On my flight yesterday I was reading “Next Man Up” about the 2004 Baltimore Ravens, and one of the most interesting characters in the book was cornerback Chris McAlister.
McAlister at that time had just received a huge contract extension and, after some rocky moments during the season, proclaimed himself a changed man. He was known for partying hard and actually coming to practice drunk and hungover from time to time.
After a particular bad game where he was torched by Chad Johnson (now Chad Ochocinco) he had an epiphany and, according to McAlister, immediately stopped drinking, stopped clubbing and dedicated himself to God.
I remember thinking on the plane, “I’m going to do some research on him and see what he has been up to, since I know he is currently a free agent;” he was cut by Ravens in 2008 and played a little with the Saints last year.
What I found was this. According to TMZ.com McAlister is currently going through a divorce and his soon-to-be ex-wife claims he threw her out of their home when she refused to get an abortion. Here are the details:
NFL star Chris McAlister is at the center of a nasty legal war with his wife — who claims Chris kicked her out of their home when she refused to get an abortion.
Marlene McAlister has just filed court documents to end her 13 month marriage to the former Pro Bowler — claiming she hasn’t seen or heard from the guy since September 2009 … 5 months before their daughter was born.
In the docs, filed Wednesday in L.A. County Superior Court, Marlene claims she’s also “struggling financially” because Chris stopped paying his court-ordered spousal support and medical expenses.
Marlene is also asking the court for sole custody of their 2-month-old daughter — with Chris only getting supervised visitation — because, according to the docs, “[Chris] has a volatile temper.”
The lesson to be learned here is: if you are going to get a book to read on the flight, make it current. This is only one side to the story, as I am sure McAlister would have a different version of events.
Even if he didn’t kick her out, bailing on his daughter before she was born is still not a good look. Hopefully they all work it out for the kid’s sake.
