Terrell Owens: The GQ Interview

Around this time of year in the great news vacuum between Christmas and New Year's, events can often take two trajectories: Fairly average, pedestrian stories can receive maximum exposure or what normally passes for news can be ignored altogether. The deafening silence around GQ's recent year-ender with Terrell Owens is an example of the latter, probably a reflection of his current declining marquee value sans any affiliation with pro football.

The Owens q&a is notable on two fronts. First, it's normal for celebrity pieces to coddle their subjects, but the T.O. interview is almost sycophantic in its willingness to appease to the athlete. One of the trademarks of Gentleman's Quarterly has been hard-hitting interviews, such as the brilliant talkback in this issue of President Jimmy Carter by Wyl S. Hylton. But the GQ piece—Go to Your Room, Terrell—is basically T.O. recycling his greatest hits. The format is odd for the magazine. There is minimal narrative and his rants are set up with self-aware intros by the editors, such as "T.O. on why everyone hates him" or "T.O. on his belief that he is an instrument of God put on this earth to demonstrate God's greatness." There are quite a few quotes via that latter category, more hyperbolic talk from T.O. that his amazing athletic prowess and success (?) are from divine inspiration. That may or may not be true—T.O.'s fond of saying that "God made me do it", although apparently he's failed to read key scriptures on humility. Since the magazine never frames his statements in any context and only introduces them with oh-so-brief headlines, our guess is that the editors are poking fun at him, too.

Two, the accompanying photo layout in an Atlantic City penthouse certainly humanizes its subject, but the faux Versailles-inspired colors and decor adds distances between the athlete and the reader. This is GQ, not their sister site Details, so athletes and celebrities, no matter how handsome, are not treated like pieces of beef. (Especially, well, when they are pieces of beef.) Terrell's body is showcased but it's never gratuitous. The background is masculine and expansive, from the leather sofas to T.O. biggest accessory, the fashion model girlfriend. By the way, Owens says that his body really isn't all that; he didn't even prepare for the layout ...

T.O. on his famously amazing body:

I knew I had this photo shoot coming up, so I mean, I could've probably tried to get ripped, but I'm cool with how I am now. ... Every year people raise how good a shape I'm in or how my body looks.

Yea sure, T.O. talks too damn much, but that cockiness was part of his appeal. Let's see what happens in Act 2. As long as they're talking about you, they're thinking about you.

Comments

[Bernie]

TO may be cute to look at, but his 15 minutes are up. As an experienced football watcher, there are very few teams that will be willing to take a chance on him next year.

[TMASS]

Bernie, your wrong, there are teams who are ready to take TO in a heart beat because of his talent. The four game suspension without pay really wroke him up because he lost 3 million dollars and quickly said sorry to the team but the team wanted revenge so they influence the league not to pick up TO for the rest of the season in which they were wrong to do that, even a senetor cried foul for not letting TO to play the rest of the season. Next season, TO will get his revenge.

(TO, don't let know body change you, you were only asking for more money but they want to make you look like a criminal and suspened you for it. Sue Brotha Sue.)

[david]

TO is one of the few men (perhaps the only) with whom I would be willing to forgive unforgivable stupidity for just one minute of fantasy. He's not pretty. He's not even cute. He's beautiful in an earthy, difficult-to-describe, overwhelming, tender, and annoying way. Aaarrgghh!

*drools*

*covers face in shame*

[marcus]

I think most things are forgiveable, but put aside the plantation mentality of NFL owners vs. players stuff for a second. His teammates are mad at him for making public statements about Donovan McNabb at the Superbowl - which were things I can hear being said INSIDE a lockerroom, but not outside. Coaches are always going to be at odds with players, but if you piss off your teammates, pack your stuff and the coaches and owners know that.They prolly would have let TO stay, but if the players don't want him around he's history. Ricky Williams came back to the 'Phins, but the first peoples he spoke to were his teammates and he apologized. That brother had a rightous claim, too: it's his body and he should be able to do with it what he want, but he still broke trust with his peeps. TO is a a great player with a hella body and mad skills, but he don't know how to pick his fights. That white man agent of his Drew Rosehouse is also behind a lot of this..

[huhotboi]

Regarding: He's not pretty. He's not even cute. He's beautiful in an earthy, difficult-to-describe, overwhelming, tender, and annoying way. Aaarrgghh!

*drools*

*covers face in shame*

WHAT THE F*CK. T.O. IS FIONE

[Dexter]

He's fine, no doubt about it, but his attitude sucks major ass. I hope that no one picks him up in the off-season; somebody will, but I hope not.

[hawaii5-0]

The boys got talent but his head is literally floating away!!

[mychelle]

He is sexy damn his girl keep him away from Kentucky