A fantasy meeting with the Pacman
Today, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is going to have a disciplinary meeting with, among others, Tennessee Titans troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones.
Jones has been involved in 10 incidents and been arrested five times since being drafted out of West Virginia University in 2005.
The transcript from that meeting might go a little something like this:
RG: Mr. Jones, thanks for coming in. Glad to see you could squeeze us into your busy schedule.
AJ: No problem. I'd just like to say I was framed.
RG: For what?
AJ:Everything. Wasn't me. You must have me confused with someone else. (Silence). Man, my lawyer said that's all I have to go on.
RG:Getting to the point, I wanted to know why you've had such a history of trouble in such a short period of time? Coercion, battery and threat charges from a shooting during a fight at a strip club? Someone wanting to knife you? And those are just the two most recent incidents.
AJ:I'm just a victim of circumstances. I don't go looking for trouble. It just seems to find me.
RG:Don't you think you should separate yourself from those types of situations? I mean, a strip club at 5 a.m.? Shouldn't you be getting your rest for the upcoming season, which by the way is my first as your new commissioner.
AJ: Hey, congrats. I was wondering where that Mr. Tagliabue was. So, you're the new guy?
RG:Yes, Mr. Jones.
AJ:Who? Is my father here? Oh, me. You can call me Pacman, Commish. Pacman, you know, like the video game?
RG: Mr. Jones, getting back to you ...
AJ:Of course! My favorite subject.
RG: Anyhow, what do you think I should do? People will think I'm using you to set an example and that I should suspend you for a year. Heck, some even say three years.
AJ:Three years! I'll be 26 by then. I'll be old!
RG:I want to set a tone, but I don't want to be a monster either. I want to be tough, but fair.
AJ:Look Mr. Commish, don't you understand? I'm Pacman. I'm the new face of the NFL. Me, Chris Henry, Tank Johnson. We're rebels, outlaws. We're going to be the new XFL. Only without Vince McMahon. Hey, you can be the commissioner if you want.
RG:I already am the commissioner.
AJ:Hey, congratulations. So, when is Tagliabue coming?
RG:We're getting off the topic. Look, follow me on this one. In a nutshell, I want you to give me a good reason not to suspend you. You have 30 seconds. Go!
AJ: Look, I'm a professional athlete. You're not going to touch Pacman. Pacman is up-and-coming. Pacman has loyal fans and a great following. Ain't no way Pacman is getting suspended. Pacman's bigger than the NFL. I'm bigger than you.Oh, by the way, I'm Pacman.
RG: Well, let me put it this way Pacman ...
AJ:Finally, Commish, you're coming around.
RG: Inky, Pinky, Blinky and Clyde have a message for you.
AJ:All right, now you're speaking Pacman's language.
RG:Game Over.Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.
