Big daddy / LJWorld.com

Archive for Wednesday, September 3, 2008

DT juggles football, dad duties

Kansas University defensive tackle Jamal Greene sports snazzy threads as he prepares to board a bus bound for Topeka en route to Florida for January's Orange Bowl. Greene has to juggle football obligations with daddy duties for 11-month-old daughter Justice.

By Dugan Arnett

September 3, 2008

Photo by Thad Allender

KU defensive lineman Jamal Greene

KU defensive lineman Jamal Greene talks to reporters on Sept. 2.

If there was an eye-popping moment from the Kansas University football team's meeting with the media Tuesday, it occurred when defensive tackle Jamal Greene, a 6-foot-4, 301-pound mountain, sat in a chair in the back of Mrkonic Auditorium and started talking about "onesies."

This, for the record, is not everyday lingo among members of the 14th-ranked Jayhawks. During interviews, players do not, generally speaking, spend significant amounts of time discussing baby attire.

Greene does.

In addition to being one of Kansas' largest players, the third-year sophomore is also a father of two - daughter Justice, 11 months old, lives in Kansas City, Kan., with her mother, while 3-month-old son Jamal Jr. ("he's the next monster of the family," Greene says) lives with Greene's current girlfriend in Lawrence.

In the past 12 months, Greene has endured a crash course in the joys of parenthood - the smiles and the hugs and the unconditional love - and everything that comes along with it.

"Yeah," he sighs, asked about diaper changing. "Gotta do it."

Not that he has any problems with the responsibility. Greene goes to great lengths to ensure his kids grow up with a father in their lives. Just about every weekend during the offseason, he heads home to spend the day with Justice. Which means he's able to be around for some of the biggest moments - the first words and the early stages of walking.

Just recently, for instance, Justice began speaking.

"Her mom's jealous because she calls me 'Daddy' more than she says 'Momma,'" says Greene. "So that's kind of good, because I've got something to tease her momma with."

There have been sacrifices, of course. No more reckless spending habits or "Fast and the Furious"-type street races, both of which he busied himself with in high school. And there are many occasions now when he's forced to pass on nights out with teammates in order to handle baby-sitting duties at home.

"That's always a situation that's going to make you grow up," says fellow defensive lineman Caleb Blakesley. "But that's just the responsibilities that come with the situation. And it's understandable; and it's respectable."

Between daddy duties, however, Greene has found time to develop into a member of the Jayhawks' defensive-line rotation, one that held visiting Florida International to a paltry 66 rushing yards in a 40-10 victory Saturday.

Despite not recording a tackle during the game - a fact that seemed to annoy him afterward - he helped plug the middle for a defensive unit that, after Week 1, ranks second in the Big 12 in total defense.

"He's come a long way," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "We think he's starting to get a grasp on what the expectations are here."

Added Blakesley, "Jamal is just a physical specimen. The kid is so strong and : fast for as big as he is, and I think he's really starting to get his head around the game."

Which is nice, considering he plans to have a couple of tiny fans in the crowd watching him this season. Justice was there for last week's game, while Jamal Jr. is expected to make his first appearance at Memorial Stadium some time in the coming weeks.

"He's gonna have a onesie with a No. 99 on it," Greene assures.

And for the most part, Greene says, there have not been many "What if" questions about early parenthood, no palm-to-the-forehead moments.

No regrets.

"That's how life is," Greene said. "Unplanned. Take everything how it comes. I'm not complaining at all. (My kids are) a joy to my life and to all my family."

Discussion

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3 September 2008
at 8:49 a.m.

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Coach_Eric (Anonymous) says…

Look, he seems like a fine person according to this article, but this is just out of place, “Not that he has any problems with the responsibility.”I think having two children, with two different women, marks a distinct *lack* of responsibility. See Henry, Travis, and Kemp, Shawn, for examples.Quite embarrassing that the LJW would indulge in such blatant hero worship. “Ohhh! A football player! With kids! And he changes diapers! OMG!!! Let's write an article!”Again, he seems like a good guy (but what do I know, I've never met him). And I'm glad he's taking care of his kids. But he *should* take care of them, and he *should not* be lauded for living up to his responsibilities.
3 September 2008
at 8:57 a.m.

