The TKC Saturday Night Playlist!!! Derrick Thomas: Another Kansas City Fake Hero!!!
Today it was announced that Derrick Thomas will be in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Already I notice people celebrating and acting as if the posthumous honor represents anything but the continuation of the myth that pro sports provides even a minor financial benefit to American cities.
And as far as honor for Derrick Thomas is concerned . . . The adoration of sports fans would be far better spent by providing money to the many children that Thomas left behind when he died DRIVING RECKLESSLY in an accident on an icy Kansas City road having failed to wear his seat belt. From a 2001 CNN article:
Derrick Thomas spent his money freely, indulging himself and his friends, as well as giving to charities and investing in businesses. Yet not much money remains for his seven children. Although the Chiefs star earned $34 million during his 11-year football career, his estate is likely to total several hundred thousand dollars. To reach that level of solvency, estate representatives in coming weeks will sell the star's personal possessions, from the gold necklace he wore around his neck to the bed in which he slept.Let's not forget that Thomas killed his friend the car crash that also killed him as well.
So, despite the misty-eyed memories of the Chiefs fans that won't help put his kids through college . . . The stories of the linebacker don't include a simple fact:
DERRICK THOMAS WAS NOT A HERO!!!
Kansas City's misguided hero worship has led this town astray at almost every turn. Clueless voters think that a tall mayor with a barefoot wife who once held a job vaguely related to finance will somehow save this town from Global Economic peril despite the fact that his leadership so far has focused on nothing but defending against a record of ethical mishaps and poor, stubborn mistakes. Similarly, Kansas City still lives under the illusion that David Cook has talent while the rest of the nation has moved on to the next bubble gum sensation.
Kansas City's cult of personality and hero worship has produced nothing but mediocrity which ultimately disappoints and confirms the widely held belief that town is second rate.
Celebrating Derrick Thomas chasing around a football for a living overlooks the far more important value that should be placed on fatherhood and basic safe driving that would benefit people living in this town far more than these phony honors.
To wit, tonight's playlist is dedicated to Kansas City's love affair with false idols and media images over reality.
As always, thank you for reading this week. Have a fun and safe weekend.
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37 Comments:
You're my hero Tony. I like shitheads.
Good post. Thomas was a piece of black trash.
Actually, Tony, there were two other people in the car. Only one of the three was wearing a seat belt. Guess who walked away from the accident without a scratch?
On the other hand, seven children from five different women over an eight-year span ... damn. Makes Shawn Kemp look like Ward Cleaver.
i agree with you on this one. pretty fucking rare but there it is...
I agree too. Too bad honor isn't part of the NFL equation. At least he kept his pants on during the game.... as far as I know.
Ok, DT didn't get the Father of the Year Award. He was honored for his football prowess, and for that Kansas City fans should be proud. Like many of us, Thomas was not a perfect man but he wasn't a terrible one either. He wouldn't be the first athlete to waste his money. On the other hand, he did also help with charities.
He showed how to play football with heart and passion. He also showed that just because you are sports star doesn't mean the rest of your life is going to be at the same level of success.
Perhaps his imperfections are teaching moments. A life well lived is not just success in your chose field but in how you care for your family and how you exercise responsibility.
In that regard, perhaps he is the perfect role model--and cautionary tale--to the rest of us.
I will remember DT for all the joy he gave me on Sunday's as a Chiefs fan. That's not a bad legacy to leave.
Todd Epp
Kanas Watch http://www.kansaswatch.net
Character has to count for something in consideration of the man as a whole. He was reckless right up to the very end. Great... we'll tell kids all about his teaching moment imperfections .. oh.. and by the way kids... those things don't matter if your good at sports.
Thank you, Tony!
I guess if I drive recklessly on an icy freeway or have seven kids with five wives, I can be in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Too bad we'll have to read about what a "hero" he was in tomorrow's paper.
Like when the Chiefs were talking about going on strike and he and some of the other dumbshits showed in the back of a pickup brandishing shotguns and rifles. Real class act. Then after he died all the idiots that put memorial stickers on their cars, genius football fans.
He was no Jared Allen, that's fer sure.
So the guy enjoyed some white drugs, skeevy broads and a reckless lifestyle. Those Halls of Fame would be mighty empty if we excluded folks just based on that.
Or is it because he's black?
Of course the man was a fine football player but to call him a hero would be wrong. You are dead on right.
Big day for the jocksniffing community.
Party Pooper. Derrick was a great player, that's why he's in the Hall of Fame.
Sorry T,
Not sure where you get the hero reference. DT was past due on getting in the hall. His non seatbelt wearing doesn't bear any fact other than it cost him his life. If you or your readers have never driven without your seatbelt fastened, then you can throw that stone.
Other than that, it is a good day for Chiefs fans who haven't had one in years. At least let the man's family celebrate his accomplishment.
Save your hate for all those kids on tomorrow.
True.
