Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young became a proud father this offseason with the birth of his son, Titus Demetrius Young Jr, and the wanted to do something to honor his son.
So in a very Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson-esque move, he had the letters “SR” added to the back of his jersey, as an abbreviation for “Senior”.
The added responsibility of fatherhood did not come with more maturity for Young, he was also flagged for a very costly unnecessary roughness penalty in a crucial situation of a close game, which was inexcusable. Young has had several prior issues like this and is quickly getting the reputation of being a “Diva Wide Receiver”.
The fact that he added a “Senior” to the back of his jersey is absolutely absurd, when a father names his son in his likeness, you call the son “Junior” and not the father “Senior”.
When Cuba Gooding Jr was born did his father say, “Can you all call me Cuba Gooding Sr now?” No, he just kept on being the awesome lead singer of “The Main Ingredient”.
The only way that adding a “SR” to the back of your jersey is acceptable would be for differentiation purposes, like when Ken Griffey Sr was on the same team as Ken Griffey Jr with the Seattle Mariners.
In an age where “Diva Wide Receivers” such as Terrell Owens and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson are out of work and professionals like Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are putting the team first and succeeding.
The Diva Wide Receiver is a dying breed and coaches no longer tolerate that kind of costly behavior. Titus Young Sr. needs to look at the example that his All-Pro teammate Johnson is setting and wake up, or he will be trying to get on VH1 reality shows like Owens and Ochocinco instead if playing in the NFL.
September 23, 2012 at 9:26 pm
How is it any different than “Griffin III” on the back of a jersey?
October 30, 2012 at 2:54 pm
it isn’t any different than “Griffin III”
Pingback: The NFL’s Dirtiest Team, I Think Some Bad Officiating Took Place…And the Rest of the NFL’s Week 3 in Review « willblogforfooddotcom
September 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm
I would say there is a difference. RGIII was born RGIII. Titus Young was born Titus Young. He should keep that on the back of his jersey, especially in a league where you get fined for wearing your socks too high. If Titus Young Jr makes the NFL, he can put that name on the back of his jersey, but his father is just doing it to stand out. Maybe Titus Young should put Ochocinco Jr on the back of his jersey, it will draw more attention.
November 18, 2012 at 2:37 pm
That’s just excellent writing. Yes, being proud to be a father is exactly like changing your name to the Spanish spelling of your number. And you say a costly penalty is directly related to the name change? Was it a slow news week or what?
October 28, 2012 at 6:51 pm
This is ridiculous. This guy has every right to put the SR. on his jersey. This writer is a total asshole.. GIVE THE GUY A BREAK! It’s the same thing as any other name.. BTW.. This is coming from a Gator fan.. Who isn’t a fan of BSU at all.
October 28, 2012 at 11:12 pm
This is another non story by another no name writer.
It seems less a diva move and more like a writer on his bully pulpit.
You article is a back handed compliment , first you say you Congrats for the birth of his son then in the same breath you disregard that he just add a son with the same name making him a senior
October 28, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I agree with Titus Young putting SR on the back of his jersey its the same thing as RGlll he doesn’t need to tell us that hes the 3rd Robert Griffen
October 30, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Wow, you wanna rip on a guy who’s showing great pride and respect of being a father not to mention he had to seek approval from the NFL to do so. They (the high and mighty NO FUN LEAGUE) could have denied his request and made him do it the following year in the fashion that Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson had to do it buy buying up all of his other ‘premade’ jerseys with his last name on it. I know that professional football is what the majority of people tend to watch; that claim they follow football year round. Well SportSmasher, I pose to you a question back to you, what is your thought about a Sophomore DB (a corner to be specific) by the name of Floyd Raven Sr. (now that he had his son) adding the SR abbreviation to his jersey? He waited a year made the request to his coaches and the NCAA (who is just as strict as the NO FUN LEAGUE) and they also granted his request.
When you say he’s a ‘diva’ and that he is very immature and going to end up on VH1 someday like T.O. and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson; its because of us the fans who have fed into the larger than life ego’s of these players with all of the attention that they got from us, when they misbehaved. The media made larger than life issues over T.O. doing the sprint to the Dallas Cowboys logo at midfield because someone on the Cowboys roster lost control of his temper and hit him for it; instead of beating him on the scoreboard where it’d hurt worse. Same thing goes with ALL of Chad Johnson’s elaborate/corny touchdown celebrations; WE the fans wanted to see more of them and would say each week ‘what’s he gonna do next?’ and he had to top himself and make them more elaborate/corny as they went on. The Icky Shuffle, the Mile-High Salute, the Lambeau Leap, the Dirty-Bird…celebrations from way before the over streaming of news/media with the explosion of technology those players/teams doing those weren’t ‘divas’ the media made T.O. and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson into ‘divas’.
So before you get onto hating someone who is just 23years old and calling him immature best to sit down; pull your head outta your ass and think “how mature was I at 23? That’s assuming you are even 23 or if you are older, it begs the question are you even mature?
November 14, 2012 at 10:17 am
I think the author of this article was thrown by the name change, probably doesn’t like change in general. Meanwhile, Titus Young Sr. was tributing his son, his fatherhood, etc. It was a tribute to the child, not to himself.
In regard to the penalty. . .good luck making it in the NFL as a small guy without getting in situations. I know a lot of players DO MAKE it, but some have to fight for respect at every turn.
Titus Young SR, I suspect, is going to last in the league and do some great things. If the author of this article looks at Mr. Young’s overall life choices. . instead of guessing at his motivation for adding SR, and labeling him a DIVA for carving his mark, he’ll realize how far off he is.
December 4, 2012 at 5:58 pm
@ Doug, How’s Titus Sr. doing now?
Pingback: Mikel Leshoure: Has A Son, Adds Senior To His Jersey | Sportsmasher
Pingback: Lions Place Titus Young on IR - Abuse NFL Rules | Sportsmasher
December 9, 2012 at 11:04 pm
The SportSmasher couldn’t have said it any better. . . He predicted Titus’s fate before any psychic’s did. Titus Young is nothing but a narcissist! He put the “senior” on his jersey in a way to ask everyone who watches the Lion’s to “look at me”. The majority of NFL players are fathers, but don’t have use their jerseys as advertisement for being one. Aside from that, if he is such a great father, why wouldn’t he do everything to not fly under the radar and get released from the team? How good of a provider is he now? @ Karl . . . Spot on! Go Lions!
Pingback: Titus young arrested for 3rd time in 1 week! - Blowout Cards Forums