Former NFL star Terrell Owens recently made an appearance on ESPN Radio in Dallas and had some poignant thoughts to share with Ben and Skin about Junior Seau’s apparent suicide.
This is what he had to say on the terribly sad subject (h/t Brad Gagnon of Sports Radio Interviews)
We just lost an icon in the football world with Junior Seau. Nobody knew what he was going through. Last night I was up late going through my Twitter and I saw the interview with Marcellus Wiley who was a great, dear friend of Junior.Nobody knew, nobody knows what people go through, man. Nobody knows. It’s unexplainable. My heart goes out to his family, dude. I went through it dude, I saw his mom’s interview. Dude, that’s gut-wrenching to know a mom has to go through that.Honestly dude, I've been in that situation where you do feel like giving up because nobody understands the world that you live in. Nobody knows the things that you go through on a day to day basis.
When T.O. said he “went through it,” it’s possible that the former receiver is referencing incidents from his own life where he allegedly tried to commit suicide.
Back in October of 2011, TMZ reported that Owens’ assistant called 911 and claimed that the star had attempted suicide and was rushed to an L.A.-area hospital. His publicist later denied the possible pill overdose was an attempt to end his life.
There was also a time when Terrell allegedly took 35 Vicodin pills back in 2006 in what some believed was another suicide attempt.
The sad reality is Owens knows too well that this game has an emotional effect on many individuals who partake in it. Everything is not always well for these highly-paid athletes, despite the perception that they live the life of kings and nothing is hard for them.
These are men that are scrutinized by the media on a daily basis and have little choice but to live their lives in the public realm. They have their own fears, self-doubts, anxieties and other problems that make them human. Unfortunately, it’s rare they get a chance to show that side without being criticized.
If anyone knows the unexplainable pain and struggle that Seau must have felt, it would be Owens.
It was brave for T.O. to speak out on the subject—considering his past history—and try to shed some light on a dark issue. With players like him speaking out, hopefully the sports world can avoid another tragedy like Junior Seau's passing.
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