Posted on 01/12/2008 9:12:15 AM PST by Doe Eyes
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It is through this bottomed-out world that Clayton Holmes, 38-year-old Florence native, weaves his red bicycle on a daily basis. Maybe he'll ride down Christopher Lane, make a left on Prout Drive and a right on Church Street. Or perhaps he'll visit his uncle Timothy, pastor of the Faith Kingdom Builders Church one mile away on Brogdon Street. Really, the path he follows matters not when it comes to the ensuing travesty:
Wherever Holmes rides, he is ruthlessly mocked.
In a city long ago deserted by hope, Holmes was the one who got out, who grabbed the golden ring and extracted himself from the neck-high sludge. Following an All-America career at Carson-Newman College, he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1992 NFL draft. Over the next four years, Holmes went on to win three Super Bowl rings as a defensive back and special teams wiz.
Boasting 4.23 speed and Carl Lewis-esque athleticism, he was the type of out-of-nowhere phenom that Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson prided themselves on. "Clayton was such a damn talent," says Darren Woodson, a former Cowboys safety who was selected in the same draft as Holmes. "As far as the guys I played with in my 13-year career, I'd put him in my top four as far as pure athletic ability. He could do anything. Everything."
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Really sad story of drugs and a lack of self discipline. His former friends reaction reminds me of a Thai saying, "It's not you they like, it's your money."
Bump for the legalize drugs crowd.
Another boo-hoo story from some ghetto bait who thinks his tale of woe is important. Fact is, this happens all the time. The only difference is in how far this clown fell. If he was just another anonymous failure, no one would care.
I read the article, and I’ll say this: considering the situation he came out of, it says something for the guy that he got to the NFL in the first place. If not a miracle, it came pretty close. That said...if I’d been him, had I got to the NFL, I hope the thought would have come to mind, “How do I make sure I never go back to that [screwed]-up place in my life ever again?”
Probably need to make liquor illegal too. Maybe tobacco.
This guy’s mother is a real piece of POS.
Oops! Didn't mean to write it like that! Nonetheless, the mom in his life (or rather the woman who bore him since she could hardly be called a mother) is a real piece of work.
Don’t think so.
Nothing compares to throwing gasoline on a roaring fire. Nothing - and you know it.
another bump for the legalize drugs crowd.
Athletes are role models for our kids.
IF it does, you'll have the right to.
It won't.
I kind of lost sympathy when I got to the part about his being unwilling to take menial labor and to even care about paying child support for his kids.
He may think he was a screw up, but the fact is, he hasn’t gotten any better.
I’ll guess you are for the status quo regarding drug legalization?
If so, you like street crime, corrupt courts, corrupt politicians, corrupt law enforcement, drugs available to kids, and all kinds of addicts who can’t get treatment without fear of arrest.
I guess you are for the status quo regarding eye needling?
If so, you like street crime, corrupt courts, corrupt politicians, corrupt law enforcement, drugs available to kids, and all kinds of addicts who cant get treatment without fear of arrest.
And fyi, a great many addicts are high functioning people, unlike your attempted propaganda pic.
People like Betty Ford, Rush Limbaugh, Brett Favre...hmmm Republicans and conservatives!
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