This is a blog entry taking issue with my friends Monte Poole and Tim Kawakami, so I hope they don't get sore at me. As you may know we all covered the Ward/Miranda fight Saturday night. Monte and Tim are terrific boxing writers and it was a treat and an honor to work this event with them. We had fun together.
JaMarcus Russell was there, sitting to our right. Tim pointed him out -- I always am antsy before a fight and don't notice what I should notice. Russell wore a baseball cap and a T-shirt. Tim told me he had a stogie in his mouth. I didn't think much about Russell because I was thinking about the upcoming fight.
This morning Monte wrote a column about Russell and Tim referenced it in his blog. Both felt Russell portrayed the wrong image, the wrong attitude. To read Monte's interesting provocative column click here.
I take issue with their point of view. Russell is allowed to go out on a Saturday night. He is allowed to go to a boxing match if he cares to. It is a legal activity. I don't expect him to watch football film 24/7. He is allowed to wear a baseball cap and a T-shirt and keep an unlit stogie in his mouth. He is 23 years old and young men often dress that way and affect various poses.
He wasn't in a strip club like so many professional athletes and he wasn't acting in a disorderly way. He was enjoying himself. I don't see how anything he did Saturday night reflects badly on him as a person or an athlete. If he doesn't play well, sure, blast him. But if he goes out in public to enjoy himself along with 8,000 other good citizens of Oakland, don't read anything into it. Give the guy a break.
I've questioned his demeanor also. I've questioned his ability to lead, and make his teammates better. But I usually formulate my opinions from what I see on the field, not in public, not that I've ever seen him around. But you're going to be a lightning rod when you're a young, rich, #1 pick who hasn't proven your worth. If he starts winning games the Bay Area media will start showing some respect.
I read both sides, and I see both merits. That's just Russel's demeanor and it has been well-documented at the Raiders and paired with Russel's inability to prove himself. Seeing him "saunter" probably is just frustrating because he never seems to have the intensity needed for being a quarterback and team leader. But at an event as a spectator, you don't need to be growling and flexing your muscles like on the field. He had a right to be at ease watching, but he will get picked apart by the media and peanut gallery if he continues to play with the same ease.
I enjoy reading articles or post from both Tim and Monte, but what does his clothing have to do with football. Is he suppose to keep himself locked up at home when he steps off the field? I get tired of people on the radio and now on print commenting on the way people dress. Is it their money being spent on this clothing? If it is then say something, since it's not stay out their business.
Russell should be afforded the opportunity of enjoying himself in public. Maybe his personality will start to come forward if we see him in more public appearances.
It is obvious that he is a quiet guy, and this year is the season for Russell to become a team leader.
I am not expecting some type of rah-rah behavior on the field. But, I am expecting & hopeful that his "on the field" decision making becomes a little bit for swift. My main complaint has been that he takes too much time to make his play. He needs to decide more rapidly to which option that he is going to take. The speed of the NFL game maybe be his biggest challenge.