With the NFL lockout in its infancy, yet looming with an unidentifiable ending, professional football players, team owners, and league management remain caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty and confusion.
As an organization, the NFL is experiencing unprecedented success. This presents the ideal scenario for them to reward their players, yet this did not happen, prompting the player’s union to dissolve themselves and pursue legal action. At least 10 players, including leading quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, Friday filed antitrust lawsuits against the NFL to attempt to halt a lockout, but it has still occurred. The harsh reality is that the potential outcome of the lockout will result in a shortened or suspended 2011-2012 NFL regular season.
With the lockout now in place, several NFL players are considering pursuing new careers. Baltimore Ravens safety, Tom Zbikowski is investigating furthering his career as a professional boxer, while Minnesota Vikings’ former defensive end, Ray Edwards, is looking to pursue a new career in boxing after making arrangements to have his first match in April.
A six-time NFL pro bowl selection, known for both his dominance on the gridiron, as well as his out of control ego and celebrity status off the field, Chad Ochocinco is not taking the lookout lightly either. Just like many others, he is focusing his interests elsewhere and pursuing other opportunities. First, he had his first Major League Soccer tryout day on March 23 with Sporting Kansas City. Initial evaluations of Ochocinco’s talent in playing soccer were that he was “rusty”, citing that his ability to join a team would be extremely tough since he hasn’t played since high school.
However, most (including myself) applaud his initiative. And with 40 reporters showing up on an off day at a MLS training facility, many others also applaud Ochocinco for creating a media buzz around professional soccer–a sport that desperately needs attention in the US marketplace.
If the lockout threatens the NFL season and Chad Ochocinco doesn’t make it in the MLS, chances are he won’t worry too much about finding another avenue to enter. An avid entrepreneur, he may actually flourish. While playing football for the Cincinnati Bengals, he has been able to have his own VH 1 reality show, The Ultimate Catch, participate in “Dancing with the Stars”, garner nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, amongst a host of other endorsement deals.
Aside from soccer, television, and other endorsements, perhaps the most intriguing venture that Ochocinco is now looking to enter is…none other than…the music business! Many who hear this song will say that he is definitely “trippin’ “…but I bet that many many more will surely get a good kick out of it!
One can only imagine what Chad Ochocinco might do or try next, especially if he doesn’t have football anymore. If he was asked this question, I’d venture his response might be something like, “Child please….I’m about to rule the world!!!”
Regardless of his response and whatever he decides to do, I’m sure that whenever we hear the name Ochocinco attached to something, we’ll all tune in and enjoy the entertainment!
Modern Intelligentsia 