Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jul 2004
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2004 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Chip Brown, The Dallas Morning News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

WILLIAMS' SISTER DEFENDS DECISION

AUSTIN - The younger sister of Ricky Williams said she's certain news of a 
third failed NFL drug test by her brother will convince everyone that's the 
only reason he retired from football. But she said that couldn't be further 
from the truth.

"He no longer wants to live in fear," said Nisey Williams, 24, who will 
attend graduate school in Miami this fall because her brother is paying for 
it. "So he is opening up about everything and not living a lie.

"I'd rather him not be this honest and this candid. But it's his actions 
and his choice to speak out. Now people are going to have the total wrong 
idea about him and why he's retiring. After today, I don't even want to 
defend him anymore because people don't want to listen to the truth 
anymore. People think he's weird, so that will be the easy answer. They'll 
believe what they want to believe. But they don't know him and should quit 
judging him."

Nisey Williams said people aren't interested in hearing how her brother 
recently sold his Ferrari and Hummer and donated the money to a local 
school in Miami in need of financial help.

She said she worries that Thursday's revelation in the Miami Herald - that 
Ricky Williams learned of a third failed NFL drug test just days before 
announcing his retirement - will affect his dreams of becoming a teacher or 
coach one day.

Judging her brother for using marijuana is hypocritical, she said, because 
the NFL is constantly handing out painkillers that players become addicted to.

"What bothers me most is that there's nothing my brother's done that hasn't 
been done by other athletes before," she said. "Other players have retired 
early from their sport. Other players have smoked marijuana, and Dennis 
Rodman even wore a wedding dress, so there's nothing new here.

"The good news is, Ricky doesn't care what people think anymore. He's happy 
with his decision, and that's one reason he's being so open about everything."
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