Farrior and Owens: radically different paths to the same destination

Rarely has the contrast in a tale of two cities been so stark.

On June 12, in a private ceremony at the Arthur Ashe Center, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones will give James Farrior the key to the city.

Wednesday, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown gave Terrell Owens a key to the city.

Farrior was a star football player at Matoaca High School and the University of Virginia.

The linebacker has been a significant player in the two Super Bowl victories claimed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the past four years.

The James Farrior Foundation raises thousands of dollars to help underprivileged young people in the Richmond area.

JFF has provided hundreds of backpacks, filled with school supplies, to area students. The foundation provides college scholarships, each worth $6,000 over four years, to several high school students.

Farrior is active in the national bone marrow registry, and has a goal of having 5,100 people sign up in the Richmond and Pittsburgh areas this year.

He is honorary chairman of the Challenge for Champions, which seeks to find the right homes for children in foster care in the Pittsburgh area.

Farrior does his job on the field and tries to help his community off the field.

Owens now is a Buffalo Bill, having caused more trouble than he has been worth at his previous NFL stops.

The Bills have been treading water in the AFC East. They want to move to the top and see Owens as a catalyst.

Owens is an extremely talented wide receiver. When he wants to, he makes his quarterback, offense and team better.

When things don't go his way, he is a divisive force who embarrasses his quarterback, coach and team owner.

History indicates Owens will be on his best behavior until things do not go his way. Then, he will have a meltdown.

He did that in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas. Owens has an amazing consistency for dysfunction.

Let's be clear about something. Owens avoids legal trouble. His name does not appear on the police blotter.

He has been an ardent supporter of Alzheimer's research.

But that wasn't why he was given the key to the city.

Even Owens was baffled by that.

"I don't know why I'm deserving," he said at the ceremony, where there also was a marching band. "But I can honestly say, me being here, with my dedication, I'll show you why I'm deserving."

Maybe. But probably not.

Owens' opponents respect his longevity and explosive ability as a receiver.

But it is Owens' teammates and coaches who suffer for his outbursts.

The Bills knew what they were getting when they signed him. If ever there was an indication that the desire to win leads men to make desperate decisions, this is it.

That's fine. Football teams take chances and live with the consequences all the time.

It is not fine for the Buffalo mayor to give Owens a key to the city.

The mayor said it was an attempt to promote the city.

Promote it as what? A place where the city leaders have lost all sense of perspective?

Ceremonial though it might be, presenting someone with a key to the city should mean something. The recipient should have earned it.

Farrior has earned it. Richmond should be proud.

Owens has not. Buffalo should be embarrassed.

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or .