Five days after an elite athlete appeared stiff and wooden and phony when talking publicly about a traumatic period in his life, another elite athlete managed to convey the quality for which the other elite athlete spent 13 minutes grasping.
Genuine and authentic humanity.
Here’s a look at LaDainian Tomlinson’s tearful farewell to San Diego. It’s only about 1,000 times more convincing than the other elite athlete’s effort to generate sympathy for his devilish deeds.
I always respected him from a talent standpoint until he played my pats a couple years back in the playoffs. He was hurt, and instead of cheering on his teammates, he sat on the bench and sulked like a little baby. So i guess the tearful good bye is appropriate. He’s nothing more than a crybaby
Who is the one from 5 days ago? I wanna see that. Been hunting in the Sierras with my wife for the last week.
The move by San Diego was needed. LT has clearly lost a step and may never eclipse 1000 yards again (more less average 100 yards per gam again).
However as a lifelong Chargers fan I must say I wish his contracted had been structured in such a way as to let him remain a Charger. Say what you will, but the guys drips class, something not seen much in the T.O. me first era.
Florio you are something else. First if all LT is very emotional and is allways crying as seen in many of the sideline shots of him pouting when he’s loosing. To even try to compare that to Tiger is rediculous. In my opinion Tiger didn’t owe anyone outside his family an apology buy outside of that he’s allways been a robotic personality if he would have come out crying like a lil female dog you would be critizing him as a fake.
Say what you will, but the guys drips class, something not seen much in the T.O. me first era.
Actually, no he doesn’t “drip class”. If he did, he would not have acted like a cry baby after losing to the Pats a few years back. If someone says “I’m classy” right there is all you have to know.
LT will gain a 1000 yards with a better line and OC…
LT has been great for us in the community in San Diego and for YEARS was carrying the team, making incredible plays and giving us SD fans one thing to cheer about in the middle of some miserable seasons.
Management has failed the fans and this team. They put all the pieces to get SD exactly where they are competitively.
They did not take us where they said ‘we’ were going.
I would be really happy for LT to catch on and pick up a Lombardi with someone. Just as happy as I’ve been for Junior, Rodney and Drew Brees. AJ Smith has replaced these faces of the franchise with his own face and it’s not pretty.
Yes, LT still has a lot to teach younger players ….. dude was an All-Pro whiner, and you just can’t let that talent die on the vine. Not to mention he was a premier big-game choke artist, one who could be counted on consistently. Future great choking running backs can learn from the Master, and it is his duty to pass along this great skill of his before he hangs up (drops?) his cleats.
Yes, it would have been an emotional day for any player in his position, but this was a bit over the top, even for Tomlinson. And how anybody let this world class crybaby go to that podium without a box of Kleenex is beyond belief. Dude cries when too much milk makes his cereal soggy, let alone something like this.
LT is cut ….. who cares?
I agree Knucklebucket. LT did the same things with he played my Steelers. pouted on the bench and hid under his helmet and dark shields.
Only God and a lawyer can look into the hearts of men and judge their sincerity.
Chalk up one more idiot on the web that cannot spell “lose” or “losing”.
What is up with that? Does half the country not know the difference between loose and lose?
This is why RBs hold out often early in thier career. Chris Johnson should get PAID.
LT has been done for 2 years, he has no class and there is nothing anyone can say to dispute it. Just because you are a fan of a team doesn’t mean you are allowed to ignore the obvious.
Mark my words folks. I’m not an LT “fan” by any stretch, but if you’re a fantasy football player next year, he’s the ultimate sleeper. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the guy has 3-5 years or anything like that. I will say this though: remember when Jamal Lewis was “done” when he left Baltimore? Then he shows up in Cleveland and looks basically like old school Jamal in 2007.
What I’m saying is there’s a certain quality about most athletes to prove everyone wrong once they’ve been kicked in the dirt a little bit. Never underestimate a person’s ability to fight that much harder when they are backed into a corner. It’s probably the same reason why Jerry Rice kept trying to come back.
That being said, I hope the media doesn’t start the whole “he’s ruining his legacy” by playing for another team like they did Rice. Seriously, for all the media garbage that circulates about certain players “not having their heart” in football, I think that it shows that some of these players truly love the game of football. Yes, the money is fantastic, but they also are like people who retire when they are 60 and don’t know what the heck they are going to do with themselves now.
I don’t care if LT wants to sign somewhere and cover kickoffs on special teams. Nobody should be able to tell a guy when to quit. If he wants to keep going in another uniform until the wheels fall off, his legacy was already written anyways. If anything, I commend guys for that rather saying “they should hang up the cleats”.
Boo hoo… i didnt buy it anymore than T.O.’s……
“Thats my quarterback”
this guys career of whining is over… and not soon enough
SteelersQT
Now that I think of it, he was hiding under his tinted sheild during the playoff game against the pats as well. Guess the tint helps hide the tears.
If someone constantly has to remind you how classy he is, he probably doesn’t have much class
This guy’s character and class has always been overrated to me. I can recall on multiple occassions him complaining after a loss, sulking about how unfair something or someone was.