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rtwngr (Anonymous) says…

Another “great guy” that let the wrong head do the thinking.
3 September 2008
at 9:27 a.m.

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towanda54 (Anonymous) says…

rtwngr,I would think you would be lauding this man and the mothers of these children for not choosing an abortion. How is this different from another story in the news these days?
3 September 2008
at 9:31 a.m.

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jason2007 (Anonymous) says…

I don't mean to pile on here but the LJW saying that Greene goes to great length to be with his kids on the weekends (during offseason) so he's sure to catch those big moments like first words, first steps, yadda yadda yadda.Come on! The big moments in a kids' like happen between Friday night and Sunday night? 100% of the time, everytime? A kids needs their dad there 7 days a week, not 2.The fact that the LJW is trumpeting a dad's 2-day a week x 10 months per year involvement in a child's life is a sad statement to where our society has devolved. This amounts to 80 days per year spent with his kids (52 weeks per year - 12 weeks per season x 2 days)…and that's something we should look up to and marvel at?
3 September 2008
at 9:52 a.m.

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stops4armadillos (Anonymous) says…

Two kids by two different women in less than a year and a half is not something to laud. This is an embarrassment to KU football. Why publicize it?! I agree with Jason completely. When does this guy work/earn a living to support these children? Or are the KU Alumni with deep pockets doing that for him? Putting a positive spin on his relative lack of responsibility is in bad taste. Keep in your pants DT, or at least wear a raincoat.
3 September 2008
at 9:54 a.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

“See Henry, Travis, and Kemp, Shawn, for examples.”They've got 18 kids between them. Amazing.
3 September 2008
at 10:03 a.m.

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Katara (Anonymous) says…

Coach_Eric (Anonymous) says:Look, he seems like a fine person according to this article, but this is just out of place, “Not that he has any problems with the responsibility.”I think having two children, with two different women, marks a distinct *lack* of responsibility. See Henry, Travis, and Kemp, Shawn, for examples.Quite embarrassing that the LJW would indulge in such blatant hero worship. “Ohhh! A football player! With kids! And he changes diapers! OMG!!! Let's write an article!”Again, he seems like a good guy (but what do I know, I've never met him). And I'm glad he's taking care of his kids. But he *should* take care of them, and he *should not* be lauded for living up to his responsibilities.~~~My feelings exactly. There is something wrong with the math here too. If the LJW has the children's ages correct, this means that he had already gotten another women pregnant before the end of the first mother's pregnancy. That doesn't sound like responsible behavior.I'm glad that he supports and takes part in his children's lives but isn't that what a parent is supposed to do? Why is this news?

3 September 2008
at 11:22 a.m.

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WHILL2669 (Anonymous) says…

as the proud mom of this young man, i must say, truly it is very easy to sit and criticize a black man, or any man, who is doing something with his life instead of running the streets trying to be a thug. why not help our young men become role models for the next generation of men. yes, he has two children, but what kind of comments would you post if he was a dead beat dad. can no one ever be a positive influence instead of always trying to belittle a man trying to better himself and his situation. which of you have no faults or have made no mistakes in life? life is a learning experience, do we (others looking in) have to always make the experience an ugly one?
3 September 2008
at 12:15 p.m.

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8193rlm (Anonymous) says…

I hope he makes the NFL so he can pay the child support. I'm guessing a minimum of $800-900 /month. Maybe he has a part time job.
3 September 2008
at 12:26 p.m.

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mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

I read the article, and yes, it jumped out at me that his kids were close in age. But what also jumped out at me was that he spends time with them, and he is there for them. Maybe it isn't the story we would have written, but it does show how young men do take responsibility for their actions. Some divorced parents don't see their kids much more than he does. And I imagine he would like to be there more. But as most parents, he is only doing what he can. And according to the article, he doesn't go out and party, and he has taken responsibility for his kids. That's more than a lot of people 10 years older than him, and not in college, do. (not like he is running for office, and will be pulled away at any time, any day for a crisis - his schedule is pretty planned)Kids are a joy to his life - that says a lot
3 September 2008
at 12:42 p.m.

