LT during the AFC 2008 Champison Lost to New England. Note him wearing the helmet while on the bench :(


Yeah I know this is rather late but I just read a recent interview with LaDainian Tomlinson (see link above). In this interview, LT defines his boyish on the field whining.

Question: In each of the past two seasons, you’ve had moments that seemed uncharacteristic for you: displaying anger at the end of the loss to New England in the playoffs in January 2007 and exchanging heated words with quarterback Philip Rivers during the regular season game against the Tennessee Titans last season. What’s happening with that?

Tomlinson: I think it’s fair to say that (I’ve been more emotional) because you start to taste it. Before, when we weren’t winning and we couldn’t taste even getting to the playoffs, it was different. You were just hoping to get to the playoffs. … Now, it’s different. … You’re expected to win games in the regular season, so getting to the playoffs is not an issue or a factor that we’re striving to do.

Right now, we’re so close and we’re in the playoffs with a chance to win (the Super Bowl), so of course emotions are going to come out because you know every opportunity you have is not always going to be there. So you want to take advantage of every opportunity you have.

Question: Do you feel like you have to control your emotions more?

Tomlinson: I never focus on if I’m showing too much emotion or not. To the media and the people there’s a no-win situation. At times when you do show a lot of emotion it’s, “Oh he’s showing too much emotion.” Or like in the New England (playoff) game (when I couldn’t play), “Oh, he’s not showing any emotion, he kept his helmet off.” So you can’t really win with that and I just focus that whatever way it comes out, that’s how it comes out and that’s my emotion in that situation.

That’s the way I deal with it. But it would be wrong for a person not to show his emotions because this is an emotional game. It’s something that drives people crazy, athletes just trying to win and you go through so many ups and downs that sometimes you are just going to want to just scream and get it out.

lil Dunn: Well Mr. Tomlinson, yes we know you want to win and finally beat the Patriots. But common son... do you think salking on the sidelines with your helmet on is going to "win" games? No. How about being a team player and supporting your teammates. Wow, that's a good idea! How about study the defensive line and formations to possibly relay this information to your teammates? Sounds like a good idea to me. Instead of being a little immature child and doing this and that with your emotions all the time, start taking some leadership qualities and think about supporting your teammates.

Labels: Football