So I'm playing in a golf tournament at Lake Ray Hubbard last weekend. We're in the clubhouse on Saturday afternoon, talking golf and life and Tiger Woods and women and, suddenly ... Johnny Manziel.
Turns out one of my competitors recognizes me, and has a story I should dig into:
"Ya know," he whispers, "all this shit ain't Johnny's fault. He was raised that way. Check out his family. They're all dirty. They've all been in jail. All the way back to the mafia."
This guy was born and raised in Tyler, claimed to be a frequent customer at Loggins Restaurant (owned and operated by Manziel's grandfather, Jerry Loggins) and seems to be on to something. At the very least, I'm intrigued.
I make some calls. Spend a couple hours digging on the Internet. Sure enough, the Manziels aren't your average, ordinary family.
Warns one source, "Be careful. This is real. And it's real dangerous. The Manziels are bad cats."
(continued from page 1)
I read
ESPN The Magazine's cover story on Manziel a couple weeks ago and was left with one big question mark: If the Manziels were indeed heirs to a Texas oil fortune, why was Johnny's father, Paul, always moving around and changing jobs? Why was the family so quick to attempt to trademark - and, thereby, profit on - "Johnny Football." And why the dickens would Johnny Goofball knowingly, illegally try to make money off his signature in exchange for putting his career, his teammates and his school in jeopardy?
Almost immediately I learned the answer: It's in his DNA. The Manziels are, by trade, hustlers.
Paul was selling cars at Town East Ford in Mesquite as recently as a year ago. In other words, there is no oil fortune. Money isn't tight, but neither is it endless.
Turns out I didn't know half the story. But - evidenced by its gripping tale -
Deadspin does.
Cockfighting. Match-fixing. Cocaine-trafficking. Mafia ties. Even murder. Yep, it's all in Johnny Goofball's bloodlines.
(continued from page 2)
His great-great grandfather, Joe, was at the center of a mineral rights scam.
His great grandfather, Bobby Joe, was a friend of former boxing champ Jack Dempsey that was a legendary cockfighter and "chronic violator" of Texas oil laws.
His great uncle, Bobby Joe Jr., spent time in jail on charges of counterfeiting, conspiracy and cocaine trafficking and was linked by witnesses in a Tyler courtroom to having ties to the Louisiana-based "Dixie Mafia."
Bobby Joe Jr.'s son, Bobby Joe III, has been arrested 13 times and has spent 20 years in prison or on probation.
Truth is Johnny Manziel comes from a lineage of crooks and con-men. He was raised by a dad who overlooks his son's underage drinking, and who thinks it's a riot to surprise his buddies with a punch to the nuts and then double-over in laughter while they double-over in pain.
Johnny signed over 4,000 autographs for memorabilia brokers and - c'mon - he didn't do it for free, as favors to strangers. His actions are his own.
But his Goofball instincts? That may have been one thing that was passed
to him.
I read deadspin on my phone, work blocks it but allows your site for some strange reason. Anyways, I really like it when they do in depth articles on someone. They're not worried about pissing off an athlete or losing advertisers, and I can respect that.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of baffled how Johnny thinks that the NFL is such a sure thing, but at the same time I'm baffled by the NFL "experts" saying he would be a 6th rounder. The scariest offenses in the NFL? 49ers, Seahawks, Redskins. Manziel is 6'1", Russell Wilson is 5'11". Wilson runs a 4.55 40, Manziel easily has a sub 4.5. Wilson was a 3rd round pick, well behind Luck, Griffin, and Tannehill(he was a first rounder, what the what??) Funny thing about Tannehill, he switched to WR because he couldn't beat out Stephen McGee(man that guy sucks) or Jerrod Johnson(practice squad fodder that leads A&M in total offense)....
I just wonder if Manziel will even play again at the collegiate level and how many millions has he cost himself to just get a few tens of thousands.
Johnny Goofball is not going to catch on, so quick trying to make it happen.
ReplyDeleteI suggest a quick Google search. It's already happened. You're welcome.
DeleteThis idiot is one DWI and telephone pole away from being an afterthought....
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ReplyDeleteAre you sure about Manziel's dad working at Town East Ford in Mesquite? I have a buddy who sells cars there, and he says he knew nothing of him working there..
Deletebut..if the parents don't have big money, it brings up all sorts of other issues.
Who bought those court side seats at MSG? Those run about $5K a game.
t sip, do you REALLY think he actually PAID for tickets.............you think the Heisman had something to do with it moron?
DeleteAffirmative on Town East Ford, and the reason he quit was because management wasn't cool with his chronic absences during football season to watch JM. He is now (or was recently) used car manager at Honda in Longview. I agree that BIG MONEY is not at all the case in their immediate family. Truth be said, he hasn't done much that others don't do....he just keeps getting caught.
ReplyDeleteA) Bar room brawl...big deal, it's not like he was PAC MAC in a strip joint with a loaded gun, c'mon
B) Drunk tweet "I hate college"...well no shit, what college kid doesn't say that. Compare Mike Basick "hope you dirty Mexicans are happy that you won"
C) Got drunk with his NFL QB heros at a summer camp, late to morning meeting. I can't hang with you bc I have to show up at some bullshit summer camp where they're using me for a dog/pony show. I'm really into this, bc I can't get enough football, especially since bootcamp 2 a days in Texas 100 degree heat is just weeks away. I love it SO?!
D) Payolla signatures=Now THIS is dumb, this was greedy, and if it's true (prob so) then there in lies the rub, and he deserves to sit out in the penalty box a bit
The guy didn't ask to be the poster boy for american collegiant atheletes (see RG3 who is a do gooder, never drinks, fits the role). JM is just so damn good, he got the part, but doesn't mean that he must competely change his persona becuase WE want him to. I don't know him, not making excuses, but he has the talent, he made those plays, and if he wants to chase skirt and drink beer in off season, then that's his choice. He didn't sign up to be a star for Disney, he just played some KICK ASS football last season. His Dad, uncle, great grandwhater, they didn't do that, he did. Good for him.
Thanks for the update..
Deletefist, whit, you completely misquoted me. I never use cuss words.NEVER. I never said they were "dirty". you aksed if they were and I said they have had a history. If you don't want a lawsuit, i'd suggest you change the quote.
ReplyDeleteyou need to find someone who can defend themselves, Whit. Johnny is a college kid, making grades & winning games in the great S E C. The Manziel family are devastated with horrible, hatred reporting like you have been doing. Proud of yourself? I suggest you run on over to Tyler and visit with Paul Manziel Sr. They made a lot of money working hard.
ReplyDeleteyou just another t sip hating the Ags.
Richie's not a "T-sip." He's a UTA Maverick, dummy.
DeleteI got a deal for you, whit........me & my son play you & your dad for 100 a side, 100 for 18 with presses on any course you like.
ReplyDeleteJust read the Deadspin babble about the Manziel Family tree. It's about 20% correct, the rest is shock value. Yeah they were into cock fighting and boxing and gambling, but that's 3 generations ago. Johnny Football is a great young man suffering the wrongful wrath of $700 a week journalists. It's odd that for over a week, nothing about JF.......nothing. Yall been beatin a dead horse. My hope is that he takes all his pent up madness out on opponents. GIG EM AGS!
ReplyDeleteWHIT, STILL WAITING ON THE GOLF GAME. I WILL PLAY YOU AT DALLAS NATIONAL (MY TREAT).
ReplyDeleteany t sips ever wonder why Colt McCoy did not play the second half against Alabama for the Nat'l championship? simple, his dad would not let him get hurt and ruin his chances of an nfl contract. deadspin that
ReplyDelete