Terrell Owens Deserves a Formal Apology

Maybe it's time we re-examined the way we look at Terrell Owens.

For years, T.O. has been viewed as the epitome of everything that's wrong with athletes.

He's been called selfish, arrogant, a destroyer of team chemistry, a quarterback's worst nightmare, etc. And while some of the verbal attacks may have been warranted at one point in his career, they don't appear to be anymore.

In the last year, Terrell Owens has worked hard, defended his quarterback, and most importantly, aided a car-crash victim in need.

Yes, T.O., the man so many have loved to hate, is an old-fashioned hero.

In case you missed it, ESPN writer Sam Alipour was leaving the ESPY's last week when he was accidentally hit by a taxicab.

The accident was so bad that paramedics told Alipour he was, "lucky to be alive."

Fortunately, T.O. was there to aid Mr. Alipour, pulling him out of the street and away from traffic.

Then, for the next few minutes, T.O. sat with his new friend, comforting him until the paramedics arrived.

Oftentimes, we vilify athletes for not smiling enough or shaking enough hands.

We dislike them because they aren't thankful enough. They don't appreciate their God-given gifts like they should.

We put ourselves in their place, and get mad at them for not doing as we would. Yet, we are not perfect, just as they are not perfect.

So, while we can rightly blame T.O. for certain past actions, we should praise him in an equal manner for the things he does right.

Terrell Owens deserves a better rap than we've given him.

Unlike many athletes who are perfect on the field, but flawed off it, most of T.O.'s problems have lived entirely, at least to my knowledge, in the locker room or on the field.

Sure he's had personal problems, but when have you ever heard about him running from a crime scene or making it rain?

In fact, when many other football players would have gladly taken their paychecks and rested, Terrell Owens ran onto the field with plates in his leg, giving his all for the chance to win a Super Bowl ring.

Maybe T.O. deserves an apology.

Considering that Bill Parcells essentially kicked Jason Taylor out of Miami for dancing, maybe it wasn't T.O. who was the bad guy after all.

Maybe T.O. was simply the only fisherman willing to stand up to the Big Tuna.

Of course, no one, with the exception of his family and friends, truly knows T.O. as a person.

For that reason, we should judge Terrell Owens in the only way we possibly can.

As a football player.