NEW YORK (UPI)OJ Simpson introduced Larry Johnson today as the winner of the 2005 Golden Stiletto award, given each year by Simpson to the NFL running back that demonstrates the most talent on the field combined with the most insane and criminal behavior off it.
According to Simpson, the founder of the award:
Larry Johnson showed tremendous promise this year: he ran for 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns while starting less than a full season. He was also cited for domestic abuse assault after an incident with his girlfriend in a Kansas City bar. This, combined with a previous arrest in December 2003 in which he was charged with aggravated assaulta felonyand misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly brandishing a gun during an argument with an ex-girlfriend at his home. Johnson also continued to have troubles with Chiefs management, prompting Coach Dick Vermeil to openly criticize LJ in the media, telling him to quote take the diapers off.
Past Golden Stiletto winners have included Ravens RB Jamal Lewis, former 49ers RB Lawrence Phillips, and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, a special non-RB exempted winner in 2000 for behavior cited as completely batshit crazy.
This year's lucky winner
Continued Simpson:
I have spoken with the young man myself, and he has assured me that the allegations against him are completely false, but if they were true it would be because he loved his girlfriends too much. Hes just a great young man.
Many sportswriters have criticized the selection of Johnson, pointing out the fact that LJ was not convicted in the September incident and he furthermore has failed to commit a crime in over three months.
Simpson responded to the critics, saying:
Sure, the allegations against LJ did not amount to much, but I believe they are a sign of true promise. One day you are allegedly hitting a woman in a bar, and a few years later she is lying dead in a pool of her own blood due to multiple stab wounds. Its a process.
Johnson received the trophya gold plated, finger-print proof switchbladealong with other perks traditionally bestowed upon the winner: endorsement deals with Isotoner Gloves and Hertz Rent-A-Car, a role in the next Leslie Nielsen film and a $2 million trust fund for future legal defense fees.
correction Posted: 1/5/2006by: deuce crime fighter - clarret never made it to the pro's.. leather-face shanahn let him try out for a couple of weeks, then realized he was a fat slow fuck and cut him. he would have been perfect in the elway era though, sporting the orange jerseys. too bad.
dave c. - great piece. Ray Lewis Posted: 1/5/2006by: Dave C. I'm sorry, but when you are sitting in a stretch navigator limo with a mink coat on at 1 AM in Atlanta while 2 of your friends stab people to death, you're pretty fucking crazy. NFL'S most upstanding Posted: 1/5/2006by: crime fighter 1.Ray Lewis 2.Jamal Lewis 3. Bam Morris 4. O.J. Simpson 5. Maurice Clarret 6. Michael Irvin
Mr Lewis Posted: 1/5/2006by: rayray Ray was there when his boyz killed that guy in Hotlanta. He infact did not do anything, hence no jailtime for him. Duh.
Eat at Ray's Famous Bbque in Bmore...so good!!! mmmmm not bad Posted: 1/5/2006by: matt yeah that was it
