Ricky Williams: Ricky's Wild Career Could Be Nearing Its End

I couldn't help but notice that Ricky Williams' name was trending big on Google not too long ago, which I've been told has a lot to do with the fact that his 30 for 30 documentary, "Run Ricky Run," re-aired today. Suffice it to say that some pretty interesting information comes to light, and that it's definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Regardless, I thought I'd take the opportunity to point out that Ricky's NFL career is very much up in the air at the moment. Again.

Indeed, Williams is a free agent, and it seems pretty unlikely at this point that he is going to return to the Miami Dolphins given his age and the manner in which he left. He's also going to be 34 by the time next season rolls around (if there is a next season anyway), and the Dolphins should be looking to go a more youthful direction.

I'm not suggesting that Ricky won't find a job. He probably will. But even then, he'll just be one step closer to retirement. And this time, it will likely be for good.

From its very start, Ricky's career has been an odd spectacle behold, and often times very amusing. The New Orleans Saints gave up every chip they had in order to draft him No. 5 overall in 1999, as head coach Mike Ditka traded away every single one of his draft picks to get a shot at Ricky, who had won the Heisman Trophy in 1998.

After three seasons that were really just okay, Williams was traded to the Dolphins in 2002. That season, Williams exploded. He finished with a league-high 1,853 yards, and made his first Pro Bowl.

Two years later, Williams abruptly retired, and was in and out (mainly out) of the NFL for three years.

Unfortunately, that's the part of Williams' career that I suspect many people will remember. A darn shame perhaps, but also understandable.

One way or another, when Williams does decide to finally hang 'em up, I suspect that we will miss him.

And really, what more could an NFL player ask of his fans

Ricky Williams: Ricky's Wild Career Could Be Nearing Its End

I couldn't help but notice that Ricky Williams' name was trending big on Google not too long ago, which I've been told has a lot to do with the fact that his 30 for 30 documentary, "Run Ricky Run," re-aired today. Suffice it to say that some pretty interesting information comes to light, and that it's definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Regardless, I thought I'd take the opportunity to point out that Ricky's NFL career is very much up in the air at the moment. Again.

Indeed, Williams is a free agent, and it seems pretty unlikely at this point that he is going to return to the Miami Dolphins given his age and the manner in which he left. He's also going to be 34 by the time next season rolls around (if there is a next season anyway), and the Dolphins should be looking to go a more youthful direction.

I'm not suggesting that Ricky won't find a job. He probably will. But even then, he'll just be one step closer to retirement. And this time, it will likely be for good.

From its very start, Ricky's career has been an odd spectacle behold, and often times very amusing. The New Orleans Saints gave up every chip they had in order to draft him No. 5 overall in 1999, as head coach Mike Ditka traded away every single one of his draft picks to get a shot at Ricky, who had won the Heisman Trophy in 1998.

After three seasons that were really just okay, Williams was traded to the Dolphins in 2002. That season, Williams exploded. He finished with a league-high 1,853 yards, and made his first Pro Bowl.

Two years later, Williams abruptly retired, and was in and out (mainly out) of the NFL for three years.

Unfortunately, that's the part of Williams' career that I suspect many people will remember. A darn shame perhaps, but also understandable.

One way or another, when Williams does decide to finally hang 'em up, I suspect that we will miss him.

And really, what more could an NFL player ask of his fans

Three days ago Ted Williams, the YouTube sensation with the “golden voice,” was panhandling on the side of an Ohio highway. On Thursday, Access Hollywood caught up with the 53-year-old on the brink of stardom

“If I would have hit a million dollar lottery, the feeling has to be the same,” Ted told Access on Thursday morning in New York, where was appearing on NBC’s “Today” show. “That’s how I feel, like I just hit a lottery, you know. I want to scream! It’s those kind of feelings.”

Williams said a slew of offers have been pouring in since his YouTube video — filmed by a videographer for The Columbus Dispatch — went viral.

“The Kraft deal, I just found out about. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, the Cleveland Cavaliers, I’ve had some offers in Honolulu. A guy is going to my fly me and my family to Honolulu and do some [voice work] there. ‘The Ellen Degeneres Show,’ Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon tonight. There’s a gentlemen that offered me a part playing of Wolfman Jack in a remake of ‘American Graffiti,’” he explained.

Going further, if Hollywood were to come knocking looking to make a movie about his own life, Ted has a few leading men in mind.

“Terrance Howard, or after his second re-election, President Obama, no I’m just teasing,” Ted said with a laugh. “A lot of people have been telling me that I look like President Obama from a side view.”

Despite the glitzy offers, Ted — who revealed he has nine children — is hoping for stability and more family time the most.

