lmcfalcon12

I've lived in Cleveland all my life and remember when and where I was when Johnny was drafted. At the time, he was a colossal pain to a city who put a ton of faith and pressure on the shoulders of a kid. Not everyone is built for that, and he certainly was not. I didn't have sympathy for him at the time, but I certainly do now.

This piece doesn't excuse any of his bad behavior or actions and in fact, society could have done a bit more to make him truly accountable. If you're not from Cleveland, you didn't have the opportunity to watch this kid implode first-hand. I think he's learned a lot and still has a lot to learn. If you've experienced substance abuse or mental illness first-hand, you'll have a soft spot for him in the end and hopefully wish him well in the future; you can't help but feel sad for him.