T.O.: Broke, lonely, “in hell”
Atlanta-connected former famous footballer Terrell Owens is in the news again.
Of course, it’s not good news.
T.O.’s got money problems, among other troubles, according to a piece in GQ.
The once-electric wideout earned $80 million over a career marked by both accomplishment and controversy, but now, he says, he’s broke.
He’s also friendless and apparently despondent, living in an apartment in L.A.
Those money troubles, he says, stem from bad business decisions _ investments made at the suggestion of those presumed to be knowledgeable and operating in his best interests.
T.O. says he was never a big spender himself.
Now 38, he’s still aching for a comeback, on and off the field.
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244 comments Add your comment
Deezy
January 25th, 2012
12:13 pm
I agree with you War Eagle. You basically said the same thing I said to a friend this morning. T.O. is a boy he needs to grow up and be a man. He does not take resposibilty for any of his actions. If he had good character he would still be making money, but not body want to touch him. He is not a criminal never been in trouble with the law, but the way acts turns people off. T.O. is probably one of the best condition athletes in the history of the league. He could be selling fitness equipment and excercise videos, but the way he acts no one want to deal with him. He brought it on himself people put up with the antics when your the best, but when you slip and move down to just being good the reward is not worth the risk. Grow up and be man take responsibility. I remember he Jeff Garcia threw him a ball hit him right in the hands look like a perfect pass to me and everyone else. He didn’t catch the ball bounced off his hands and Mike Brown of the Bears intercepted it and ran it in for a touchdown to win the game which was in Overtime. He blamed Jeff Garcia for losing the game.
Ain't That A B!@#*%
January 25th, 2012
12:20 pm
Now he’ll go back to black women with all that baggage.
Mark
January 25th, 2012
12:24 pm
Why is this back in the news again with a blog? The AJC loves to keep a story going. The original story already had a blog attached.
JohnC
January 25th, 2012
12:26 pm
T.O.,
Fear not my friend…….you may be looking in the wrong spots for your joy. Turning and going a new direction can be a wonderful adventure. You have many talents that I am sure can be used to help your fellow man and yourself. Just remember where all of our gifts come from. You are still a young man. Certainly not at the same level I have felt much of your pain. Today, well today is a great day and life is good! Just point your mind and heart in the right direction. Be the nike kid…….just do it!
Are you kidding?
January 25th, 2012
12:27 pm
@Gawgaboi. Dude I can be a fan all I want. “these guys behave the way they do” because I love sports? WTH? The dollars I pay to watch games pays players salaries AS WELL as coaches, ball boys, parking lot attendants, security, etc. So do we see THEM act out? Stop the pity for this guy. Life is a batch sometimes, we all make bad decisions…hopefully he can learn from this. TO’s situation is not the fault of the “the fan”.
NFLinsiDER
January 25th, 2012
12:29 pm
Word is the league has black-balled TO. He has more going against him than Tim Tebow at an atheist convention. It’s like a gay guy with Jennifer Anniston, it just won’t happen.
Tony Montana
January 25th, 2012
12:29 pm
Luk at you naw, you stupid F*#K !!!!!
Concerned
January 25th, 2012
12:30 pm
DBH, I agree with your comment and actually had a concern similar to yours; falls from grace are common in our society, those who now scoff and scorn him must not have experienced there own, yet. TO (I must admit I know nothing about him) now has an opportunity to develop (if he does not all ready) or deepen his relationship with God; because I suspect God has further plans for his life.
TO: if you are reading these comments; please know that I am praying for you…be of good cheer, for it is when we are at our most broken that God with his infinite Grace, will lift you to heights your football career never contemplated, if you would only believe.
May the Peace of the Lord be with you.
BADLAND
January 25th, 2012
12:34 pm
A FOOL AND HIS MONEY WILL SOON DEPART……….
the TRUTH DAT guy
January 25th, 2012
12:36 pm
LOOOOSER
FACTS
January 25th, 2012
12:36 pm
I LOVE ME SOME ME………NUFF SAID !!!!!!!
blkshepherd
January 25th, 2012
12:38 pm
@DBH
I see all these folks on here Praying for TO. and man that through away millions. However no one is on here Praying for the family of the young lady who’s body was found that was missing from Buckhead. no one is on here Praying for the family of the little girl that was killed in the apartment complex. All you Praying folks. Like I said where were you Praying folks when he was Riding high. I surely didnt see any of you Praying then. WHATEVER!
Dave
January 25th, 2012
12:40 pm
What really is sad about this whole issue is that it’s so commonplace with so many athletes. Also, most of them won’t learn a thing from his example. They all think the money will last forever. They’ll spend it as fast as they can and father a few kids along the way and be shocked when their agent tells them it’s all gone. Let’s hope his momma got a house and car out of the deal.
blkshepherd
January 25th, 2012
12:41 pm
Yall want to say a PRAYER. SAY A PRAYER FOR THE POLICE WOMAN WHO LOST HER LIFE WHILE ANSWERING A CALL to help a fellow officer. Since YOU ALL IS GIVING out Prayers say a Prayer for that young women’s family and while your at it Say a PRAYER for YOUR OWN SELVES.
jesse
January 25th, 2012
12:42 pm
KEEP THE FAITH NEVER GIVE UP GIVE IT TO GOD
Mark
January 25th, 2012
12:51 pm
WOW! Talk about ignorant people…..I pray that none of you ever lose a job and need help from anyone.