LT was always a true competitor and pure player. He will be missed in SD and is past his prime. I will always wonder why he really left. Team or LT/Agent? I will miss him as a player but I do look forward to seeing how this plays out in the future. The Chargers are Rivers’ team and I think LT could not handle that. So he has moved on with tears and emotion. What will that get him? I dont think it will get him a SB it will get more tears and emotion.
tough crowd here. the guy was one of the best at his position in this era. he is an emotional guy. we all should work as hard as he did to stay on top of the game.
Haters, continue to hate please. All of you have are crackheads, wife beaters, sexual assault artist, and killers on all your teams, but yet get mad at someone who wears his emotions on his sleeve.
Continue to hate hiprocrites, continue..
Thanks LT for everything…..
Wad-da-d0?! I’m LT. I’ve got a new song I want to you hear…..
I read the defense, I read the defense, I read the defense.
Now pick up the blitz! here comes the blitz!
Now cry at the press conference.
OK, I just watched the first 32 seconds of this knucklehead’s presser. All tears and not one word yet. Does he ever say anything?
Stay classy.
Go Pats!
Sure he’s classy and a good example but where did it get the team this year? If he is so great why did the Team not make it past their first playoff game? Were there too many ‘me first’ players on this team that with all of LT’s ‘class’ they could not overcome? Or will it be the same no matter where he goes, that’s just the way it is today and no matter how much class you have you can’t overcome some things? Yes, it sounds nice to have a guy like that in the locker room but does it really matter anymore?
You guys all ripping him about being classy are queers. The Patriots cheated like bitches and danced all over our logo like bitches. L.T. is old school and he respects the game so he was simply saying you know “Im a classy guy” I would never dissrespect the other team like that and it might come from the head coach. Bill Bilichek is not classy what so ever, I mean he got caught videotaping and he ran off like a sissy boy before he lost the superbowl. I dont know what you guys think classy means but L.T. is on a another demension than Bill when your talking about class. Get over the fact that he is a classy man, not once did he ever get into any sort of trouble in his entire career. He gives good interviews and so what if he sat on the sidelines, get over it! He’s done so much for the city of San Diego and will go down as one of the best running back of all time. So get over it!
You guys all ripping him about being classy are queers. The Patriots cheated like bitches and danced all over our logo like bitches. L.T. is old school and he respects the game so he was simply saying you know “Im a classy guy” I would never dissrespect the other team like that and it might come from the head coach. Bill Bilicheat is not classy what so ever, I mean he got caught videotaping and he ran off like a sissy boy before he lost the superbowl. I dont know what you guys think classy means but L.T. is on a another demension than Bill when your talking about class. Get over the fact that he is a classy man, not once did he ever get into any sort of trouble in his entire career. He gives good interviews and so what if he sat on the sidelines, get over it! He’s done so much for the city of San Diego and will go down as one of the best running back of all time. So get over it!
cue the sound of violins playing “my heart bleeds for you”.
The guy is a no class loser who hides behind his tinted visor and sulks if everything isn’t going right. Somewhere right now, philip rivers is throwing a party.
I’m sick of all these people attacking LT saying he is done and a crybaby. LT has been great and fun to watch… I am sure he has helped a lot of you in your fantasy teams too. LT is going to be a first ballot H.O.F. He hasn’t had the same Oline that helped earn him a MVP. On top of that SD has become a passing team much like almost every team in the NFL.
L.T. has more to offer the game of football and a whole lot more then any of us do. Think about that.
Lights Out 56 says:
February 25, 2010 12:25 PM
You guys all ripping him about being classy are queers. The Patriots cheated like bitches and danced all over our logo like bitches. L.T. is old school and he respects the game so he was simply saying you know “Im a classy guy” I would never dissrespect the other team like that and it might come from the head coach. Bill Bilicheat is not classy what so ever, I mean he got caught videotaping and he ran off like a sissy boy before he lost the superbowl. I dont know what you guys think classy means but L.T. is on a another demension than Bill when your talking about class. Get over the fact that he is a classy man, not once did he ever get into any sort of trouble in his entire career. He gives good interviews and so what if he sat on the sidelines, get over it! He’s done so much for the city of San Diego and will go down as one of the best running back of all time. So get over it!
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Well said
You haters are idiots. LT never “hid” behind any visor, and he’s anything but soft. He was hurt for 2 games in his entire freaking career, which is incredible considering the physical nature of playing running back in the NFL.
He’s a first ballot HOF and an even better human being. Its a shame that so few people seem to realize that.
nflfan86 says:
February 25, 2010 12:35 PM
Lights Out 56 says:
February 25, 2010 12:25 PM
You guys all ripping him about being classy are queers. The Patriots cheated like bitches and danced all over our logo like bitches. L.T. is old school and he respects the game so he was simply saying you know “Im a classy guy” I would never dissrespect the other team like that and it might come from the head coach. Bill Bilicheat is not classy what so ever, I mean he got caught videotaping and he ran off like a sissy boy before he lost the superbowl. I dont know what you guys think classy means but L.T. is on a another demension than Bill when your talking about class. Get over the fact that he is a classy man, not once did he ever get into any sort of trouble in his entire career. He gives good interviews and so what if he sat on the sidelines, get over it! He’s done so much for the city of San Diego and will go down as one of the best running back of all time. So get over it!
