Cincinnati Bengals' Chad Ochocinco - a receiver who gives

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BY JEFF DARLINGTON
JDARLINGTON@MIAMIHERALD.COM
``People think I'm this bad guy because I do some celebrations and talk trash and I'm flamboyant. Look, I'm working hard, I'm having fun, and nobody is going to stop me from having fun.'' -- Chad Ochocinco, excerpt from the book `Ocho Cinco'

This is fun. Everyone agrees.

For the corporate attorney in New York and the special needs teacher in Ohio and the Army veteran named Tom, this is an experience that will never be matched, whether because of the entertainment or the goodwill. But this isn't just fun. It is more than that.

``It was life-changing,'' says Lisa Gilley, one of 10 people who ended up on a random road trip with Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco on his way to the Pro Bowl in Miami. ``I am going to do something for others because of this.''

Those are strong words from a serious woman who has raised two sons and already helps with special needs children in suburbia America. She has stayed up until early hours of the morning with the others at nightclubs on this trip because, well, why not have fun?

FUN TIME

Welcome to the world of Ochocinco, a controversial figure because he says what he wants and does what he says. Welcome to the world of the one player who might actually be able to save the Pro Bowl.

If Sunday's game is about entertainment, if it is about rewarding fans with a special treat to conclude a season of support, then Ochocinco should earn a lifetime of immunity from paying NFL fines.

``He's such a down-to-earth person,'' said Thomas Green, the Army veteran. ``That's what I didn't understand. I mean, he's famous. He's Chad Ochocinco. But really, he's just . . . Chad.''

For six days, as a result of a contest inspired by Ochocinco, he and 10 of his fans made the entertaining journey from Ohio to Florida with stops at three charities along the way. His intention was simple: Have fun. And make a difference.

The trip, called the Tour of Giving, would leave each person inspired by what he or she saw. Those were the moments, especially at the Orlando Women's & Children's Mission that left the group emotionally touched.

``I know it sounds crazy,'' said John Ross, a restaurant owner in Miami who won a spot on the trip. ``But even with all of the fun parts, the impact we made at each of those charities was the best part of the trip.''

That's not to say Ross didn't have a blast. They all did.

By the trip's end, his group had hung out in the Bengals' locker room in Cincinnati, dined at Ludacris' restaurant in Atlanta, never waited in a line at Disney World, partied with LeBron James at the Fontainebleau and hung with superstar center Shaquille O'Neal after a Heat-Cavaliers game.

SHOPPING SPREE

And that doesn't even touch on the VIP nightclub treatment at Opera in Atlanta. Or the stop at McDonald's, where Ochocinco jumped behind the counter and started serving food. Or the detour to Foot Locker, where the receiver didn't just pick himself out a pair of Kobe Bryant's basketball sneakers.

``He also bought us brand new shoes, too,'' Green said. ``He just told us to pick out what we wanted. I mean, are you serious? He spent just over $1,100.''

Aside from each stop at the charity along the way, the other events were not planned at all.

``We'd talk about what we wanted to do, he'd make a few phone calls, and we were in,'' Gilley said. ``Do you know what it's like to walk into an Atlanta Hawks game with Ochocinco and hear the announcer say Ochocinco is in the house -- then show his picture on the scoreboard?