How Did Adam "Pacman" Jones Get His Nickname?

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Pacman Jones has become a household name, and not for any of the right reasons.

He started out in the NFL as one of the more talented cornerbacks to come out of the college ranks in some time, but it wasn't his skill that got him noticed. Jones could not stay on the field or away from trouble.

When he was involved in a shooting incident outside of a strip club that got him suspended for a year, it seemed like the name Pacman would forever be synonymous with trouble.

It didn't always used to be that way. Adam Jones was an enthusiastic little kid with a lot of energy. He got his nickname because his mom used to say that he would go to the bottle like a Pac-Man machine.

What a shame that such a sweet and innocent nickname as a baby would grow to cause reactions such as disgust, pity, and even fear.

Pacman even tried to distance himself from the nickname, saying that he preferred to be called "Adam," but the damage had already been done to his character and the name that defined him.

Now Pacman can't even make a comeback in the Canadian Football League because of character issues.

A recent chance at signing with Winnipeg got wrecked by going all Starbury on a UStream video feed, where he mistakenly said he was going to play for the UFL, showing off his girlfriend's new ring that was "paid for" by his new contract that never happened. And of course, this was all done shirtless.

Just like Pac-Man from the game, this Pacman is also running away from ghosts, but his are the ghosts of his past. The nickname will continue until it's game over for Adam Jones.

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