Owens to receive public service award

by Renegade23 on Mar 25, 2009 8:39 AM EDT Comment 8 comments

Given the fact that the sports media world absolutely loves to bash this guy and blame everything from world war I to the current state of the economy on him, I figured I'd give him some positive rep. Courtesy BuffaloBills.com...

Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens will be the recipient of an award honoring his off the field exploits as he will be an honored guest of the Alzheimer’s Association at their sixth annual gala in Washington D.C. Wednesday evening.

Owens will be receiving the Young Champions Award, which honors a young professional for their commitment to the Alzheimer’s cause through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy.

Through his personal efforts, the recipient of the award provides leadership and inspiration to others in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Owens is the first ever recipient of the Young Champions Award.

From the early days of Owens’ career, the playmaking wide receiver has been an advocate for the fight against Alzheimer’s. Owens has testified before Senate subcommittees to increase federal funding for Alzheimer’s research. He has used his exploits on the field for fundraising, served as Celebrity chair for annual Memory Walks to raise money for research and been a spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Association Champion awareness campaign.

"Alzheimer’s is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States," said Owens. "Alzheimer’s has affected my own family, so I understand first-hand the impact of this disease. I am proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association as they educate people on the realities of Alzheimer’s disease so we can inspire enough support to stop it."

Owens’ maternal grandmother, Alice Black, was afflicted with the disease so the cause is very personal for the six-time Pro Bowl receiver.

He has most recently offered to help create greater awareness about the disease through the Alzheimer’s Association Champions campaign, which is calling on five million Americans – one for every person living with the disease – to become a Champion and join the cause at http://www.actionalz.org/

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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This should have been the D&C's front page TO story,

NOT that TO was absent from voluntary workouts.

"Buffalo Bills Football 2009 (sponsored by Labatt): A Future as Uncertain as the Beer You’re Drinking"

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Mar 25, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You see the media should cover this

Why is it that you never hear about this kind of stuff from TO until something like this happens. I’m just thinking that the media should cover some of the good things he does in the cummunities that he’s in, cause I’m sure that he doesn’t just do work for alzheimer’s, and not just exagerate on the negative. If they truly say that they like to cover all things TO, then they should cover it. But wait, they like to cover all things negetive on TO. My bad.

by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 25, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw the story and wasn't surprised

Every interview with teammates of his from Dallas mentioned his work ethic AND his work in the community where he is playing at that time. I am also not surprised that the media would prefer to keep painting him as a villain, because it sells more news, rather than the fact that he is a good person who is trying to make a difference in the places he lives in.

Does he have issues with his QB, Coach, etc? Sure, been there done that already, focus on the stuff off the field too media.

If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.

by WABillsfan on Mar 25, 2009 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HAHAHA - check out Mike Florio getting punded by Bills fans

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/25/owens-gets-award-from-alzheimers-group/#comments

Though Owens’ name has long been linked to the disease, the thing that really irks us on this one is that the "real" media is using the event as an excuse for Owens’ decision to skip out on the start of his new team’s offseason program.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. local time in Washington, for crying out loud. He could have worked out Monday and Tuesday and part of Wednesday before hopping a plane to D.C.

So while Owens should be congratulated, the fact that he’s getting the award on Wednesday night isn’t a "pretty good reason" for not being in Buffalo working with and getting to know his teammates on Monday and Tuesday.

a good fan comment:

can we get an article about every other player on every other team that has missed VOLUNTARY workouts so far this offseason??? or is it that you just want to hate on T.O. – even when the man is being honored for his charitable work.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 25, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Like I said 2 days ago

Almost half our team wasn’t in town for the 1st week of conditioning, so whats the big deal? Schobel is NEVER here, and yet they consider him a team leader and in good shape every year he comes in. Tons of guys from the U. go back to Miami every year to train, no one makes a stink about that too.

Its a shame people just use that as an excuse to knock someone who gives time and money to an organization trying to stop a truly horrible disease. Get a life people media.

If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.

by WABillsfan on Mar 25, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Everything I’ve heard about TO’s actions relating to community involvement and work ethic has been very positive. The man may have his problems in the locker room, but a guy who gets involved with using his good fortune to help others deserves praise and recognition.

by Hopefulcynic on Mar 25, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Absolutly

Here’s hoping that he brings this kind of commitment in Buffalo, the city could use it. And who knows, if he does, and if he plays well, maybe we could re-sign him. I really think that if he reacts well to Buffalo, he could finish his career here. I really doubt the the guy is as selfish as ppl say, and this award proves it.

by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 25, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

contraversy sells and that’s what the media is doing here. never mind that his grandmother had this disease and he has done what he can to help fight it, so much so that they are giving him an award for it. lets instead focus on the fact that he missed the 1rst week of conditioning, which by the way, so do a hell of alot of other players on every team in the nfl, most of them not showing up in the shape TO is in. so instead of giving some chickenshit story on him missing a couple days of voluntary workouts, mabey they should try to shine the light on some of the positive things that are being done.

by jaybird3232 on Mar 25, 2009 9:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs