Home > NFL Exclusives > Adam Jones: Pacmanic-Depressive? Part One of Two

Adam Jones: Pacmanic-Depressive? Part One of Two

Matty Byloos |Aug 15,2007

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Adam Jones: Pacmanic-Depressive? Part One of Two

In a word, Borscht. As in, how is the system consistently failing to address real problems before they get to a level that is out of hand? I am talking about Adam “Pacman” Jones here – someone who has a long, involved personal history of behavior that can be seen as classic “acting out” for attention, coupled with a severe lack of respect or regard for authority. A person who once may only have needed some attention, seems to have turned into a veritable criminal right in front of our eyes.

Pacman Jones the Wrestler? You Kidding Me?

The latest headline that Pacman Jones has apparently helped to usher in is the supposed deal he has put together with TNA Entertainment, the Nashville professional wrestling association. Apparently, Jones is not going to actually be wrestling in the league, as his attorney, Worrick Robinson, assured everyone last week – “Anyone who has seen wrestling knows there are other opportunities to be involved.” And that’s the way it has to be, according to Titans personnel, including coach Jeff Fisher, who remarked, “That type of thing is not permitted in accordance with the player's contract.” Whatever. We can all take a second to laugh, or scoff, or say to each other – “Yeah. I guess I coulda’ seen that coming. Pro wrestling. I get it.”

Maybe this makes sense, given Jones’ troubled lifestyle that reads more like a circus clown version of a crack-induced comic book hero. Pulpy. Obvious. Not interesting to anyone, maybe not even Pacman Jones. Jones’ agent, Michale Huyghue, takes the cake for this one, though, as he has been quoted as saying, “He's looking for a number of things obviously to occupy his time,” meaning, during his suspension when he has to stay just about completely away from the NFL.

My immediate thought? Why not anger management classes, or a permanent internship in a youth-mentoring organization, or some Daddy-‘n’-me swimming lessons, or a meditation class. Wrestling? Limelight? Something to occupy his time? Why not make a weekly visit to the bouncer dude who got paralyzed for life back in February during the strip club incident that Jones was allegedly a main player in? But that’s not the case. Instead, Huyghue has remarked that the first wrestling foray for Jones could come as soon as the weekend of August 11 and 12, which is about when the Titans suit up for preseason play against the Washington Redskins. Desperate need for attention, party of one? We’ve got a delicious table right up here in front. It’s a window seat. You’ll love it.

Pacman Jones Schedules out His Free Time

About the Titans and Jones, Huyghue has also been quoted as saying, “I think the club wants to see him do something, obviously, while we've got this time off before we report back.” Of course. My guess is, they were thinking he ought to A.) Clean up his act over the course of the season, and/or B) stay the hell out of trouble. Beyond that, I am guessing they don’t care. Going out on a limb here – so stay with me. I am also gonna’ guess that they were not advocating Jones go out and make a pay-per-view mockery of himself on the professional wrestling circuit. Which brings me to my larger point. Why does it seem that this very talented football player has consistently been given a license to act however he pleases, simply because of his on-field abilities? In today’s culture-driven society, athletes are royalty and there is seemingly no shortage of pedestals to go around. But when the royal subject falls off of the pedestal, it’s an opportunity for all of us to come back to reality. So what do we choose to do?

Now some of these people, short of being spectacular athletes, are real humans with difficult and troubled pasts, and like other non-physically gifted people with similar backgrounds, they suffer from serious emotional problems. When the afflicted individual is not famous, we either respond by trying to get them help, or locking them up in a jail somewhere. When they are famous or talented in any way, we offer them a scoop of pistachio flavored ice cream and a free pass. Judges, coaches, media – the list is endless these days. Everyone with an opportunity to help the guy out wants to see him score points off of an interception returned for a touchdown, but no one wants Pacman Jones to score any points for accountability – the way anyone in the real world has to fight so hard to do every day. Integrity, personal accountability, respecting the rules that guide all of our behavior – the rules that form the underlying contract that all of us metaphorically sign by living in society together – none of that seems to matter one ounce in the Pacman Jones story.

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