A "depressed" T.O. attempts suicide

[tobynosker]

Police: T.O. tried to kill himself (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-cowboys-tosuicideattempt&prov=ap&type=lgns)

[bama4256]

Been there done that three times. Thank God I'm alive today.

[themush]

T.O. is supposed to speak any minute now. Wonder how they are going to spin this one.

[HibachiDG]

That it was an allergic reaction. The reason the bottle of pills was empty was because he felt himself slipping into a strong desire to take them more than required and did not want to fall prey to an addiction that has afflicted many, so he flushed most of the others.

[Ellis]

This thing is being blown way out of proportion. It seems as though no one really knows anything in the media and as of now and everything is rumors.

There is a war going on and every reporter in the United States is down in Texas because T.O. took a couple extra pills.

[tobynosker]

Well, here is the spin that Mush was looking for (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2604395).

Originally Posted by Doug Graham
That it was an allergic reaction. The reason the bottle of pills was empty was because he felt himself slipping into a strong desire to take them more than required and did not want to fall prey to an addiction that has afflicted many, so he flushed most of the others.

How do you know this for sure?

If reports like the one I heard from Michael Irvin saying that Owens was so discombobulated that he responed to the question of whether or not he was trying to harm himself with a "yes" without knowing what he was saying, how was he thinking clearly enough to flush away the rest of the pills?

[HibachiDG]

I don't know anything for sure. I was responding to mush about what the possible spin could be. Not what really happen. Definitely wasn't trying to imply that I knew for certain, just giving mush a possible alternative explanation. I don't know what that man did yet.

The guy I run a blog with did a much better job, with more thought put into it, if anyone is interested.

[themush]

We're never going to know what really happened. I just hope he gets the help he needs if he tried to take his life.

The 911 tape might be the only thing that will clear this up.

[tobynosker]

If we ever see Terrell Owens on television riding in a white Ford Bronco being driven on the Dallas freeways by good friend Drew Rosenhaus, or claiming he shared a bed with a grown man many times when he was a young child in an incoherent interview with CBS' Ed Bradley, I will swear off the NFL for good!

[themush]

He's a few thoughts:

I'm no doctor but, if he took 30 some odd painkillers shouldn't his respiratory system have failed?

If he attempted suicide shouldn't he have been Baker Acted for 72 hours? How was he allowed to leave the hospital.

[Ellis]

Typical media. The wait to prance on any little thing about celebrities, and when they get their opportunity they jump on the story and make the story based on all rumors and speculation.

Sure, he is a millionaire, but I feel bad for the guy. How would you feel if you had the media waiting for you to slip up one bit and broadcast every little thing you do to the entire nation?

[tobynosker]

I think T.O. has done plenty over the last two years to seek out attention for himself (outside of this particular incident) from the media.

[Ellis]

It doesn't matter that Owens brought some of the attention to himself. The fact of the matter is that the media doesn't care about the people it reports about and it has no problem blowing things out of proportion and reporting things that may not be true. They don't care if they put information out there about a person, as extreme as someone committing suicide, on pure speculation or rumors, they just want a story. They don't think of the person they are reporting about, they only care about themselves.

[HibachiDG]

The media didn't mess this one up, though, Ellis. If the police report is wrong, you can't blame the police for that. If anyone blew this up, it was his publicist.

And after seeing her speak at his press conference, it wouldn't surprise me that she would panic and blow a situation out of proportion. She just said Owens "has 25 million reasons not to kill himself"

[themush]

Agreed Doug, she also said she didn't say he was depressed yet it's on the sworn police report. I guess the cops just made that statement up huh? So I think she just freaked and this thing snowballed.

[Ellis]

The media didn't mess this one up, though, Ellis. If the police report is wrong, you can't blame the police for that. If anyone blew this up, it was his publicist.

And after seeing her speak at his press conference, it wouldn't surprise me that she would panic and blow a situation out of proportion. She just said Owens "has 25 million reasons not to kill himself"I agree with you that the publicist really made the story blow up into something bigger than it really was, but the media didn't have to release all of that info until they heard Owen's side of the story and had more substantial information. No one knew anything. I don't believe that the police report said that it was a suicide case. All it said was that Owens was quotes saying that he tried to hurt himself. The police report was so vague on most of the issues that there was no reason to start shooting out all kinds of crazy scenarios that could have happened with out getting down to the bottom of the story.

[HibachiDG]

The police report was going to get out, so you have a responsibility to report on it to give people a much clearer picture of what is going on, rather than allowing rumor to take over. If they didn't report on that information, then they wouldn't be doing their job.

[Ellis]

The police report was going to get out, so you have a responsibility to report on it to give people a much clearer picture of what is going on, rather than allowing rumor to take over. If they didn't report on that information, then they wouldn't be doing their job.

