2008 Woodie Awards
Joe's new hero and zero of the week
Joe Andress
Issue date: 11/9/04 Section: Sports
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Zero
Jabar Gaffney
It seems as though everything with an up side has a down side. For every incredible break dancer out there amazing us while spinning on his head, there is still always that middleaged businessman in the back of the club trying diligently to impress the ladies with his latest "robot" technique. In sticking with the theme for this week, it looks like things are clearly no different when it comes to celebrations in the NFL. For all of the T.O.'s out there who have their post-scoring antics down to a science, there re just as many players on the other end of the spectrum allowing us to laugh at them instead of with them. If you think back to Superbowl XXVII, you might remember a premature celebration by the Cowboys' Leon Lett that resulted in an embarrassing fumble at the goal line rather than a touchdown.
These are the sort of cocky blunders that stay with athletes for the rest of their careers, regardless of previous or future success. Last week against Jacksonville, Houston wide receiver Jabar Gaffney decided it was his turn to etch his name into the stone of football's comical bloopers. On his way to an easy score, Gaffney pulled the ball out for an early celebration and ended up losing control of the ball on the 1-yard line. This gesture caused him to fumble the ball out of the end zone and instead of giving the Texans six points, it handed the ball to the Jaguars on the 20-yard line for a touchback.
The best part of this hilarious scenario was still yet to come. In what looked like an obvious attempt to cover up his mistake, Gaffney continued to celebrate as if he had actually scored the touchdown by jumping wildly into the fi rst row of Houston fans. It wasn't until he came back down from his false state of acclaim that he had to face the humiliation of what he had just done. For giving all of us sinister football fans something to talk about, pathetically attempting to pretend your slip-up didn't happen, and allowing working class citizens another opportunity to laugh at a fi lthy rich athlete, Jabar Gaffney -- you are the zero of the week.
Jabar Gaffney
It seems as though everything with an up side has a down side. For every incredible break dancer out there amazing us while spinning on his head, there is still always that middleaged businessman in the back of the club trying diligently to impress the ladies with his latest "robot" technique. In sticking with the theme for this week, it looks like things are clearly no different when it comes to celebrations in the NFL. For all of the T.O.'s out there who have their post-scoring antics down to a science, there re just as many players on the other end of the spectrum allowing us to laugh at them instead of with them. If you think back to Superbowl XXVII, you might remember a premature celebration by the Cowboys' Leon Lett that resulted in an embarrassing fumble at the goal line rather than a touchdown.
These are the sort of cocky blunders that stay with athletes for the rest of their careers, regardless of previous or future success. Last week against Jacksonville, Houston wide receiver Jabar Gaffney decided it was his turn to etch his name into the stone of football's comical bloopers. On his way to an easy score, Gaffney pulled the ball out for an early celebration and ended up losing control of the ball on the 1-yard line. This gesture caused him to fumble the ball out of the end zone and instead of giving the Texans six points, it handed the ball to the Jaguars on the 20-yard line for a touchback.
The best part of this hilarious scenario was still yet to come. In what looked like an obvious attempt to cover up his mistake, Gaffney continued to celebrate as if he had actually scored the touchdown by jumping wildly into the fi rst row of Houston fans. It wasn't until he came back down from his false state of acclaim that he had to face the humiliation of what he had just done. For giving all of us sinister football fans something to talk about, pathetically attempting to pretend your slip-up didn't happen, and allowing working class citizens another opportunity to laugh at a fi lthy rich athlete, Jabar Gaffney -- you are the zero of the week.
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