Just before the end of 2009, the New York Post held a poll to name their best cover of the decade. The result is less important than the reminder of just how good the paper is at coming up with memorable headlines. The decade is young, but we got our first contender for 2019 on Wednesday morning.
"Sex and the Cincy" was the cry greeting you from the back page this morning with a closeup of Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco licking his lips underneath. The story deals with Ochocinco giving the knee he tweaked during warmups at the Meadowlands a clean bill of health following a bout of gymnastic sex.
"I had sex yesterday,'' Ochocinco said. "With some of the moves I did -- I should be fine."
Too much information? Perhaps, but a bit more interesting than hearing a coach talk about how a player took part in a limited number of drills with the first team offense before riding the bike. That's par for the course with Ochocinco, who is almost always more interesting than the average bear.
From wild promises about touchdown dances to Twitter wars with upcoming opponents to inviting Fireman Ed to Cincinnati this weekend to the fact that his name is Ochocinco, there's no better player to be covered by a paper like the Post in all of sports. That doesn't mean the Jets should rush out to acquire him. For one thing, Ochocinco's on the wrong side of the career curve, but the bigger reason is that all the hijinx would lead to an almost certain backlash after he went a game without a catch. That's what happened last Sunday and such a performance wouldn't be nearly as amusing if Ochocinco was on your side.
Thankfully, Darrelle Revis is on the Jets' side so we can all laugh at Ochocinco without worrying too much about how he's going to hurt the Jets.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
