We’ve been dragging out feet on this one because it has nothing to do with football. Given, however, that the top wideout of the Cincinnati Bengals seems to be intent on becoming the nation’s next reality star, the development is relevant to football because it creates another offseason distraction.
Two years ago, Chad Ochocinco’s hobby was doing everything he could to get out of Cincinnati. Last year, he took up boxing.
This time around, he has supplemented his forthcoming stint on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars with a VH-1 Bachelor-style dating show tentatively called The Tournament.
A news release announced the deal and provided details. It’ll be a one-hour, 10-episode series, which will premiere in July. Chad will travel the country meeting women that may be interested in dating him. In the first episode, he’ll narrow the field to 16 women — four from different regions of the country.
He’ll then follow a bracket, with each of the women facing off against each other. The winner will receive a “game ball” from Ochocinco and move on to the next round.
(In hindsight, this idea would have been much more compelling if the selected player had been Ben Roethlisberger.)
We don’t fault Ochocinco for capitalizing on his fame/notoriety. Like his friend, Terrell Owens, it seems that Chad wants to parlay his football career into an acting career, if for no other reason than to remain in the spotlight and get paid a lot of money to do something other than work.
But few athletes ever become successful actors. Good actors make the job seem effortless, causing non-actors to think it’s easier than it really is. But Chad is persistent. And even if he doesn’t become an actor, he can perpetually make the rounds as a reality star unless and until the next wave of star athletes who hope to become actors when they retire nudge him out of business.
And he could be eligible for the position of full-time reality star sooner than he thinks, if he’s going to spend the bulk of his offseason starring in reality shows.
I’m sure more than one contestant will get a “game ball”.
“Chad will travel the country meeting women that may be interested in dating him”
And by women do you mean dudes?
I hope we can get him to retire in stripes.. Cincinnati will not likely have a star of this caliber ever again.. Florio you shouldn’t worry about Chad’s offseason training I’m sure he’s been around long enough to know how to stay competitive.. and besides dancing on your feet 4 hours a day can’t exactly be easy..
What the hell is wrong with him…Maybe he should have Rey Rey the child molester help him with his girl selection on the show. If you lose, then you have to be subjected to Rey Maualuga’s underage drinking and molestation….Stay Classy Ochosucko
Trade for Marshall and drop Ocho so he can do all the reality shows he wants.
If Chad is trying to parlay this into an acting career, he might as well forget it. He’s very awkward when he’s doing “staged” stuff and he’s even somewhat awkward when he’s “freestyling.” TD celebrations may be his forte, but he doesn’t really come across as a believable act not even when he improvises. I’d imagine his post career television and movie appearances would end up being as successful as Magic Johnson’s talk show.
I like Chad, but unlike the energy he put into the whole boxing thing, putting energy into a reality show isn’t going to translate into success on the field. Save this stuff for when you retire Ocho. He may find himself playing second fiddle to Antonio Bryant sooner rather than later.
the grand poobah said
(In hindsight, this idea would have been much more compelling if the selected player had been Ben Roethlisberger.)
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add Tila Tequila into the mix and ya got a sure fire winner
I’m afraid Chad will get a movie out there in Hollywood and never come back.
riddlecleve
Rey’s only 23 he just graduated college he was hanging out with girls that age (18) just last year.. Hardly a child molester you dumbass !
Yeah, what an asshole for trying to have fun and live life off the field!
God forbid the guy doesnt spend his days running the beach and lifting weights all day trying to please all you basement dwellers. He’s never been in trouble off the field, he plays well and he’s entertaining…what more could a fan want? How about eight 1,000 yard seasons? Done. 6 seasons of 7 or more TD’s? Done. I’d have him on my team anyday.
You clowns would be all over his jock if you happened to meet the guy. Give it a rest.
“And he could be eligible for the position of full-time reality star sooner than he thinks, if he’s going to spend the bulk of his offseason starring in reality shows.”
Are you intimating that the Bengals would consider cutting him because he has a penchant for reality shows? It is a wonder that you are not in a front office somewhere.
Hopefully you can fast-forward for a few months and it ends with him getting a ring.
Im with DiamondDave13. What’s w/all the Ochocinco hate?
Sounds horrible. A hoax,maybe.
You know, just because he begs you media people for attention, you don’t have to oblige.
THE MEDIA NEEDS TO STOP REWARDING PEOPLE FOR THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR!
@Cincy
Yea your’e right man I apologize…I guess I overreacted to the fact that Rey was just being a typical Bengal ( felon or drunk). Its cool tho, I didnt know that being 23 and an NFL player it was acceptable to be driving drunk with 18yr old high school girls in the car, but atleast he didnt crash it…Oh wait he did
O.J. Simpson had a great acting career…
uhm, what’s dragging out feet? just curious
what more could a fan want? How about eight 1,000 yard seasons? Done. 6 seasons of 7 or more TD’s? Done
A playoff victory?
I hate TO but I think it’s time the Bengals cut this shithead and sign TO to a 1 year deal. luckily this is the last full year of his contract, he obviously isn’t planning on coming back and Bengals fans in general have been done with his bs for years. At least he will already have 2 reasons going into the season why he will revert back to 2008 stats, because he’s old and not commited anyomore. I think it’s time he change his last name again, maybe Pickens this time. Go scam some more charities Chad…
Plenty of great sports stars turned into excellent actors! What do you mean Florio??
-Fred whatshisname from the Rams that played the cop on that 80′s drama show my grandparents used to watch.
-OJ (Champs you beat me to it)
-The dude who was Websters dad
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
-The Rock
-Jim Brown (total badass!)
-Michael Jordan
-Shaq
-Ahhhhnuld (still acting to this very day)
I’m sure the list goes on and on…
Florio, can you not negate your own argument. Its kind of amazing though, you only used 2 lines to state you argument for not covering this and then in one you destroy it. WOW!
sad thing is back when football was his first priority he was an elite wideout….now the lable elite can only be attached to elite side show