaccurate. lol At least with Thigpen we moved the ball a little. lol

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

UP too this point, Cassel isnt much better and just as inaccurate. lol At least with Thigpen we moved the ball a little. lol

He plays for the Chiefs. I'm not gonna put a Jared Allen pic on my profile either.

[DBOSHO]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

UP too this point, Cassel isnt much better and just as inaccurate. lol At least with Thigpen we moved the ball a little. lol

This. I wish wed give brodie another chance. Ice come to like him

[DBOSHO]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

He plays for the Chiefs. I'm not gonna put a Jared Allen pic on my profile either.

Fine geeez ill change it tomorrow.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

His father is a jackass too ya know. I don't feel for any of them. They bring whatever happens upon themselves. They've put themselves in their own misery.

Get the **** out.

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

He said his son is different.

“He does not hate gays.”

I think he most definately does. That's pretty hard to dispute given his remarks.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

When this first went down I had posted that somewhere, Larry's Dad was ashamed of him. This article backs that up.

"You can't disown him. You can just talk to him, listen to him."

That speaks volumes.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by jAZ

I think he most definately does. That's pretty hard to dispute given his remarks.

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.

[CoMoChief]

He needs to apologize to the team and coach more so than he does to people he "offended" calling them faqqots.

The whole gay organizations getting in the middle of this doens't make any sense. Kinda like the clowns Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when they get in the middle of something considered racially motivated, or when they want to skew it that way.

I'm more than sure LJ doesn't hate gays. I don't hate gays. Doesn't mean I don't use the word faqqot a lot because to be honest I do use it a lot, and especially joking around with the guys etc. And I bet he does too. A lot of people do, and to be honest I don't think it's at all like calling a back person the N-word. It's much different.

Should have LJ handled that differently? Sure. His remarks about the coach reflect the team, which is the most important. I understand his frustrations with the team. They havent won nearly shit in 2-3 seasons. 7-31 is the Chiefs record since the last few seasons including this current one. LJ's performaces reflect this obviously. His comments made about the coach and his credentials are very uncalled for. There are coaches out there that are great coaches that never played professionally. Belichick to be named....and Haley grew up around some of the greatest football people EVER.

The whole faqqot calling is stupid. It's minor. The reporters need to sack up and grow a pair. Jesus Christ...seriously. It's a locker room after a game in which they just got their asses kicked....this isn't nearly as bad as some of the shit players like Michael Irvin used to do. Guys call eachother faqqots, queers, pussies, etc all the time. It doesn't require an apology or press conference apologizing. Uncalled for IMO. Stupid, waste of time. If anything, suspend his ass for his comments to the coach.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by jAZ

I think he most definately does. That's pretty hard to dispute given his remarks.

Doubt it. The only reason it's a big deal now is because it's out in the public and on one occasion it was directed toward the media. If you walk into an NFL locker room, you will probably hear it 100 times. That doesn't mean they hate gays. LJ's an asshole, but to say he's a homophobe is going too far.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

He needs to apologize to the team and coach more so than he does to people he "offended" calling them faqqots.

The whole gay organizations getting in the middle of this doens't make any sense. Kinda like the clowns Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when they get in the middle of something considered racially motivated, or when they want to skew it that way.

I'm more than sure LJ doesn't hate gays. I don't hate gays. Doesn't mean I don't use the word faqqot a lot. And I bet he does too. A lot of people do, and to be honest I don't think it's at all like calling a back person the N-word. It's much different.

Should have LJ handled that differently? Sure. His remarks about the coach reflect the team, which is the most important. I understand his frustrations with the team. They havent won nearly shit in 2-3 seasons. 7-31 is the Chiefs record since the last few seasons including this current one. LJ's performaces reflect this obviously. His comments made about the coach and his credentials are very uncalled for. There are coaches out there that are great coaches that never played professionally. Belichick to be named....and Haley grew up around some of the greatest football people EVER.

The whole faqqot calling is stupid. It's minor. The reporters need to sack up and grow a pair. Jesus Christ...seriously. It's a locker room after a game in which they just got their asses kicked....this isn't nearly as bad as some of the shit players like Michael Irvin used to do. Guys call eachother faqqots, queers, pussies, etc all the time. It doesn't require an apology or press conference apologizing. Uncalled for IMO. Stupid, waste of time. If anything, suspend his ass for his comments to the coach.

Pretty much this...

[Demonpenz]

his dad should be sorry about his 2.5 yards per carry. Terrible sperm there jackass

[-King-]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

He needs to apologize to the team and coach more so than he does to people he "offended" calling them faqqots.

The whole gay organizations getting in the middle of this doens't make any sense. Kinda like the clowns Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when they get in the middle of something considered racially motivated, or when they want to skew it that way.

I'm more than sure LJ doesn't hate gays. I don't hate gays. Doesn't mean I don't use the word faqqot a lot. And I bet he does too. A lot of people do, and to be honest I don't think it's at all like calling a back person the N-word. It's much different.

Should have LJ handled that differently? Sure. His remarks about the coach reflect the team, which is the most important. I understand his frustrations with the team. They havent won nearly shit in 2-3 seasons. 7-31 is the Chiefs record since the last few seasons including this current one. LJ's performaces reflect this obviously. His comments made about the coach and his credentials are very uncalled for. There are coaches out there that are great coaches that never played professionally. Belichick to be named....and Haley grew up around some of the greatest football people EVER.

The whole faqqot calling is stupid. It's minor. The reporters need to sack up and grow a pair. Jesus Christ...seriously. It's a locker room after a game in which they just got their asses kicked....this isn't nearly as bad as some of the shit players like Michael Irvin used to do. Guys call eachother faqqots, queers, pussies, etc all the time. It doesn't require an apology or press conference apologizing. Uncalled for IMO. Stupid, waste of time. If anything, suspend his ass for his comments to the coach.

This.


Side note. If he would have called the reporters pussies, would he have to apologize to all women?

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

his dad should be sorry about his 2.5 yards per carry. Terrible sperm there jackass

ok, funny, but just to clear it up, I don't actually think Larry Sr. is a jackass. I just knew it would be funny to see what douche could come up with tonight. I'm surprised he hasn't gotten his lines patent as much as he uses them.