Channeling Mad Mac
The NFL has always had colorful guys, and lots of ‘em: Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Joe Namath, Dick Butkus, etc.
The latest and most colorful player of recent months is Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco. What can you say about a guy who changed his name from Johnson to Ochocinco?
The reason I bring this up is another truly colorful NFL guy was referenced Sunday in a column by the Chicago Tribune’s Bob Verdi, who mentioned Jim McMahon’s name.
Remember Mad Mac? He’s the former BYU and Chicago Bears quarterback who mooned a news chopper at the Super Bowl. Who wore dark glasses and caroused the French Quarter. McMahon always amused me. And the interviews I had with him were fine. I sort of liked him, even though he didn’t seem terribly interested in talking with me.
There are stories he once blew his nose on a San Diego reporter, which would tend to dampen a reporter’s enthusiasm for him.
Ochocinco is no novice at controversy. He was fined $20,000 last week for pretending to bribe a ref with a $1 bill. As Verdi was saying, Ochocinco is a modern incarnation of McMahon, who wore a headband with the NFL commissioner’s name written across the front.
The NFL is a wonderful product. But it’s even better when the characters show a little personality. I say let Ochocinco be himself. And let Mac back in the league. It could use the juice.
Speaking of which, who’s your favorite NFL personality of all time? Why?