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Well said
**********
Ditto
He was a tremendous RB. He is now in decline. Wish him well wherever he lands.
But, when you have to say you’re classy, you ain’t!
BTW: No Pats fans are saying BB is classy. To my knowledge, BB himself never said he was classy. Dude just said he’s a coach. That’s a straw man argument you threw in there, but nice try.
Yes, go Pats!
There’s still some fight in that dog. LT = Class act.
@Lights Out 56:
1. The Patriots never cheated.
2. It was Ellis Hobbs- who is no longer a Patriot because he IS a bitch- who danced all over your gay logo.
3. Coach Belichick never videotaped anything.
4. To put Tomlinson in the same league with Belichick on any level is asinine.
5. Your username is from a player who is a known, punished steroids user. I think you need to get over yourself.
If I had a nickel for everytime Tomlison, whined, moped, complained, cried like a little girl, was “disrespected” (yeah, right!) or was not a very “classy” guy – and yes, when you yourself have to tell the world that you’re “classy”, that’s a pretty good sign that no one is saying it FOR you – I’d have had enough money to give this delusional “I-still-got-talent”, non Super Bowl winning choke artist the fat contract he wanted that San Diego obviously didn’t think he was worth.
A lot of words there, Chargers fan, I hope you followed most of them.
Tomlinson was a great back who accomplished NOTHING for the Chargers beyond a handfull of AFC West titles (how far does that get you, Bolts fans?) and an equal amount of playoff losses. Dude ran for a bazillion yards, and his team has nothing to show for that, not even a single Super Bowl appearance. You call that a Hall of Fame career? I call it a Hall of Pretty Damn Good But Not Good Enough career, myself.
But what do I know, my favorite team has won three Super Bowls this decade with runners inferior to Tomlinson’s talent, or so we’re told.
Nobody cares, Ladanian. STFU.
If I had a nickel every time LT complained after a loss….I’d have…..a nickel.
I don’t really expect anyone who isn’t a San Diego Charger fan to respect this guy. Every team has players that are only respected by their fans and L.T. is no different.
However, I fail to understand where all the hate comes from with this guy . . he is the kind of athlete that we need more of in this world. Active in his community, gives to charity, never gets in trouble and gave his all for his team every game. The day they got rid of Lorenzo Neal was the end of the road for L.T.
The pouting on the sidelines in the last two years was an embarrassment, but I doubt there is anyone in here that has any idea what that feels like or what the appropriate way to react is. I will also say that the camera never seemed to do him any favors. I don’t think its quite fair to judge a man’s competitiveness or maturity on a few quick cuts from a camera.
This team has sucked for YEARS . . . and all of us Charger fans need to be prepared for another era of suckiness now that L.T. is gone. But even when they sucked, he still busted his ass for the Bolts.
And for that I thank him, wish him well and a hope for a productive future.
I really believe he will have a ring before the bolts do, which will be another indictment on shitty ownership, shitty management and SH-I-T-T-Y coaching. SCREW YOU NORV!!!!!!
Pats fans talking about class. That’s ‘class’ic!
“Dude ran for a bazillion yards, and his team has nothing to show for that, not even a single Super Bowl appearance. You call that a Hall of Fame career? I call it a Hall of Pretty Damn Good But Not Good Enough career, myself.”
So, by that logic, every player for your Pats championship teams are more deserving of the Hall of Fame than Tomlinson because he wasn’t ever in the Superbowl?
1/32 teams every year win the Superbowl, and only one other team is able to make it there. To say that LT hasn’t accomplished anything in his time in SD is ridiculous simply because he didn’t get a trophy.
Check the record book, he’s in there more than your boy Tom.
There is a severe overload of idiots today. I especially enjoy him getting ripped by Pats fans. Do any of you clowns even know who the Patriots all time rusher is? LT has as many rushing TD’s as your top THREE – COMBINED. Three being Corey Dillon by he way which will give you some indication how useless a franchise that was until 10 years ago. He’s not far behind them on yardage either – Top three combined.
Dan Marino SUCKS.
Barry Sanders was AWFUL
LT=BITCH
It is a shame LT’s career has been tarnished by such sadness and lack of being able to finish the job.
Pay This Man! says:
February 25, 2010 7:21 PM
“Dude ran for a bazillion yards, and his team has nothing to show for that, not even a single Super Bowl appearance. You call that a Hall of Fame career? I call it a Hall of Pretty Damn Good But Not Good Enough career, myself.”
So, by that logic, every player for your Pats championship teams are more deserving of the Hall of Fame than Tomlinson because he wasn’t ever in the Superbowl?
1/32 teams every year win the Superbowl, and only one other team is able to make it there. To say that LT hasn’t accomplished anything in his time in SD is ridiculous simply because he didn’t get a trophy.
Check the record book, he’s in there more than your boy Tom.
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Exactly!!!!