Terrell Owens Did Not Try to Kill Self After All
September 27th, 2006 by Michael Stephens
So it now looks like Terrell Owens did not try to kill himself by overdosing on pain medication, as was widely reported earlier today.
The Sports Truth is relieved, as what would have been a tragedy is now merely another absurd piece of sports news.
At a press conference an hour ago, the Cowboys receiver said “there was no suicide attempt” and explained that he became groggy last night from mixing painkillers with nutritional supplements, not from taking many times the required dosage in an attempt to take his life.
He apologized to the Cowboys organization for the spectacle, explained what happened in detail, and discussed how he wants to play this week against Tennessee (meanwhile, my compulsive gambling supervisor began checking the up-to-the-minute Cowboys-Titans line for Sunday).
He was as normal as you’ll ever see him, and the conference should have ended there, with Dallas trying to restore some element of normalcy in preparation for its next game. But alas, Terrell’s publicist, Kim Etheredge, began fielding questions.
Why does Terrell Owens need a publicist? He’s a wide receiver. He catches footballs for a living. What is there to say about him that we don’t know, and what does he care what we think? He’s accountable to Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones. End of story. Why is this annoying woman on TV?
Bringing back memories of Owens’ press conference with agent Drew Rosenhaus during his Eagles holdout last summer, Etheredge immediately began her spin job. Apparently, the media is treating T.O. unfairly over this, and all the involved law enforcement officials are lying. Who would have guessed.
What’s so complicated here? The police clearly believed, correctly or not, that Owens tried to kill himself. Their job is to investigate crime — doesn’t anyone watch Law & Order? The star, who certainly doesn’t look or behave like someone who pulled such a stunt 24 hours ago, cleared up the misunderstanding for us without any bitterness.
Therefore, the only person making an issue out of it is a crazy publicist! The police and media are simply doing their jobs. Once Owens said he was fine, this became the biggest non-story of all time — yet we are inundated with his staff’s PR garbage.
This publicist, whose goal is to make her client look good, is doing the worst job ever. Time for a new career! Terrell, if you really wish to be taken seriously and win respect from media and fans, here’s some advice: ditch everyone you currently employ.
TWO SIDE NOTES BEFORE WE DROP THIS:
- Parcells’ press conference prior to Owens’ comments was just plain hilarious. You have to love an interview session in which the person bombarded with questions either has no idea, or is not in a position to provide answers.
- Much as I now despise Kim Etheredge, how great would it be to have a publicist? She could issue press releases for all my websites, file grievances with my slow pitch softball league every time we lose, berate the toll collectors on the Mass Turnpike — anything.
FOR THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THE FACTS OF THIS NON-STORY:
Owens, who has not been charged with any crime, was officially hospitalized late Tuesday because of an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for his broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
The confusion over his condition stemmed from an empty bottle found by his publicist, who was with him at the time. Only five of 40 pills were in the bottle, resulting in speculation that Owens OD’d on the other 35. He said the rest were in a drawer.
According to a police report obtained Wednesday, Owens was asked by rescue workers dispatched to his residence if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time (he) stated, “Yes.” Dallas police also say that the 32-year-old has admitted depression on more than one occasion.
Owens’ friend, who was not identified in the report, “noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth. The friend attempted to pry them out, then was told by Owens that before this incident he’d taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he’d emptied.”
