Run Ricky Run

Since I am on a pattern of bragging about my lucky run-ins with greatness....I thought I would keep up the pace. Why not? No one reads this thing anyways!

I will first of all state that I am a diehard Mississippi State Bulldog fan...both of my parents went their and all my relatives the same. 1998 was one our last competitive teams we put on a field, and we were rewarded by getting to face the team that runs college football in my parents new state...Texas. That year they had the Heisman winning running back and what many thought was to be the number 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft--he ended up going 5th, much to the dismay of E-A-G-L-E-S faithful; they wanted the flashy running back Williams instead of the QB from 'Cuse...I would say a good move by Philly.

Anyways here MSU is with one of their most successful years in a while are they were to face the Texas Longhorns, a Hiesman trophy winner, and all in their own back yard. It was a blowout to say the least...but one memorable thing I did take from the game is Ricky carrying the ball like 30 times for a little over 200 yards, and also, from what I recall, it was the most rushing yards by a Longhorn in a bowl game. Big feat considering the company Williams has in the UT history books. I was forced to leave the game early that day to beat the early SOC traffic...against my will though. I could have seen that young man carry the ball for the rest of the afternoon. Not many players could match strength and agility like ricky could. He was strong enough to carry the weight of his team on back, and as 30-plus carries in the Cotton Bowl proves, he would do it without a care in the world.

Even to this day Ricky is a workhorse in the sport...just because he was corrupted by Austin, Texas does not mean he was a bad guy. The drug tests are hard to argue for the guy...I mean couldn't you find any alternative to get high like all the other athletes. Say...Coke? Which only stays in your systems for a matter of days...not months like marijuana, thus, much easier to pass a test. Ask Michael Irvin, Matt Jones, and many others. But he only smoked weed...not as harmful...but illegal nonetheless.

My point is that he did walk away from the sport...for whatever reason you may assume, but walking away from the sport shouldn't kill your character. Like any other human...this is his job. Not still his dream. He was so physically and mentally strong that whatever he does he would be great. Work ethic makes superstars...not talent (Look at all of the 1st round reciever draft picks out of USC...talent doesn't take you everywhere). I think Ricky Williams is a hell of a guy...with problems of course...but honestly I think he is more normal than anyone in the league. The NFL requires a wicked mindset that calls for an athlete to put nothing before his team. Not his God. Not his friends or family. Not his own physical well being. Not anything...the league wants football to be your life and want you to beg to play as long as you can with limited amounts of outside distractions. I mean they drafted an All-American Rhodes Scholar in, I believe, the 6th round.

Instead MY WORLD CHAMPION NEW ORLEANS SAINTS selected him in the 5th spot...giving up every draft pick they had that year to get him. I could have told you it wasnt going to be a success after he signed Master P for his agent...what else would you expect from the 'Aints?
I am all for people stepping away from the game early, asking for more money, and basically doing whatever they feel just in order to maintain their and their families well being. Athletes are modern day slaves that need to treat the game just like it is...a game. That is what makes this sport interesting. Nothing is more entertaining to me then seeing old baseball highlight where the players would act a fool. Stop sucking all the fun out of sports....PLEASE. The players are entitled to free speech...even if it about their employers. No more fines for speaking the truth.


These are gonna be a common theme for the articles i post....I tend to get off subject with related material. This is my way to begin to start finding more parallels by just rolling these things off my head. IDK....

Much props to R-Dub and anyone else fighting for justice (and money) in each of their given fields. The only facts I judge the kid once with dreadlocks is his stats on the field, which for Miami (both times) has been more than impressive. Especially for a weed smoking philosophy in a NFL players body.