Running Wild

When I was a kid, I saw a then unknown minor league outfielder named Rickey Henderson race a horse before a baseball game. I thought that was pretty cool then. Now, I hear that Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson and Chicago Bears returner Devin Hester raced a cheetah a few months ago for a special to kick off "Big Cat Week on Nat Geo Wild in November. I haven't heard much chatter out of Chicago about Hester's participation in this big event. That's not the case in Tennessee. This is making the rounds because the media is grilling Johnson for details. While this story is mildly entertaining. I find the fact that Titans head coach Mike Munchack had no idea that the race had even taken place the most interesting part of the story. You'd think that Titans decision makers might be a little concerned about their top back playing around with a cheetah. Munchack kind of laughed off the race but he was real pleased that Johnson was ready for training camp and not rehabbing from a mauling.

Of course, the race officials took the proper precautions. They had a barrier between the football players and the cheetah. It was a good thing that they had a trial run before the players arrived. The cheetah was able to leap over the barrier. They had to make it higher. The cat did stare down Johnson as it stalked back and forth. Fun times.

So how did Chris Johnson and Devin Hester fare against a wild animal that can run as fast 75 mph?

"You'll have to wait and see," said Johnson.