http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/12/jimmy_johns_getting_the_right.htmlBILOXI, Mississippi -- There have been more difficult days than happy ones for Jimmy Johns since June 24, 2008, but Saturday definitely goes into the latter category.Johns proposed to girlfriend Ayonna Monique Brown (she accepted) on the field at halftime of Saturday's Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic, a moment that was captured live for the television viewing audience and carried over the stadium public-address system.The former Brookhaven High School star -- whose University of Alabama career ended 3½ years ago when he was arrested on six drug-related charges -- served as honorary game captain and also guest speaker at Friday night's pre-game banquet.Johns spent 13 months in prison after pleading the charges against him down to one count each of delivery and possession of a controlled substance.Since his release last fall, he's worked as a car salesman and as a motivational speaker, holding himself up as a prime example of what not to do if you're a talented, young athlete."I've spoken at a lot of different places in the last few months, from banquets to schools and for other organizations, just trying to tell young people to stay on the right path," Johns said."I was an all-star in high school, too, just like these guys playing here today are. But I made bad decisions, and it all went away."Now 24, Johns maintains the powerful 6-foot-2, 230-pound physique that made him one of the more celebrated players in Mississippi high school football history. He led Brookhaven to the Class 4A state championship as a senior in 2003, passing and rushing for more than 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns to earn the state's "Mr. Football" designation from the Clarion-Ledger ofJackson.He spurned the in-state schools for Alabama and worked his way into the playing rotation at running back and on special teams as a freshman.Even before his arrest, Johns' college career had more downs than ups -- including a memorable fumble in a 21-14 loss to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007 -- and more than one disciplinary suspension. But he was popular among his coaches, so much so that Nick Saban named him winner of the Jerry Duncan "I Like to Practice" Award in his first spring on the job.Saban immediately booted Johns from the team following his arrest, which came the summer before what would have been his senior season with the Crimson Tide. A once-promising football career was over just like that, and Johns went from icon to punchline.On Saturday, Johns wore a three-piece suit, carried an Alabama team-issued backpack and was quick to give out smiles and handshakes to old friends and new acquaintances alike.The nervous, often morose young man those of us who covered him during his Crimson Tide days remembered was all but gone."It's an honor to be here," Johns said. "After everything I've been through, I'm really grateful that they'd ask me to do this. It's been great to get back out here and be around football again."Stories about troubled former stars turning their lives around are among the biggest clichés in all of sports, and there is still a chance that Johns may backslide. But he seems to have found in Brown someone who believes in him, and judging by the applause he received Saturday, he has a stadium full of fans pulling for him.
This seems to be a great redemption story. Fuck you sir for pooing on it!
Little early to call it that just yet. And fudge you.
It's ok, Prothro replaced Johns as the U of A drug dealer. There is always another one to fill in.
Over at bama, the backup dealer is always better than the starter
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