Reason
January 25th, 2012
12:51 pm
The dude is broke. You don’t have to care one way or the other. He’s discussed this matter before on his reality show. Someone he trusted robbed him and went to town with his money. Couple that with the bad investments, rental properties that he probably needs to get rid of in order to get some liquidity, and people who were supposed to have his best interests in mind and there you go. Whether you like Terrell or not, whether his attitude on the football field or when he’s with his ‘posse’ or whatever is not to your liking, you don’t have to care. Obviously, by the number of posts on this short write-up you care somewhat, mostly in the negative. But the man is in pain; he’s been in pain for a long time. I hope he recovers from all of his financial problems.
Tommy
January 25th, 2012
12:52 pm
$80M and it’s all gone? Wow, what a surprise. A garden variety, everyday stereotype perpetuator. You can take ‘em out of the ghetto……
couchpotato
January 25th, 2012
12:52 pm
now youre a broke loser like me
couchpotato
January 25th, 2012
12:55 pm
since us bloggers live boring pathetic lives, we loooooove when a big mouth athlete{preferably black} gets his comeuppance
Karl
January 25th, 2012
12:59 pm
Welcome to the wonderful world of work. Try working for $9.00 an hour…..player!!!
Left Coast Dawg
January 25th, 2012
1:00 pm
He wasn’t a jerk, prick, or the other bad names everyone is calling him on here when I had the chance interact with him at an NBA All-Star event down in Houston.
Eisendawg
January 25th, 2012
1:01 pm
Here’s a few T.O. quotes:
“It doesn’t matter what people say about me, I weather the storm.”
“I am going to work with TO, and only TO.”
“They don’t pay me to go in there and talk to everybody, and be friendly to everybody.”
“But, if you look at the big scheme of things, I have never failed”
“I don’t have to play football”
Interesting, I wonder if he has considered being a spokesman for “Sharpie”?
Karl
January 25th, 2012
1:02 pm
President Obama last night said the median annual income in America is 31,000 a year. Michael Baidsen stated in black america the annual salary was 26,300 for black america. T.O. get down on your knees and thank GOD you still have your health and the means to make a living. You squandered a lot. You could be in a VA nursing home…….Get real and get a job…security, janitor etc
Mike Tyson
January 25th, 2012
1:06 pm
I wonder if Don King is responsible for this?
The Wise Man
January 25th, 2012
1:08 pm
This is no surprise, in fact over 75% NFL players go bankrupt within 5 years of retirement. The average NFL player makes $600,000 with an average contract of 3 years. Then USA takes half in taxes and the agent another 10% on that. Factor in the jewelry, their boys and the cars, there is no surprise most go BK. TO on the other hand made much more than the average guy, but his lavish life style doomed him. When you own multiple homes, there is upkeep and when you live a lifestyle that requires that you continue to earn big NFL money, once it runs out, you are screwed. He also supported several of his boys in town who lived in highrises like Ovation off his salary and frequented the strip clubs spending TOs money. What makes this interesting is that he was arrogant throughout his career and made many enemies. No one is sorry for him. As a reader mentioned above suicide wouldnt surprise many, because of the unstability he has shown on and off the field. One other thing, most NFL player are very uneducated. Few have college degrees and most are pampered and never required to learn anything because they were pimped throughout their lives for their athletic abilities.
Mark
January 25th, 2012
1:09 pm
Enter your comments here
Eric Breiner
January 25th, 2012
1:10 pm
I wonder what the cost was of the bust he had made of himself, for himself.
David
January 25th, 2012
1:10 pm
couchpotato
January 25th, 2012
12:55 pm
since us bloggers live boring pathetic lives, we loooooove when a big mouth athlete{preferably black
THIS IS SAD, BUT SO TRUE!
Yo fool pull yo pants up
January 25th, 2012
1:11 pm
A fool and his money are soon parted. Kinda funny how he blames blowing 80 million dollars on other people’s business decisions. Total BS. I’m betting he blew it all on fancy cars, fancy clothes, bling bling, strip clubs, escorts, etc. And typical that the man doesn’t want to pay child support. No surprise there.
JacquieMX
January 25th, 2012
1:13 pm
Where are his publicist chicks, Kita & Mo? I bet they jumped ship really fast once the $$$ dried up.
Reality
January 25th, 2012
1:14 pm
Never understood why so many professional players go broke..these leagues like the NFL,NHL,NBA etc..should have financial advisors for these players..why these players don’t go with the same people who helped Oprah(Her milllions went to BILLIONS) is beyond me. Stop investing in crap shoots and ex wives and start buying some subway/wendys/taco bell franchises, purchase rental units(especially with all the foreclosures out there..renters will be around for years to come!)..etc..
