by W.H.

With so much football strategy to discuss in the pre-game shows last weekend, I was slightly disturbed on Saturday when I turned on my television to find Adam “Pacman” Jones and his lawyer being interviewed by James Brown on CBS. At what point is anything Pacman has to say relevant to the important match-ups in the divisional playoffs? Did the rest of the pre-game round table need a bathroom break? What did James Brown do to a CBS production manager to deserve this kind of ridiculous assignment?

James Brown is one of the few responsible commentators left in any aspect of television sports journalism, mostly because he's an award winning professional anchor. So I almost crapped myself when halfway through the interview he confronted Jones with, “What is it about strip clubs that you can't stay away from?”  Seriously?   I loved the directness of the question, but did he honestly think Pacman would give an honest answer?

J.B. - “What is it about strip clubs that you can't stay away from?”

Pacman - “Well man, you know, I um, I just love boobies.”

It would have made for a golden television moment. Jones' lawyer, whose choice in clients paints him as the real life Maury Levy, would have dropped his jaw like he walked in on someone blowing his cat, Jones probably would have started dumping a trash bag of dollar bills off of the balcony, and James Brown would have been forced to follow up that response while not pissing himself.

I imagine that Brown actually had an alternate question card in case Pacman snapped into “Strip Club Jones”. It probably read like this...

“What is it about boobies that makes you want to pop some caps?”

“Since joining AA, do you just go to juice bar strip clubs?”

“What are you going to put in that trash bag when your signing bonus runs out?”

But the response played out as disingenuous as the rest of Pacman's career. Clearly not the fireworks that J.B. or CBS had hoped for. The only honest answer was when Jones told Brown, “I'm a fighter, that's why I think I deserve a second chance.” Really Pacman? You being a fighter is what ruined your second chance, and your first one for that matter. You'll be on you third if Oakland or Cincinnati are desperate enough to grant you it.

And what is it about Jones that is so intriguing for NFL franchises? What could be worth all of the bad publicity, wasted cap space, and body guard expenses? In 4 seasons since turning pro Pacman has played in 39 games out of 64 and been suspended for 22. In those 39 games he has 4 interceptions, 1 sack, 30 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. While those defensive numbers aren't necessarily outstanding he does have 4 punt return touchdowns and 1 interception return touchdown.

There's some talent there, especially in terms of kick returning. However, in terms of team chemistry the Titans cleaned him off of their books and were the number 1 seed in the AFC this season. Dallas signed him and missed the playoffs. Was that all Pacman? No, Dallas a lot of problems to choose from and Tennessee dumped him last season and wasn't very good. But it does coincide with other examples of purging locker rooms of malcontents and troublemakers. If guys aren't busy each week answering questions about teammates' shenanigans then they're more likely to be focused on football.

The CBS interview on Saturday proved that the distraction Jones creates seems to exist even when he doesn't even have teammates. Pacman is not on a playoff team, he is in fact not on a team. He is merely another side-show in the 24-hour sports media circus. Another example of how off the field antics can draw more publicity than greatness on the field. Why do I, or any other sports fan care about what these guys do with their free time? If they go to jail, they go to jail. Their team moves on and becomes better without them (see Atlanta Falcons).

There are hundreds on solid citizens on NFL teams: Warrick Dunn, Hines Ward, Kurt Warner, Jason Taylor, Brian Dawkins and Issac Bruce are just examples of players who are great on and off the field. There is no excuse for wasting the fans and James Brown's time with the likes of Pacman Jones and any other athlete who had the talent and pissed it away. If he comes back like Josh Hamilton, redeems himself and realizes his potential, CBS can chase their Pulitzer but save it for 60 minutes. For now, the real truth in this sick hybrid of sports journalism is that tragedy may get some ratings but great players put asses in the seats. And in the NFL if there's empty seats, CBS gets blackouts.

wh@sportymcbloggin.com