That's Not Me

[The Big Ragu]

Ever notice that when an athlete acts like an asshole, in his apology after the fact, he invariably says, "That's not me," even though it was him?

The examples that pop into my head are NFL-related because it's what I am paying the most attention to, but I am positive there are examples from other sports.

For example, Terrell Owens, after ripping Donovan McNabb:

"You know what? I've never had a problem with Donovan. The media created a storm over a comment that I made that everyone said I made about him. But I never said his name. I have no problem with anybody on my team. If you've got a problem with me, then obviously something is wrong with you. Now, if you ask me about somebody's ability, then I might give you my opinion. But as far as me bashing someone for no reason, that's not me, that's not my personality."

A week or two ago, New York Jets RB Leon Washington about a trading card photo on which he is flipping the bird with both hands:

"I want to apologize. It was basically 'E's upside down, and it came off looking like something totally different. That's not me. That's not my character."

Then, twice yesterday...

Michael Vick after flipping fans the bird:

"It was very inappropriate. I was down, upset, frustrated. I just did one thing I've never done through all the games I've ever lost, no matter how frustrated I've been after a game. I don't know where it came from, but the people who know me know that's not me and that's not my character."

Braylon Edwards about leaving lipstick all over the sidelines:

"I embarrassed myself to some extent. That's not my character. That's not me. Nobody knows me as that type of guy. I've always been the clean cut, quiet, well-spoken guy, so that wasn't me. I embarrassed myself a little bit and I feel I embarrassed this organization to some extent."

So if it isn't them, then who is it?

I think "That's not me" should be officially retired from the apology lexicon.

 

[scribeinwiscy]

Cue Shaggy.

 

[JBHawkEye]

Michael Richards also has been popping out the "That's not me" in his apologies.

In all of these cases, it sure as hell acted like you and sounded like you.

 

[spnited]

Next thing you know, Ragu is gonna tell us "That's not me" behind the sign in his sig!

 

[Jones]

Ever notice that when an athlete acts like an asshole, in his apology after the fact, he invariably says, "That's not me," even though it was him?

The examples that pop into my head are NFL-related because it's what I am paying the most attention to, but I am positive there are examples from other sports.

For example, Terrell Owens, after ripping Donovan McNabb:

"You know what? I've never had a problem with Donovan. The media created a storm over a comment that I made that everyone said I made about him. But I never said his name. I have no problem with anybody on my team. If you've got a problem with me, then obviously something is wrong with you. Now, if you ask me about somebody's ability, then I might give you my opinion. But as far as me bashing someone for no reason, that's not me, that's not my personality."

A week or two ago, New York Jets RB Leon Washington about a trading card photo on which he is flipping the bird with both hands:

"I want to apologize. It was basically 'E's upside down, and it came off looking like something totally different. That's not me. That's not my character."

Then, twice yesterday...

Michael Vick after flipping fans the bird:

"It was very inappropriate. I was down, upset, frustrated. I just did one thing I've never done through all the games I've ever lost, no matter how frustrated I've been after a game. I don't know where it came from, but the people who know me know that's not me and that's not my character."

Braylon Edwards about leaving lipstick all over the sidelines:

"I embarrassed myself to some extent. That's not my character. That's not me. Nobody knows me as that type of guy. I've always been the clean cut, quiet, well-spoken guy, so that wasn't me. I embarrassed myself a little bit and I feel I embarrassed this organization to some extent."

So if it isn't them, then who is it?

I think "That's not me" should be officially retired from the apology lexicon.

And there, thanks to some nice legwork by Ragoo, is a readymade column.

 

[Ace]

Ever notice that when an athlete acts like an asshole, in his apology after the fact, he invariably says, "That's not me," even though it was him?

The examples that pop into my head are NFL-related because it's what I am paying the most attention to, but I am positive there are examples from other sports.

For example, Terrell Owens, after ripping Donovan McNabb:

"You know what? I've never had a problem with Donovan. The media created a storm over a comment that I made that everyone said I made about him. But I never said his name. I have no problem with anybody on my team. If you've got a problem with me, then obviously something is wrong with you. Now, if you ask me about somebody's ability, then I might give you my opinion. But as far as me bashing someone for no reason, that's not me, that's not my personality."

A week or two ago, New York Jets RB Leon Washington about a trading card photo on which he is flipping the bird with both hands:

"I want to apologize. It was basically 'E's upside down, and it came off looking like something totally different. That's not me. That's not my character."

Then, twice yesterday...

Michael Vick after flipping fans the bird:

"It was very inappropriate. I was down, upset, frustrated. I just did one thing I've never done through all the games I've ever lost, no matter how frustrated I've been after a game. I don't know where it came from, but the people who know me know that's not me and that's not my character."

Braylon Edwards about leaving lipstick all over the sidelines:

"I embarrassed myself to some extent. That's not my character. That's not me. Nobody knows me as that type of guy. I've always been the clean cut, quiet, well-spoken guy, so that wasn't me. I embarrassed myself a little bit and I feel I embarrassed this organization to some extent."

So if it isn't them, then who is it?

I think "That's not me" should be officially retired from the apology lexicon.

And there, thanks to some nice legwork by Ragoo, is a readymade column.

SportsJournalists.com -- making sports writers lazier and crabbier since 2001.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Prefab columns (and psychiatry): 5 cents

 

[Ace]

I want to apologize for my earlier mean-spirited post. That's not me. Really, I'm much meaner and more cynical but I was having an uncharacteristically good day.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

There's a saying that goes, "adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it." Yes, it's cliche, but it's true. When an athlete says something that society deems out of line, it is not a rogue thought that somehow found its way to his mouth for that one aberration. If he says it or does it in public, he's said or done it in private many times. The whole "it's not me" thing is the height of disingenuity.

Vick played his heart out yesterday, but he's starting to look more and more like a punk to me.

 

[alexg23]

You missed one: Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Khalif Barnes apologizing after a recent drunk driving arrest: People that really know me know that <b>that's not me</b>."

Who knew NFL players were such big Brian Wilson fans?

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

"That's not me" ~ "That's in the past"

 

[D-3 Fan]

"That's not me" ~ "That's in the past"

I can only think of two things with LJB's post:

1. That pretty much sums up Michael Strahan in the locker room today after he threw Burress under the bus on his radio show and then goes off on the media.

or

2. Strahan's messy divorce

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

It's the niftiest concept since confession.

 

[D-3 Fan]

Forgive me father, for I have sinned... ;)

 

[Flash]

 

[Freelance Hack]

"That's not me" ~ "That's in the past"

But I'm not here to talk about the past. </markmcgwire>

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

That's Not Me.

 

[Shaggy]

You rang?