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tvc (Anonymous) says…

How about a story on the women that raise his children the other 285 days of the year?
3 September 2008
at 12:49 p.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

Nobody's saying that attempting to be involved in his childrens' lives is a bad thing, or criticizing him for it. But this article could have been entitled “No One On KU's Offensive Line Has Committed Armed Robbery! What Great Guys!” Or to take another angle, how about an article lauding (say) our kicker for not being sexually irresponsible.Again, I don't want to slam the guy. It looks like he's making the best of a series of bad choices, and it's true that some people wouldn't bother. I just think this article is fundamentally misguided. It sets the bar pretty low.
3 September 2008
at 12:56 p.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

We just saw him on the park and ride bus and I thought how proud of him I was to be out on campus going to class. You all obviously have NO stones to cast, huh. Anyone on here want to volunteer to have the LJW interview them and share your ghosts so we can pick them to pieces too? You'd think he was running for VP or something….
3 September 2008
at 1:02 p.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

Gootsie -Did you forget this is the internet? It's main purpose it to provide an outlet for feeble little minds to throw stones. And porn. Can't forget the porn.Comparing this cat to Kemp or Henry seems to be just sour grapes. Kemp had 8 kids and Henry had 9 (with 9 different women!). Kemp ate and drank his way out of the NBA and Henry keeps failing drug trusts and isn't in the NFL at this point. Jamal is going to school and trying to better himself like every other student.
3 September 2008
at 1:25 p.m.

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WilburM (Anonymous) says…

Let's start a boomlet to support WHILL2669 for Vice-President on the GOP ticket; given that her offspring has two kids w/o being married, she must be twice as qualified to be VP.

3 September 2008
at 1:38 p.m.

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jason2007 (Anonymous) says…

Oh where to start? TheOrigBob is the easiest: Throwing insults is always the recourse of those that have nothing intelligent to say. At least you're honest about your porn addiction.MomOfThree: The article isn't about divorced parents. At least divorced parents made an attempt to provide a stable family structure for their kids. This guy is (apparently) just sleeping around and then seeing the fruits of his labor when it's not the off-season….that would be far too much to ask of a football player to be a dad first and player second. It's just selfishness on parade.Whill2669: I can't pretend to imagine what your family is going through. The article isn't about me so your question is moot. I'm not a self-centered football star who places my career and what I want to do about my family who need me. (Just to undercut a natural response that you may have: “How are you not self-centered, jason2007?”) Answer: I gave up a great job 2 years ago, took a > $50k pay cut to be able to see my family more. The career meant nothing to me if it meant I had to choose time in a career vs. time watching my kids grow. Personally, I'd be cheering for the guy if the article had said, “Mr. Greene is hanging up his cleats to be a full-time dad.” Instead, it said he spent time with them when football wasn't a priority for him and gushed at the fact that Jamal changes diapers (Friday thru Sunday, January thru August). Guess the point to the article is that you get free PR if you talk about your most recent trip to the baby isle at Target.
3 September 2008
at 1:44 p.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

Geez, T_O_B, I thought the purpose of the internet is to read somebody's opinion, realize you have nothing to add to the discussion, then start name-calling. as a substitute for intellectual substance.
3 September 2008
at 2:02 p.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

And seriously, why can't all of our athletes be role models. Like Mario Chalmers, or Darrell Arthur. Those guys are fine, upstanding—what? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/st…, crap.
3 September 2008
at 2:04 p.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

Genius -Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant. And the porn. And, now that Jason2007 has stepped off his soapbox… what porn addiction?
3 September 2008
at 2:12 p.m.

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missmagoo (Anonymous) says…

that's a pretty fancy suit for someone with 2 kids to support!
3 September 2008
at 2:14 p.m.

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jason2007 (Anonymous) says…

Missmagoo: That's because the picture was taken just before the Orange Bowl. He only spends time (and probably money) on his kids during the offseason. No foul.
3 September 2008
at 2:25 p.m.

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missmagoo (Anonymous) says…

well, i guess he only had 1 kid at the orange bowl time, so that's sooo much better. what is it with LJW and writing these articles? seems like there was just one with sherron collins and one with aqib talib. holy cow, TOB, i haven't seen this on the 'breaking news' headline on the LJW!
3 September 2008
at 2:34 p.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

Miss Magoo -Go take a gander at what is on top of the “latest news” tab right now.