The right thing to do would have been to just say that "Terrell Owens is in the hospital right now and it is unsure of why exactly that is. Once we get more information we will report the entire story." They should have done that rather than putting "suicide" all over the news based on speculation and a police report which never said it was suicide.

[themush]

I agree Ellis but, the police report stated he said yes when asked if he tried to hurt himself.

[HibachiDG]

The right thing to do would have been to just say that "Terrell Owens is in the hospital right now and it is unsure of why exactly that is. Once we get more information we will report the entire story." They should have done that rather than putting "suicide" all over the news based on speculation and a police report which never said it was suicide.

The police report definitely indicated suicide. To think otherwise is downright silly. The only thing you can read into the police report is suicide. It wasn't based on speculation, it was reporting that a police report indicated suicide. It was responsible reporting because the alternative would be much, much worse. Where you would have speculation of this police report being out there saying suicide, but no one really talking about it or informing the public of it. Then you start getting into speculation of what else he could be in the hospital for, etc.

[KevinBeane]

The fact of the matter is that the media doesn't care about the people it reports

We are way past this post but, the media shouldn't care about the people it reports. A good journalist has an obligation to be neutral and objective.

Everything I have seen in the story has been properly sourced and cited. I'm reminded of the old joke about the politician who said, "Sure, I lied! But them d*mn newspapers, they reported the lie!" If, say, Owens did NOT answer affirmatively about that question about him harming himself, then the problem is with the liar, not the newspaper. And to say, "This might be a lie, so we shouldn't report that the paramedics said this at all." is not objective journalism. It's a sympathetic, pro-TO media.

As far as them splashing the story everywhere...well, they do that because that's what sells the most subscriptions and what sells the most ad copy, and they have a right to make as much money as possible since it's a capitalism market we are living under. You have to give the people what they want to make the most money possible. If everyone felt like you did, Ellis, there would be no market for this stuff. But there is.

[doublee]

It is a cry for attention and probably nothing more than that. It is coming out today that both the Eagles and the Niners both wanted him to get psychiatric help and he refused to do so. My whole thing is this can't be the first time he has mixed significant painkillers with supplements so I am having a tough time buying all of this. I guess my question to him would be why would you take 35 pills out of the bottle and stash them in a drawer if they were prescribed to him.

[Ellis]

We are way past this post but, the media shouldn't care about the people it reports. A good journalist has an obligation to be neutral and objective.

The media is just a joke. They will do anything for anything story and they will tell you anything to grab your attention. It goes beyond this one incident with T.O. When they aren't trying to scare you about killer bees and bird flu, they are telling you about a celebrities personal life. Maybe some people like this stuff, but I don't. It's why I don't read the newspaper or watch the news. Anything worth hearing someone will tell me and any real threat someone will tell me.

The main thing I want you to understand from what happened today, which I said in my first post, is that there is a war going on, national debt, and a whole mess in the Middle East and where are the reporters? At Terrell Owen's house gossiping about a story that is based on speculation and only part of the story.

[HibachiDG]

Well, I'm pretty sure the only people over-covering the Owens thing are ESPN. And this is one of the biggest sports stories we're going to see all year. Aside from that, the war, national debt, Middle East, are all going to be there tomorrow. The Owens story is a developing story and a lot of people want to hear about it.

It's not a huge story to you, but it's a huge story to a lot of people and those covering it have a responsibility to cover it. Just because you don't grasp why they're doing it doesn't mean they shouldn't do it. Is it silly for Trey Wingo to start talking about Ed Werder being the ESPN bureau chief down there in Dallas, sure, but it's the biggest sports story this year so it's going to be covered. It's also a huge news story.

Ellis, your rant here just sounds like the same old tired rants from people who don't watch the news media. You're simply out of touch with reality, but use isolated incidents to make a much broader point. I mean, you don't honestly believe that killer bees, bird flu and celebrities personal lives are talked about more than the Middle East, the war and government, do you? So, your point is a joke because it's flawed from the roots. I'm not saying the media is perfect. I'm not saying there aren't things the media needs to change. I'm just saying that you have zero grasp on the situation.

Honestly, your points on the media in this thread are just lazy.

[Ellis]

First of all this story was everywhere. When I was flipping through channels it was on CNN and FOX.

This story is important to alot of people?? It is important to Owen's family and friends. Also the Cowboy's organization. You can make an argument that it is important to Cowboys fans. That is it. I don't really see how this is important to a lot of people.

The news blows everything out proportion. Online predators, credit card scams, identity theft, shootings, death, and diseases. They happen, but if it any of it is important to me, someone will tell me about it. I don't need that stuff to be pounded into my head every single day by a newspaper or a news station. Politics are interesting so I will listen to talk radio, but all that news stations and news papers do is pound negative things into your head.

[HibachiDG]

I said it was a huge story. I didn't say it was an important story.

