Chad Ochocinco was has been known for publicity stunts. From touchdown dances, to TV shows, to Twitter, to his last name, Chad has always been about getting his name out. Well this time he put his name out, but I don't think it's for publicity. He asked for and received a tryout for Sporting Kansis City of the MLS. The tryout is the normal 4-day tryout that all tryouts get. Ochocinco has already completed two days of the tryout and will play on the team's reserve team against the Kansas City Brass, a minor league team. Now why do I think this Ochocinco stunt is not for publicity? Well for starters, soccer is his second favorite sport.
As a kid, soccer was the sport Chad Ochocinco, then Chad Johnson, played. He started at age 4 and played until age 15. He then stopped to begin his football career. He is now friends with soccer stars such as Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho. He visited Ronaldo and his Real Madrid teammates, and met the team manager, Jose Mourinho, in January. He also uses a soccer ball to warm up for NFL practices and games. As you can see, Ochocinco appears to be trying out for the love of the sport, not just to do something crazy while the NFL is going through a labor dispute. He has stated that he does not have to be paid either.
Sporting Kansas City, known formerly as the Kansas City Wizards, began in 1995 as one of the MLS's first 10 members. The team is owned by a group known as Sporting Club, which is why they changed their name to Sporting Kansas City. The team is quite successful being in the playoffs on and off throughout its existence. They are winners of the MLS Cup, MLS Supporter's Shield, and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They are one of 5 teams to win all three domestic major championships. Inviting Ochocinco to a tryout doesn't hurt the club at all. It actually increases exposure for the team, and it apparently won't cost them anything if he does make the team. So of course the team allowed him to tryout. The reserve game he is playing in is standard to all tryouts also, so they are not even giving him any special treatment. They are treating him just like any other person they granted a tryout too.
While Sporting Kansas City is perfectly fine allowing in Ochocinco, people in the NFL are not as supportive. Ochocinco's football coach, Marvin Lewis, questioned his commitment to the tryout, asking, "What has he ever done that he's completed? What circle has he ever connected in any way?" Ochocinco has said he is not taking this lightly and that he's looking forward to trying to achieve his childhood dream of playing for Major League Soccer, even though the league was not created until he was in high school. Another person in the NFL, Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, called Ochocinco a clown for trying out for the MLS. I personally think it's perfectly fine for Ochocinco to tryout for a sport he's loved since childhood. I am also think it's not one of his schemes to make expose himself to the public. I think, this time, Ochocinco is a not-so-crazy eighty-five.
References
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6224036
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6254842/chad-ochocinco-says-mls-trial-no-joke
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6250413
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6257987
http://www.sportingkc.com/history
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