Also, these players need to get themselves away from the ghetto, if they came from there, and away from friends and non immediate family members(have two nickels to rub together and all the roaches come out to feed)…
Becoming a millionaire is harder and harder to do. Hardest part is the climb.. crashing and losing it all is easy..
MRA
January 25th, 2012
1:16 pm
The absurd amount of child support that he has paid certainly contributed to his financial problems. I hope the women who slept with him just to get a paycheck end up as broke as he is. Child support should be about children. It should not be about rewarding women with obscene amounts of money. It should not be about punishing men.
The Wise Man
January 25th, 2012
1:18 pm
Reality, Yes the leagues provide all kinds of support, seminars, advisors and the like, however at the end of the, these guys are adults and you need to take responsibility of your actions. Problem is most are uneducated and most have over inflated egos and dont listen to good advice. TO also had the luxury of outside income from his cable shows.
Just Me
January 25th, 2012
1:20 pm
A fool and his money are soon parted #truth
flagboy?
January 25th, 2012
1:20 pm
Gawgaboi
January 25th, 2012
10:26 am
It’s funny to me how judgmental people are about “people and “things” they don’t know. Yes 80 million dollars is alot of money but to blackball an individual from a game and not allowing him to earn a living the way he has for years isn’t right. Remember these guys would not behave the way they do. if we as “fans” did not put so much stock in professional sports and all that comes with it. Just something to think about.
_________________________________
Blackballed. . . what? Not allowing him to earn a living. . . What?
He’s 38 and a proven distraction for a football team. That doesn’t equate to blackballed.
And I’m sure he could get a job. He went to college so he should have worked toward a degree. . . . and if that doesn’t work, start looking in the “help wanted” classifieds.
flagboy?
January 25th, 2012
1:26 pm
Mark
January 25th, 2012
12:51 pm
WOW! Talk about ignorant people…..I pray that none of you ever lose a job and need help from anyone.
___________________________________
Mark, if you agree to give me 40 million dollars, I promise to never need help from you again.
MomentaryLapseofReason
January 25th, 2012
1:31 pm
You know what they say. You’ll find sympathy between s*#@ and syphilis in the dictionary. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person!
Curly
January 25th, 2012
1:37 pm
The J E T S Jets Jets Jets should sign him.
ordinary
January 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
he is not broke… now he like us ordinary regular people! Welcome!
kennesaw gator
January 25th, 2012
1:58 pm
It’s not the child support (he didn’t pay anyway), nor bad investments-
Clearly, it is BUSH’s fault, and T.O. is just another helpless victim of the Bush policies.
Luckily for TO, he will almost certainly qualify for a bail out from Obama. Heck, he could probably get a job in the White House Budget office!
Pity Party
January 25th, 2012
2:06 pm
No pity party here for TO, Holyfield, LT, and the rest that squander their huge wealth. They will lose everything through frivolous spending, entourages and bad investments. That’s why trotting out any of these buffoons to council the newbies in sports is fruitless. They will have the same mentality that tells them it won’t happen to me and plenty of “friends” to help them along the way. Someone said TO was blackballed…no he wasn’t..it’s just his ability no longer offsets his distractions.
Richard
January 25th, 2012
2:10 pm
Should have kept his mouth shut, stopped his moaning and just play football.
Crap
January 25th, 2012
2:12 pm
The story mentions an Atlanta connection. I hate to ask (and am afraid to find out), but what is it?
JTATL04
January 25th, 2012
2:21 pm
Suck it up T.O. and keep it moving!!!
FACTS
January 25th, 2012
2:26 pm
I LOVE ME SOME ME !!!!….. NOW THAT YOU ARE BROKE & LONELY , DO YOU STILL LOVE ME SOME ME ????…. GET IT TOGETHER T.O. BE A DAMN MAN, THERE IS NO SYMPATHY FOR FOOLS…… YES I PRAY FOR EVERYONE…. EVEN MY ENEMY, BUT THEY MUST PRAY FOR THEMSELVES….. WE ALL GOT PROBLEMS, BUT OURS AIN’T THE WEB….WAKE-UP DUMBAZZZ
Bipolar Bird
January 25th, 2012
2:27 pm
I dont really mind to bring T.O Back if he agrees to a market value..lets try him out to see if, nevermind he is too old but we need QB coach though, yeah?
Eddie Long
January 25th, 2012
2:32 pm
Dear T, please come to see me, we might do something together…
barneyfife
January 25th, 2012
2:37 pm
Good riddance, punk. You know what they say about Karma.
You are an arrogant, disgusting turd. Anyone who blows through $80 million is a POS.
elliemae
January 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
“Paper or plastic?”
“Would you like to supersize that meal?”
Those are phrases you should lean, T.O. That is if anyone is stupid enough to give your punk A%* a job. You reap what you sow, you bag of garbage.