“Out of all of these offers, I could be satisfied with maybe a $30,000 a year job and an apartment of my own and to hell with the rest,” he said. “My kids… they’re still in Columbus, Ohio, I just want to be around them. They can benefit from the fruits of anything that comes up.”

Earlier in the morning, he compared his overnight success to another star that gained fame in the blink of an eye .

“It’s just outrageous how this has all come to be. I thought God blessed in increments, and he just gave me one big deluge of blessings. I feel like a million-dollar lottery winner, or Dorothy landing in Oz, or Susan Boyle; she must have felt the same way,” Ted said on the “Today” show.

A rep from Kraft told Access that Ted’s first commercial will debut on ESPN on Sunday night during the first ever Kraft Fight For Hunger Bowl.

Three days ago Ted Williams, the YouTube sensation with the “golden voice,” was panhandling on the side of an Ohio highway. On Thursday, Access Hollywood caught up with the 53-year-old on the brink of stardom

“If I would have hit a million dollar lottery, the feeling has to be the same,” Ted told Access on Thursday morning in New York, where was appearing on NBC’s “Today” show. “That’s how I feel, like I just hit a lottery, you know. I want to scream! It’s those kind of feelings.”

Williams said a slew of offers have been pouring in since his YouTube video — filmed by a videographer for The Columbus Dispatch — went viral.

“The Kraft deal, I just found out about. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, the Cleveland Cavaliers, I’ve had some offers in Honolulu. A guy is going to my fly me and my family to Honolulu and do some [voice work] there. ‘The Ellen Degeneres Show,’ Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon tonight. There’s a gentlemen that offered me a part playing of Wolfman Jack in a remake of ‘American Graffiti,’” he explained.

Going further, if Hollywood were to come knocking looking to make a movie about his own life, Ted has a few leading men in mind.

“Terrance Howard, or after his second re-election, President Obama, no I’m just teasing,” Ted said with a laugh. “A lot of people have been telling me that I look like President Obama from a side view.”

Despite the glitzy offers, Ted — who revealed he has nine children — is hoping for stability and more family time the most.

“Out of all of these offers, I could be satisfied with maybe a $30,000 a year job and an apartment of my own and to hell with the rest,” he said. “My kids… they’re still in Columbus, Ohio, I just want to be around them. They can benefit from the fruits of anything that comes up.”

Earlier in the morning, he compared his overnight success to another star that gained fame in the blink of an eye .

“It’s just outrageous how this has all come to be. I thought God blessed in increments, and he just gave me one big deluge of blessings. I feel like a million-dollar lottery winner, or Dorothy landing in Oz, or Susan Boyle; she must have felt the same way,” Ted said on the “Today” show.

A rep from Kraft told Access that Ted’s first commercial will debut on ESPN on Sunday night during the first ever Kraft Fight For Hunger Bowl.

Comedian Katt Williams has been ordered to fork over $577,929 to an Atlanta record producer -- after Katt allegedly sicked his attack dog on the other man's pet canine ... nearly killing the animal.
The producer, Merion Joseph Powers, had sued Katt in Atlanta -- claiming the comic racked up a $28k bill in his studio, but refused to pay the debt ... and when he pressed Williams for the dough, Katt paid him a visit with his attack dog in tow.

Powers alleged Katt -- in an effort to intimidate him into backing off the debt -- showed up to his studio with an attack dog and gave it a "verbal attack signal" to go after Merion's dog ... which suffered "substantial and nearly life-threatening injuries."

But when Merion had his day in court -- the judge ruled in his favor ... and ordered Katt to pay the man a whopping $577k.

Calls to Katt's reps were not returned.

Comedian Katt Williams has been ordered to fork over $577,929 to an Atlanta record producer -- after Katt allegedly sicked his attack dog on the other man's pet canine ... nearly killing the animal.
The producer, Merion Joseph Powers, had sued Katt in Atlanta -- claiming the comic racked up a $28k bill in his studio, but refused to pay the debt ... and when he pressed Williams for the dough, Katt paid him a visit with his attack dog in tow.

Powers alleged Katt -- in an effort to intimidate him into backing off the debt -- showed up to his studio with an attack dog and gave it a "verbal attack signal" to go after Merion's dog ... which suffered "substantial and nearly life-threatening injuries."

But when Merion had his day in court -- the judge ruled in his favor ... and ordered Katt to pay the man a whopping $577k.

Calls to Katt's reps were not returned.

National Public Radio fired news analyst Juan Williams late Wednesday for saying on Fox News Channel that he gets "worried" when he sees fellow passengers on an airplane in Muslim garb, "identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims."

Williams' remarks Monday on "The O'Reilly Factor" were "inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a new analyst for NPR," the public radio organization said in a statement reported Thursday by the New York Times.