[IntheNet]

I see this differently... Mr. Owens is a distraction to the NFL and a sensationalist that wishes only that the world focus on him... this suicide attempt is his latest feeble attempt at grandstanding... Three things need to happen...

1. Dallas needs to cut this loser loose... eat the millions it will cost but seperate itself from TO as soon as possible...

2. Dallas needs to focus on all things football rather than all things TO...

3. The NFL needs to crack down hard on his showboating... if he wishes to play the game than he should; but his personality disorders and ego need to left on the bench...

I am tired of this type of player being rewarded for behavior which would not be tolerated anywhere else...

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by Ellis
The news blows everything out proportion. Online predators, credit card scams, identity theft, shootings, death, and diseases. They happen, but if it any of it is important to me, someone will tell me about it. I don't need that stuff to be pounded into my head every single day by a newspaper or a news station. Politics are interesting so I will listen to talk radio, but all that news stations and news papers do is pound negative things into your head.

It has less to do with pounding negative ideas into your head, and more to do with keeping you enlightened.

And, in this specific incident with Terrell Owens, the media didn't rush the story. The media cited specific law enforcement reports and I have yet to see where the media reported it as a suicide attempt. They instead reported it as a possible suicide attempt, given the information leaked through the police report.

And it shocks me that you are such a big supporter of talk radio, where the job is solely to build an audience and entertain, rather than keeping the public informed.

[buckeyefan78]

Cops want an apology.

Here's the notable quote...

"The officers reacted because they were called to this location to do this job. Now they're being put under a microscope by some fancy little football person," Senior Cpl. Glenn White said. "Give me a break. Those officers are 10 times better than this man. ... We police officers don't go out to these calls and make stuff up."

And here's the full story...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2606156

Sometimes people who get up and go to work everyday get fed up too. Imagine that?

[boston_aloha]

Those officers are 10 times better than this man. ...
Finally, some undisputed truth to this story

[themush]

Has Jerry Jones said anything about this?

[buckeyefan78]

I didn't say that Steve. The officer Glenn White did. You just threw me under the bus buddy...LOL.

I have mixed feelings on the comments really. I'll believe cops over TO, his publicist, and the organization anyday though. Mighta been a little harsh. Again though, people with real jobs who have real problems get the benefit of the doubt with me.

I'll also believe anyone over ESPN and the NFL anyday as well. You do realize the Saints have saved New Orleans...don't you? Yea...right.

I haven't seen anything by Jones yet mush.

[boston_aloha]

I know you didn't say it buckeye - I read the article this morning. I didn't mean to quote you as saying it. sorry.

[buckeyefan78]

Oh I know it was an honest mistake. If you just glimpse at that post though it looks like I went balls to the wall out of the blue...LOL.

[buckeyefan78]

Wow...another major development. Dallas police call it an "accidental overdose" according to Fox Sports. This was put on their site today at 6:07 PM Eastern Time.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6011178

My take: Cops were correct all along. A few hands shook behind closed doors, a few dollars exchanged, and now this is "official verdict."

[boston_aloha]

Oh I know it was an honest mistake. If you just glimpse at that post though it looks like I went balls to the wall out of the blue...LOL.

yeah, I just looked at it... man, it does look like I pinned that one on you! :lol:

EDIT: ESPN is playing the 911 tape now.

[tobynosker]

I clicked on the link to buckeye's story and all it said was "Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said late Thursday that Owens' case is being classified as an 'accidental overdose,' not an attempted suicide."

What gives?

[doublee]

Has Jerry Jones said anything about this?

No, surprisingly enough he has not. At least not that I know of, he seems to be rolling the Tuna under the bus to handle all of this crap, which I am sure is not sitting too terribly well with Parcells seeing as he was not overly enthralled with the idea of getting him in the first place.

Anyone else catch TO's publicist calling him, "a man of his statue". :lol:

By the way what does Owens need a publicist for anyway doesn't he do a pretty good job of publicizing himself as it is?

[Anthony]

Did you believe Bill Clinton when he said that he didn't have sex with that woman?

If you did, then you believe that this was an "accidental overdose."

A local friend of mine is speculating that T.O. did this because he was jealous of all the publicity Ben Roethlisberger was getting out of his medical problems. I'm not so sure about that, but ...

[doublee]

I don't know, I think Jim Rome may have hit the nail on the head the other day. He basically said that he doesn't think T. O. attempted suicide but he also let the rumor simmer for a while to garner more attention for himself.

I think it is fairly plausible that he may have popped a couple of Vicodin after practice and his hand was still hurting when he got home and popped a couple more thinking he could handle it and it was too much for his body to handle and it made him a bit loopy and incoherent. Then when he saw the media circus he created he sat back for the day and basked in all of the attention he was getting. He certainly did not seem too terribly concerned about refuting the suicide rumors as soon as they started circulating in the media as soon as he possibly could.