SPORTSDAY

Posted by PMS @ 6:48 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

Tim.

Thanks for posting that. It's important to remember the guys who fall through the cracks.

Posted by davej @ 7:00 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

Wow! A tough story to read but one that needs to be read.

Posted by chad @ 7:01 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

Just read the whole thing and WOW that is sad. Some of these guys come into the league and dont have a clue. I hope the NFL is educating them now.

Posted by PMS @ 7:08 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

When all is said and done, I hope Calvin Hill gets into the Hall of Fame (both as a player and as a "life-styles coach"). The work he has done with the Cowboys is playing a huge part in their success today.

Posted by DavidAllen @ 7:35 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

It's really sad that that college education didn't lead to any marketable skills.

Posted by Big D. @ 9:17 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

A sad story but at the same time why didn't a story like this come out 2 years ago. All I hear is negative stories from NY/CT.

Too much bashing on the Boys for 1 week. From Romo, TO, Phillips possible firing, coaches, leaving etc.

Posted by rellison @ 9:17 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

a truly tough story to read, and to think how many other athletes fell in the same trap as Holmes that we never hear of.. ... sad

Posted by Big Mike @ 9:31 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

while definitely a sad tale, I can't say that I feel sorry for Holmes. His present condition is a direct consequence of his own drug abuse. I certainly hope Holmes gets his life turned back around, and hopefully others can learn from his poor choices and avoid the pitfalls of drugs.

Posted by Brandon B @ 10:11 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

"Most fathers would be like, 'I have to take care of my kids, and it doesn't matter how I go about that.' I don't have that drive. I'm just being honest -- it's not there for me. I feel a connection with my kids but not an urgency."

Can we please stop the pity party for this guy? He is a tool and drug addict that is just looking for a little more of the limelight.

If he is so concerned with getting better, maybe he ought pay his child support. If he is so concerned with getting better, maybe he ought to get a job. If he is so concerned with getting better, maybe he ought move out of the shack in momma's front yard. Talk about trailer trash! How many normal people live in a shack that makes a trailer look like the Ritz-Carlton.

The guy is a tool and deserves what he's got. The ONLY ones I feel sorry for in this story are the kids who got screwed in life by having this guy as a "father." I'm glad my father had the "drive" to take care of me.

Posted by BigTexKahuna @ 11:03 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

I'm caught somewhere between PMS and Brandon B...

PMS stole a little bit of my thunder, 'cuz I want to say: too bad Calvin Hill wasn't around during the Double-J-Bird years when Holmes was a part of the team.

Having said that... as harsh as Brandon B's post sounds... hell, anyone with values, common sense, and responsibility toward family... especially one's offspring... cannot argue too much with his point... at lease that be how I sees it... now, where's my crack pipe?

Posted by Rodney in Atlanta @ 11:14 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

Don't judge a man 'til you walk a mile in his shoes Brandon B. Just because he managed to make it in the NFL doesn't mean that he has the ability to overcome everything that happened to him growing up. Ever known someone with severe depression? It rules your life every minute of every day.

Don't be a tool yourself and have some compassion for a fellow human being that didn't have it remotely as good as you apparently did growing up. How about we take you back to your childhood and have you get molested by your own brother on a regular basis. Then we'll have your parents who weren't trained how to be parents themselves finish you off with their abuse. Where was his example to follow smarty?

Of course you got it all figured out now, don't you?

How are we supposed to put in these obnoxious CAPTCHA codes when you can't even read half of them clearly and they hardly ever work without refreshing the page and getting a new one?

Posted by Rodney in Atlanta @ 11:17 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008

"hell, anyone with values, common sense, and responsibility toward family"

BigTex, that's my point exactly. Where was he able to get these qualities that you speak of? What kind of example was there to follow in that circus of a family?

Posted by BigTexKahuna @ 1:42 AM Fri, Jan 11, 2008

You got a big heart there, Rodney, and that is usually a very good asset. Hell, I used to think Terrel Owens should be relegated to cleaning grease traps in roach-infested taco joints on the southside of Nuevo Laredo after all his showboating, histrionics and dancing on our heroes' sacred star... 'til I read about the relationship he had with his daddy. My heart softened on him BEFORE last season's cartoon of a playoff game in Seattle.

No doubt Clayton Holmes' formidable years were hell on earth, including his amoeba of a big brother notwithstanding, but my 'values, common sense, and responsibility toward family' become quite defined when it comes to fathering children and their subsequent abandonment. Unlike the path you seem to have chosen, and no offense is intended here, I shall not rationalize, nor justify Mr. Holmes forsaking his children or their mother due to his shitty upbringing... but you are right about the CAPTCHA CODE... this thing sux! Have y'all seen my crack pipe?

Posted by badleeroy @ 7:47 AM Fri, Jan 11, 2008

I went out with Clayton Holmes one night with some other people that were from Florence. Interstingly, we went to a topless club and then over to Cowboys Sports Cafe. I remember the girls knew him at the topless club and he was waving to a bunch of people. He was a nice guy and had some stories you don't read about in the paper. Tough situation for him, but he certainly wasn't the only one doing drugs.

Posted by Brandon B @ 8:40 AM Fri, Jan 11, 2008

Rodney, at some point everyone in life has take responsibility for their own actions regardless of their upbringing. The sad thing is that Holmes realizes his shortcomings yet does nothing to improve himself. Here's an idea for you: If he has mental problems, then maybe he ought to go get treatment. Oh, wait, we live in a culture where nothing is ever your own fault. It is always the fault of someone else. Holmes speaks about wanting to change his family cycle, BUT DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE IT. That is a tool in my book. Knowing the right thing to do and not doing it does not rate very highly in my book.

I'm not being judgmental. I'm just calling a spade a spade.

Here's an idea for you Rodney. Compare this a-hole with Josh Hamilton. Very similar stories yet Hamilton not only worked his way out of his problems but he has become an asset to society (and I'm not talking about as a baseball player). Hamilton inspires people to be better. Holmes, eh, not so much.

And, yes, whoever implemented CAPTCHA doesn't inspire anyone either.

Posted by beau weaver @ 10:58 AM Fri, Jan 11, 2008

well this is way to sad its funny how they keep trying to bring our fans down about the cowboys past and presant A story that needed to get out
just bad a bad time to do it I hope clayton finds
himself he is lost I dont judge him I just feel very sad I cant wait until my son gets home from school and show him what happend he Is in the 7th grade lives in id gets great grades and saves his money to go to OD football camps traines all year for football claytons story will help my son focus

Posted by Kenny Gant @ 9:44 AM Sat, Jan 12, 2008

I remember a Cowboy from the early 90's saying that Holmes had the biggest member on the team which does change the deliberate physical sympathy aspect of the piece.