"I'm not a bigot," Williams had told host Bill O'Reilly. Williams, an African American, noted that he had written books about the civil rights movement. But then he went on: "But when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

Williams, 56, added that the Pakistani immigrant who pleaded guilty recently to trying to plant a bomb in a vehicle at Times Square has said " 'the war with Muslims, America's war, is just beginning, first drop of blood.' I don't think there's any way to get away from these facts." His comments came after O'Reilly had said, "The cold truth is that in the world today, jihad, aided and abetted buy some Muslim nations, is the biggest threat on the planet."

Williams, in the exchange, warned O'Reilly that all Muslims should not be blamed for extremist acts anymore than Christians should be faulted for the actions of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. During O'Reilly's recent appearance on "The View," his statements on Muslim ties to the 9/11 attacks prompted co-hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg to walk off the show.

NPR thanked Williams, a former Washington Post reporter, for his years of service. He had no immediate comment.

National Public Radio fired news analyst Juan Williams late Wednesday for saying on Fox News Channel that he gets "worried" when he sees fellow passengers on an airplane in Muslim garb, "identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims."

Williams' remarks Monday on "The O'Reilly Factor" were "inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a new analyst for NPR," the public radio organization said in a statement reported Thursday by the New York Times.

"I'm not a bigot," Williams had told host Bill O'Reilly. Williams, an African American, noted that he had written books about the civil rights movement. But then he went on: "But when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

Williams, 56, added that the Pakistani immigrant who pleaded guilty recently to trying to plant a bomb in a vehicle at Times Square has said " 'the war with Muslims, America's war, is just beginning, first drop of blood.' I don't think there's any way to get away from these facts." His comments came after O'Reilly had said, "The cold truth is that in the world today, jihad, aided and abetted buy some Muslim nations, is the biggest threat on the planet."

Williams, in the exchange, warned O'Reilly that all Muslims should not be blamed for extremist acts anymore than Christians should be faulted for the actions of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. During O'Reilly's recent appearance on "The View," his statements on Muslim ties to the 9/11 attacks prompted co-hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg to walk off the show.

NPR thanked Williams, a former Washington Post reporter, for his years of service. He had no immediate comment.

Ray Williams, who played in the NBA for a stellar 10-year career, is now homeless 23 years later. According to the Boston Globe, Williams doesn’t use drugs or drink or gamble. He’s just had abysmal luck job-wise and financially and now it’s all gone. He lives in a car that doesn’t run and undoubtedly eats in soup kitchens. What the heck?
Williams reportedly made over $2 million while playing in the NBA from the years 1977 to 1987 and apparently he just could not hang onto the money. He has also gotten about $12,000 in money from the NBA Legends Foundation, which he used to purchase a condo to live in, under a lease-to-own contract that through no fault of his own, was not honored by the widow of the man he made the contract with.
Apparently he hasn’t been able to find steady work that he’s good at, and in short; there’s no one reason why he’s homeless. It’s a whole bunch of reasons: bad luck, bad money management, bad choices and bad people in his life that either took advantage of him or did not help him to be responsible for himself.

Ray Williams, who played in the NBA for a stellar 10-year career, is now homeless 23 years later. According to the Boston Globe, Williams doesn’t use drugs or drink or gamble. He’s just had abysmal luck job-wise and financially and now it’s all gone. He lives in a car that doesn’t run and undoubtedly eats in soup kitchens. What the heck?
Williams reportedly made over $2 million while playing in the NBA from the years 1977 to 1987 and apparently he just could not hang onto the money. He has also gotten about $12,000 in money from the NBA Legends Foundation, which he used to purchase a condo to live in, under a lease-to-own contract that through no fault of his own, was not honored by the widow of the man he made the contract with.
Apparently he hasn’t been able to find steady work that he’s good at, and in short; there’s no one reason why he’s homeless. It’s a whole bunch of reasons: bad luck, bad money management, bad choices and bad people in his life that either took advantage of him or did not help him to be responsible for himself.

The Auburn Riverside boys and girls track and field teams were defeated by the Eagles at Federal Way’s Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.

The girls team lost by one point to Federal Way, 75-74.

Gina Cardenas grabbed first-place in all of the throwing events, posting a 31-foot, 4.00-inch shot put, a 94-03 discus and a 84-00 javelin toss.

The Ravens got first-place finishes from Brandi Williams in the 200-meter, with a 26.63-second finish and the long jump, where she posted a 16-02.00 leap. Williams was second in the 100 with a 13.15 time.

Freshman Cassidy Brown was first in the 1,600 with a 5:12.00 finish and second in the 800 with a 2:27.16.

Rachel Atwood and Lauren Saunders finished first and second in the 3,200 with 11:11.87 and 11:59.80 times, respectively.

