The Billiken's Bluff

Sunday’s NY Times had an interesting article about an interesting character, Philadelphia Eagles’ wide-out Freddie Mitchell. He totaled just 22 catches and 2 TDs in this his 4th NFL season out of UCLA, but that hasn’t prevented him from making headlines.



-He has made repeated references to his network of Hollywood connections ("They asked me to be in 'CSI: New York,' " he said); reminisced about his off-season trips to Sweden and Brazil ("I love looking at the Swedish scenery"); and discussed the plausibility of real estate ventures in Cuba or Colombia ("I still want to kick it with Fidel").

-He has appeared on "Baywatch," was an honorary guest at the Playboy Mansion and listed the actress Elizabeth Hurley among his "close friends" - when he was still in college.

-Early in his college career, when Mitchell didn't feel he was getting enough attention, he noticed a country-music radio station while driving on Sunset Boulevard. He went to the door and asked if the host wanted to interview him. Soon enough, he was a regular.

- When Jay Leno stopped at U.C.L.A. for his weekly "Jay Walking" segment on the "Tonight" show, Mitchell practically stiff-armed his way to the front of a long line. Asked to name the first president of the United States, Mitchell answered "Benjamin Franklin," drawing an uproarious laugh from Leno.

-He once had a television crew come to his house to film him braiding his hair. By the end of his college career, he was appearing on television shows like "Pacific Blue," walking the red carpet at Hollywood premieres and lounging with Hugh Hefner and his band of bunnies.

-He struck up friendships with B-list celebrities like Mario Lopez ("Saved by the Bell") and Jaleel White ("Family Matters") as well as A-listers like Mick Jagger and Hurley. "You know, I haven't talked to Elizabeth in a while," Mitchell said. "I think she's in London right now."

-Mitchell goes by a variety of aliases, among them Fast Freddie, First-Down Freddie, the Sultan of Slot and Hollywood. Right now, his favorite nicknames are Fred-Ex (he keeps a miniature FedEx airplane in his locker) and the People's Champ, a moniker that teammates gave him because of the way he engages fans. When Mitchell makes a catch, he pretends to buckle a championship belt around his waist.

- After 2 TD receptions in Philadelphia’s Divisional Playoff win over Minnesota Freddie announced, "I'm trying to take a humble approach," Mitchell said, pausing for effect. "I'm a special player and I just want to thank my hands for being so great." To illustrate his point, and to keep his paws protected, he wore oven mitts in a later interview.

-After he broke his leg in a game at the University of Houston in 1998, he blamed the playing surface, saying, "You can't run your finest Clydesdales on a field with gopher holes."

-Freddie Mitchell on Freddie Mitchell, “I'm so far above the radar, it's just ridiculous."