Happy T.O. is 'humbled'

by Ronnie Polaneczky

I NEVER thought I'd regard Terrell Owens as a role model for admirable word usage.

But the trash-talking former Eagles wide receiver said something last week that made me leap up and yell, "THAT's what I'm talkin' about!"

During his first workout with the Dallas Cowboys, T.O. told reporters that he'd learned from mistakes he'd made during the Eagles' last season - including, presumably, getting into that sidelining salary snit.

He was willing to try a new approach with Dallas, he said, because "anybody can be humbled."

What struck me was not his chastened affect - who knows when his fat ego will explode again? - but his use of the word "humbled."

He seems to be about the only public figure these days who knows that it means to be "brought low in condition or status."

Or, to get yer kiester kicked.

Why are so many people using "humbled" to describe their reaction to landing plum jobs, nabbing prestigious appointments or reaching high-profile milestones?

It's making me crazy.

Take "Good Morning America" host Charlie Gibson, just named anchor of "World News Tonight."

He announced that he was "humbled to accept this new assignment."

I could understand "honored." Or "thrilled." Even "nervous that I'll bomb," although Gibson's mettle seems sturdier than that.

But humbled?

Then there's new CIA Director Michael Hayden, who confessed, during his confirmation hearings, that he was "frankly, more than a little humbled to be nominated for this office."

Help me here. Since when does being voted top dog at the most important intelligence-gathering operation in the free world confer lowly status ?

Even an "American Idol" wannabe used the word to emote over his fabulous fortunes. Show contestant Ace Young said he was "so humbled" at the many show-biz opportunities that would come his way, now that he'd crooned on national TV.

Young seemed like a pinhead to me, so I'll give him a pass on being "humbled."

But there's no excusing Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who recently became the longest-serving Republican House speaker ever. He acknowledged the milestone by saying, "I'm humbled by this historic occasion."

So why do I keep picturing him skipping through the Capitol, yelling, "I did it! I did it!"?

See, that's the problem with saying you're "humbled" to hit a pinnacle of success.

You come across like a phony.

Sandra Arfa thinks I should throw these people a bone. She's a linguist at the University of Wisconsin and she mulls word use, and misuse, for a living.

"It's just habit, that's all," she says. "People aren't really thinking straight, when they say they're 'humbled' by their accomplishments, because if they thought about it, they'd see it doesn't make any sense."

It's like that made-up airlines word, "pre-boarding," which makes Arfa nuts every time she hears it at the airport.

"You can't 'pre-board' - because it means you didn't board," she sighs. "But one semi-intelligent person probably said it once, it sounded OK to enough people and now everyone says it.

"I think saying you're 'humbled' is a way of saying that you're proud to be the recipient of someone's trust, you're proud of your accomplishments and you're honored to be thought of so highly."

Well, I wish people would just

say those things, then. Being "humbled" by a wonderful accomplishment or amazing honor reeks of false modesty.

I'd rather hear someone unabashedly boast, which at least is honest, then disingenuously demur, which makes me feel like I'm being played.

At least T.O. understands that.