*

*
Bengals
Mark Curnutte offers the latest on the Cincinnati Bengals


Mark Curnutte started covering the Bengals and the NFL for The Enquirer in 2000. He previously wrote about urban affairs and other social issues for the Enquirer. He won the prestigious 1994 Unity Award from Lincoln University (Missouri) for "A Polite Silence," a seven-day series about race relations in Greater Cincinnati. He also has worked as an assistant features editor and features writer at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. Curnutte is second vice president and a three-year board member of the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA). He is a 1984 Miami University graduate.

Powered by Blogger

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Another positive image: T.J. leads youth clinic

MIAMI BEACH -- Just walked about four miles round trip down Ocean Drive to the beach, where Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the star of a youth clinic for about 75 local middle and high school players.

It took place on an artifical turf field set up on the beach by Motorola. Houshmandzadeh participated in drills on a 40-yard field with students and discussed his upbringing and long road to the NFL.

Dressed in a black T-shirts and shorts and with his black hair tied in a pony tail, Houshmandzadeh worked effortlessly with the children. They hung on his every word. He posed for pictures. He signed their T-shirts with a Sharpie.

He encouraged students to do what he didn't in high school -- study. He said not every good football player will make it to the NFL. "But you can get a degree," he said.

Privately, Houshmandzadeh touched on a variety of topics:

-- He thinks the Bears will win Sunday againts the Colts because of the speed and overall excellence of their defense. He sees the game unfolding similarly to the upset pulled by New England against St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI.

-- As a player, he said, he can only be responsible for his actions in the wake of the team's ninth player arrest in 13 months.

"You can't go home with a guy," Houshmandzadeh said of teammates. "You can't follow him home. It's a trip that this has happened so many times."

-- In terms of teammate Chris Henry, "What do you cut him? Do you sit him down? ... Those decisions are made above me."


0 Comments:

Post a Comment*

* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.

By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.

<< Home


Blogs


Jim Borgman
Today at the Forum
Paul Daugherty
Politics Extra
N. Ky. Politics
Pop culture review
Cincytainment
Who's News
Television
Roller Derby Diva
Art
CinStages Buzz....
The Foodie Report
cincyMOMS
Classical music
John Fay's Reds Insider
Bengals
High school sports
NCAA
UC Sports
CiN Weekly staff
Soundcheck

Advertisement