Kylee Smith finished first in the pole vault with a 10-00, edging by teammate Rachel Turnbow, who was second with a 9-06.

The boys were defeated by the Eagles with a 87-58 score.

Stanford-bound senior Kenny Krotzer was stellar in the distance races, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 with times of 1:58.67, 4:25.35 and 9:38.29, respectively.

Wilfred DeLaRosa was first in the long jump with a 22-02.50 and the triple jump with a 42-07.00.

Madison Hoevet finished first in the javelin with a 131-06 distance.

The Auburn Riverside boys and girls track and field teams were defeated by the Eagles at Federal Way’s Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.

The girls team lost by one point to Federal Way, 75-74.

Gina Cardenas grabbed first-place in all of the throwing events, posting a 31-foot, 4.00-inch shot put, a 94-03 discus and a 84-00 javelin toss.

The Ravens got first-place finishes from Brandi Williams in the 200-meter, with a 26.63-second finish and the long jump, where she posted a 16-02.00 leap. Williams was second in the 100 with a 13.15 time.

Freshman Cassidy Brown was first in the 1,600 with a 5:12.00 finish and second in the 800 with a 2:27.16.

Rachel Atwood and Lauren Saunders finished first and second in the 3,200 with 11:11.87 and 11:59.80 times, respectively.

Kylee Smith finished first in the pole vault with a 10-00, edging by teammate Rachel Turnbow, who was second with a 9-06.

The boys were defeated by the Eagles with a 87-58 score.

Stanford-bound senior Kenny Krotzer was stellar in the distance races, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 with times of 1:58.67, 4:25.35 and 9:38.29, respectively.

Wilfred DeLaRosa was first in the long jump with a 22-02.50 and the triple jump with a 42-07.00.

Madison Hoevet finished first in the javelin with a 131-06 distance.

SERENA Williams faces the prospect of being hit with the largest fine in tennis history when the world champion is finally penalised for her US Open meltdown.

Industry sources last night indicated the International Tennis Federation's Grand Slam committee was close to reaching consensus on the Williams case - almost 12 weeks after the US Open incident.

Williams has been cited under the sport's code of conduct for committing a major offence, an infraction which carries possible suspension from January's Australian Open.

Williams allegedly threatened to kill a lineswoman in New York, monstering the official with: "If I could. I would take this f - - -ing ball and shove it down your f - - -ing throat".
The winner of 11 majors, Williams almost certainly will be allowed to contest the 2010 Australian Open, where she is the defending champion.

But she is likely to receive a fine which far outstrips the $US100,000 ($107,979) Lleyton Hewitt was docked in 2002 for missing an interview in Cincinnati. ITF Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock has completed his investigation, taking evidence and submissions from Williams and the officials.

Those findings will be discussed at the ATP World Tour finals at the O2 Arena tomorrow by the four members of the Grand Slam committee.

One option is to ban Williams from contesting next season's US Open. Alternatively, the committee could strip Williams of her $US342,825 prizemoney and the 900 rankings points.

There are suggestions a $1 million fine could be levied with a good behaviour bond.

Williams' outburst was triggered by a suspect foot fault call in a tense semi-final against Belgian Kim Clijsters.

Williams has apologised several times for the incident.

It is understood officials intend to release the Williams decision after next week's Davis Cup final in Barcelona.

SERENA Williams faces the prospect of being hit with the largest fine in tennis history when the world champion is finally penalised for her US Open meltdown.

Industry sources last night indicated the International Tennis Federation's Grand Slam committee was close to reaching consensus on the Williams case - almost 12 weeks after the US Open incident.

Williams has been cited under the sport's code of conduct for committing a major offence, an infraction which carries possible suspension from January's Australian Open.

Williams allegedly threatened to kill a lineswoman in New York, monstering the official with: "If I could. I would take this f - - -ing ball and shove it down your f - - -ing throat".
The winner of 11 majors, Williams almost certainly will be allowed to contest the 2010 Australian Open, where she is the defending champion.

But she is likely to receive a fine which far outstrips the $US100,000 ($107,979) Lleyton Hewitt was docked in 2002 for missing an interview in Cincinnati. ITF Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock has completed his investigation, taking evidence and submissions from Williams and the officials.

Those findings will be discussed at the ATP World Tour finals at the O2 Arena tomorrow by the four members of the Grand Slam committee.

One option is to ban Williams from contesting next season's US Open. Alternatively, the committee could strip Williams of her $US342,825 prizemoney and the 900 rankings points.

There are suggestions a $1 million fine could be levied with a good behaviour bond.

Williams' outburst was triggered by a suspect foot fault call in a tense semi-final against Belgian Kim Clijsters.

Williams has apologised several times for the incident.

It is understood officials intend to release the Williams decision after next week's Davis Cup final in Barcelona.