3 September 2008
at 2:50 p.m.

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Coach_Eric (Anonymous) says…

As the first commenter here, WHILL, I feel some responsibility for the tone of the comments, and thus feel compelled to address the points you raise. I would like to state emphatically and without equivocation that his race had nothing to do with my decision to post here. I really wish you hadn't brought that up, because frankly it turns my stomach to see race brought into this discussion. I can not speak for anyone else, but my conscience is clear with regards to that issue.My intention in posting was to eviscerate the LJW for publishing such a ridiculous story that attempts to glorify his dedication to his children - whom he fathered with two different women in the span of a year and a half - and apparently hold this up as something to admire. I do sincerely hope he has learned his lessons about safe sex and parental responsibility. And I hope no one misconstrues my intentions, I'm not preaching abstinence or anything like that, I only wish he would - and hopefully now does - practice safe sex. Like I said originally, I don't know him, and he seems like a good guy. But I refuse to praise someone for living up to his obligations. Or as Bobby Jones once said, “You may as well praise a man for not robbing a bank.”
3 September 2008
at 3:05 p.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

Anagrams for porn—Porn'nuff said. Hats off to you again, TOB!
3 September 2008
at 3:14 p.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

I can't believe that no one has jumped onto the “it's not babysitting if it is your own kids” phrase!
3 September 2008
at 3:27 p.m.

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beawolf (Anonymous) says…

Has anyone thought that the choice to have the children was the mothers? Somehow, I don't think they objected when he decided not to use a condom. In the not too distant future they will be getting a piece of that multi-million dollar NFL salary.
3 September 2008
at 3:39 p.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

beawolf—1) I don't see what that has to do with anything, unless you're trying to justify the position that fathers bear no responsibility for the children they have.2) Do you realize how spectacularly unlikely it is that this guy plays in the NFL?
3 September 2008
at 4:14 p.m.

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beawolf (Anonymous) says…

geniusmannumber1-1. It's a two way street, with the ultimate choice to have the child, belonging to the woman. I said nothing about responsibility once the child is born.2. Actually, it's spectacularly possible that he will play in the NFL. Defensive tackles with his size and speed are not common.
3 September 2008
at 4:31 p.m.

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stops4armadillos (Anonymous) says…

WHILL2669 - I have no way of knowing whether or not you really are his mother, but let's say you are…I'm glad he's “bettering” himself by attending college. Will he finish? Does he go to class? Many athletes “attend” college only as a means to get into professional sports. My guess is that this is what your son is doing. If I'm wrong, and he actually works at it and gets a degree, then my apologies. As a mother you certainly can't believe that bringing two children into this world that he most likely cannot personally financially support or give the bulk of his time to is okay?! If you do, then I'm afraid you're just being a protective mommy who would say anything in defense of her son…and a grandmother with blinders on.My best to your beautiful grandchildren.
3 September 2008
at 4:37 p.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

We know, invictus. You'd like to be able to call them all those nasty racist names that you currently have to whisper into your pillow in case anyone's listening.beawolf—I'll give you the first, although I still don't think anyone was absolving the mother of any blame.Not buying number two entirely. First, I haven't seen/heard anything rating him particularly highly. Second, though, is the statistical unlikelihood of anyone, even in his postition, going pro. Bad injury, a bad semester — hell, there's been KU players who could have gone pro on talent alone, but were just too dumb. Talk to me again in two years.

3 September 2008
at 4:57 p.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

“hell, there's been KU players who could have gone pro on talent alone, but were just too dumb. “Darrin Hancock does not disagree.
3 September 2008
at 4:59 p.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

Man, could that guy jump or what, though?
3 September 2008
at 6:27 p.m.

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denak (Anonymous) says…

I'm just curious if he is going to be around to teach little Jamal how to put on a condom when he grows up.My guess is he won't be because most single fathers disappear after the newness wears off.
3 September 2008
at 6:53 p.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

omg denak. That is awful.
3 September 2008
at 7:23 p.m.

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Puff_Dragon (Anonymous) says…

@denak………that was a terrible visual. He does look good in pinstripes tho'TheMan's/ManHe's got a K.U. business card sticking out of his pocket.