He keeps giving haters all they want

Sapp keeps giving haters all they wantBy Martin Fennelly | Tribune StaffPublished: February 2, 2015The mug shot. There are people cheering the mug shot of Warren Sapp that Phoenix police snapped several hours after the Super Bowl ended, after arresting Sapp of charges on suspicion of soliciting prostitution and allegedly assaulting two women.There are Sapp haters out there, lots of them.This is another field day.Sapp handed them one, again.I’m not a hater. I have known Sapp 20 years, written about him, enjoyed a good working relationship with him. I’m a little sad over that mug shot, because of what Sapp just threw away, his job as an NFL Network analyst, probably even more than that.Is this the end of 99?It’s the second time since the night in San Diego, when Sapp helped the Bucs win it all, that he has been arrested around a Super Bowl.The last time, the charges eventually were dropped. What is it about the Super Bowl and Sapp, anyway?Once it was all the man could be, the greatness, the joy.Now it’s all he isn’t.On the football field, Warren Sapp got it as right as you can get it, Hall of Fame right.Then there’s the train wreck. There’s the Sapp who pushed the public away. There’s the Sapp who plowed through all the $82 million he earned playing football, who was way behind on alimony and child support when he declared bankruptcy in 2012.Sapp haters always get what they want. Sapp keeps giving them more material.His could have been an amazing story, one to embrace.Raised on a dirt road, but made it all the way to Canton.I thought the Hall of Fame would let him find some peace. In some ways he did. He became better with the public. Why, I once sat with him in a restaurant as he smiled at fellow patrons.“I’d rather them leave with a good feeling than with them calling me a jerk,” Sapp said with a smile.I wish people could hear Sapp gush about his oldest daughter, Mercedes, the star soccer goalkeeper, who presented him at his Hall of Fame induction. Then again, I wish Sapp had given his family some thought before he allegedly did what he did in Phoenix.According to a police spokesman, Sapp was questioned and “admitted involvement in the act of prostitution, but denied assaulting the females.”“Warren Sapp’s contract has been terminated and he no longer works for NFL Network,” NFL Network spokesman Alex Riethmiller said in a statement.How is it going to end for No. 99?It doesn’t look promising.Some of you could care less. Many of you want the worst.I’m a little sad.It didn’t have to be this way. It never had to be this way.Warren Sapp gave his haters what they wanted Monday.He also let everyone is his own world down.And that’s a shame.