Why I Think Chad Ochocinco is Good for the NFL

I follow Chad Ochocinco, @OGOchoCinco, on Twitter. I was not too familiar with his story before I started following him.

I knew that he played for the Oregon State Beavers where he was known as Chad Johnson. I knew that he had changed his name to Ochocinco. I knew he had a big personality and generated a lot of ink.

What I didn’t know was how entertaining and generous he is. I started following him because of an article I read (I don’t remember where or when) about athletes to follow on Twitter, at least in the writer’s opinion. I looked a his Twitter stream, found it interesting and entertaining, so I signed up to follow him, along with Larry Fitzgerald, @lfitzgerald11, and Matt Hasselbeck, @MatthewHass8, two others on the list.

Chad has been the most fun to follow. Larry is second (he is very inspiring) and Matt third, mostly because he doesn’t tweet very much.

Chad’s personality comes through loud and clear. He loves his followers/fans. He interacts with them and is sincere in that interaction. He pokes fun at himself and it’s clear that he has a very big heart. I am now a true fan of his.

I know the NFL (No Fun League) doesn’t see Chad the same way I do which I think is to their detriment. Instead of fining him and punishing him, harness his personality and use it. From all accounts, he works very hard in practice and he takes what he does seriously. That doesn’t mean he can’t have fun with it, too. Imagine what your life would be like if you came to work everyday and were not allowed to ever have any fun (1984, anyone?).

I see what he does as harmless – really, where is the harm of donning a sombrero? He didn’t run out onto the field in it instead of his helmet. He makes me WANT to watch the Bengals and I’ve never been a fan of that team. And seriously, a $20,000 fine for a $1 so-called ‘bribe’?

He’s not a perfect man, but he’s also not saying he is. I think this quote from a USA Today article in 2005 sums it up:

"Nothing is done with bad intent," Johnson says. "Thinking of that next end-zone celebration drives me. There has to be some type of entertainment in what I do.”