August 26, 2004
Run away, Ricky Williams. Run away.
For what seems like forever, the Miami Dolphins were lacking a quality running back. In the days of Dan the Man Marino as Dolfans we would pray each off season for the football gods to bring us a decent back. A guy who could compliment the greatest passer the game had ever known. Each season began with high hopes and always ended in running back hell. Dan never got his quality back and Dan never got the ring he gave his body up for.
But then, two years ago, the Dolphins brought in this guy called Ricky Williams from the New Orleans Saints. There was a lot of hoopla over the trade. this ricky character was supposed to be one hell of a running back. The answer to the Dolphin's offensive woes. Ricky would run. Ricky would open up the passing game. Ricky would spread the defense. Ricky would exploit the hole and ram the ball down their throats.
For two seasons, despite having a crappy quarter back and no offensive line, we Dolfans were optimistic. We had a running game! We had a guy in the backfield that ran 1000 yard seasons. For the first time since the Perfect Season Dolphins, we were a threat on the ground. We were Superbowl bound!
But, alas, it all ended a few days before this season's training camps began. Ricky Williams, our savior, our goto guy, our man on the ground who could pound, up and quit. Just like that.
He gave no thought to his team. He gave no thought to his teammates. He gave no thought to his coaches. He gave no thought to the fans that loved him.
He left his team high and dry and without options. He could have quit before the draft. He could have given the coaches a heads up so that they could replace him. But he didnt.
Ricky Williams preferred to smoke pot and travel the world and find himself. After failing 3 drugs test with marijuana, he just decided that reefer is what he wanted. Forget the millions the Dolphins had just payed him. Forget his contractual obligations. Forget responsibility. Forget the guys on the field that were his brothers in battle. It's all about Ricky Williams.
The Miami Dolphins sent Ricky a letter demanding the return of some $8Mil by Monday. Ricky then immediately called Coach Wannstedt as a token of "good will" so the Dolphins would not press for the money.
I hope the Miami Dolphins force him to return every single cent of the 8 million.
Time to grow up and pay up, Ricky. Welcome to the world of being an adult, you self serving pothead.
Posted by Val Prieto at August 26, 2004 09:17 AM
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Comments
Every cent.
Posted by: j.scott barnard at August 26, 2004 11:07 AM
Yep. You make a choice that breaks a contract, you don't get to keep all the money. He made the choice, time to pay up.
Posted by: zombyboy at August 26, 2004 11:46 AM
I'm convinced more and more than being a professional athlete means not having to behave like a mature adult. There was an Onion article from years ago titled "Professional basketball player lauded for being a decent human being."
I found your weblog via A Small Victory and have been reading it since. Keep up the excellent observations!
Posted by: Anne at August 26, 2004 12:00 PM
Val, don't worry about Ricky,your blood pressure is going to go up and he is WORTHLESS. He is out of his mind, he is thinking about coming back not because he wants to play football, just because he is running out of money to buy this drugs.
I am a 100% dolphins fan, and I know we can do it without him.
LET'S GO DOLPHINS!! - one day I will be a cheerleader, i just need to loose 30 pounds, hehehehehe. yamy
Posted by: yamy at August 26, 2004 12:12 PM
It would be really funny if he's still obligated to pay his associates. Example: he pays eight million to the Dolphins, then he still has to pay a percentage of eight million to his agent, because it's not the agent's fault he screwed up. I've never seen an agent's contract, but I'll bet anything that's the way it works.
Posted by: Steve H. at August 26, 2004 12:28 PM
I hope they take him to court for breach of contract, win legal fees and get most of their $8mil back.
Can you imaging having to make a decision between smoking pot and millions of dollars, and electing the pot? Unimaginable.
Posted by: The Other Mike S. at August 26, 2004 12:30 PM
Three words:
WHAT A LOSER!!!
Posted by: Amanda at August 26, 2004 12:50 PM
As a Texan, I must apologize for Ricky Williams as well. He was originally UT's shining star, and I remember so many local Sports pages blazing with the line "Run Ricky Run!" I still remember him in his burnt-orange with his dreds all done up in orange beads and a big self-satisfied smile on his face. He actually seemed like a relatively decent and down-to-earth fellow at the time.
Now I'm so disappointed in him I could scream...
--TwoDragons
Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at August 27, 2004 09:33 AM
Of course, the Saints won't do any better even having sent him away to Miami. ;-) What a pothead dumbass.
Mike S., my guess would be that his agents' contracts have liquidated damages clauses in case he breaches with his employer. In which case, yes, he probably will wind up owing all of his creditors well in excess of $8 million. Unfortunately for them, he probably won't have ever enough to cover that, so they'll wind up fighting each other for priority once he files for bankruptcy.
Posted by: Dave J at August 27, 2004 05:11 PM
Haha. We win. Love, potsmokers.
Posted by: Freechoice? at September 14, 2004 03:58 AM