Tony, You are now elected to the FuckHole Hall of Fame. What a chickenshit post on your part (like any of you lame assed posts are not chickenshit) to slam a dead man. A man who had more stones than you could ever dream or jack off to. Fuck you Tony. DT is in the NFL HOF. If Rita gives you money other than bus money to get to your shitty Subway job (make me a sammich you fucking beaner!) you might read up on what a fucking NFL HOF means. Course you never made it out of the west side and over to Arrowhead to see football (and not that pussy beaner football they play in Mexico) I know you will delete this post cause you always do. Fucking pussy. DT is more of a man dead than you would ever dream of being alive. And he didn't jack off to a Mayor's wife's feet like you. Fuck you Botello. Go whine to Darla Jaye so she can put you down like the piece of shit you are.
You can celebrate someone for being a great football player.
However, you should go into the douchebag hall of fame.
I wonder if his name were Derek Martinez if you'd be so critical?
Agreed. I've been saying this for years. Did you see they interviewed his mom on NBC local? They were going to interview the kids but it was only a 30 minute show.
LOL @ 1:55
Tony needs Rita, Gloria, and Darla Jaye's douche to bring his pathetic ass up to a douchebag. As fucking usual Botello, you're wrong. YOU suck. DT was the shit, will always be the shit. You are just a racist bastard baby who keeps a MAN of color down as long as it is not a beaner.
DT was a douche nozzle. Has everyone forgotten his Monday night meltdown? He embarrassed the Chiefs and Kansas City.
Don't blame the man. He didn't call himself a hero. Blame the media that is constantly looking for hype and usually finds it in sports figures that, although may good people, are no more heros than the dad that gets up every day and goes to work for his family. Conclusion - DT was a great football player - not a hero. The Chiefs could use another player like him.
If you kill someone in an accident, that's possibly murder, right?? He was driving recklessly in bad conditions, and would be partially responsible, although the other passenger wasn't wearing a seatbelt...so technically, OJ could get into the hall of fame post murders, if he wasn't already in??
Only TKC could tie Derrick Thomas to Funky. If you want to write about Funk, write about him. Don't cover up other points with him - it makes all of your criticisms a little worse.
well for that DT crap, he wasn't living in his mom's basement. I always thought is was incorrect to speak poorly of the dead.
Just about everyone in the comments fails.
And you, 09:52 pm, have just laid another turd on the pile.
Just because Botello couldn't hold a football if Gloria had it between her feet don't give him cred to slam a man of deeper color than his paled ass. Tony, are you jealous that Rita never gave you bus and taxi money to make it to Diamond Joe's? Are you so fucking jealous that a Black Man is posthumously inducted in a hall of fame and you are living in your mother's basement? You know Tony, for a supposed man of color, you are a racist, jealous, pathetic soul. You whip out the race card more than Whitlock, then hide behind your Hispanic (wannabe) heritage. Remember Tony Botello, blogging is Not Journalism. It's pathetic losers sitting in their mother's basements (take note MM, you fucking felon trying to gain cred but are to chicken to venture to the hood without your pussy...er..posse. Tony, give it up, this is NOT journalism, just bullshit. And not very good bullshit at that.
Thank you for contributing to this huge bowl of shit. Tony has your attention.
SHut up tony
beaner.
Tony has the attention span the length of Gloria's toes. Fuck Tony. The tide is turning against you. Your fanboys are not letting you suck them off and then they come on here and defend you. Learn it. Live with it. It's just a matter of time, and you will be relegated to the hasbeen/neverwillbe you truly are.
Blogging is NOT journalism. Face it.
And Tony is such a pussy he will delete the above post again. And this one. The readers will know. Suck it Botello.
Let's refer to
The Tony Botello School of Journalism
Linking to other sources = reporting
"Sources tell me" = I made stuff up
"I don't claim to know the details" = I am lazy
"I called McClatchy" = I made stuff up
"Mary Sanchez is..." = I wish I could have ten percent of the class of Mary Sanchez
"AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS" = a black hole of made-up stupidity that sucks all the stupid in
"Here's what I've heard" = I made stuff up
"Sushi...is kind of like a signal to brown people that their business isn't wanted." = I am either brain-damaged or retarded, your choice
"According to close watchers" = I made stuff up
ALL CAPS IN RED = phony hyperbole
NO HOMO = I pitch and catch
"Mike Hendricks is..." = I wish I had some money too
"Parties close to the case..." = no one would talk to me even if I had tried, which I didn't
"I'm not going to quote anybody on this one but people familiar with..." = I made stuff up
"The Star is dying" - I am still bitter over being rejected as an intern in '04
"Word is that..." = yup - I made stuff up
And the Pitch had your pathetic ass busted years ago.
http://www.pitch.com/2007-01-18/news/the-truth-about-tony/
I see you have the pedophile Gary Glitter on your playlist. Coincidence? I think not.
nigger be STOOOOOPID!!!!
Another honor for another piece of crap athlete, providing AGAIN nothing but stupidity, largesse and thuggery for the yewts of today to look up to.
Wonder if any of his illegitimate children will take any comfort in this hall of fame crap.
Way to call 'em like you see 'em, Tony.
you're a fucking jackass. how about when you die i come up to your grave and write faggot on your tombstone. have you never heard of having respect for the dead? you should be shot for the shit you're throwing at this guy. what if his kids really loved their dad and then they read this? besides, everybody dies someday, why the fuck do you care so much about one man and what he did with HIS life? you're an insensetive dumbass.
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