This Guy is Trouble (On and Off Field) : Chargers’ Mims Has Long Record of Financial and Legal Woes

This was going to be a story about the Chargers’ newfound reliance on good character, and defensive end Chris Mims’ effort to meet those demands.

While Dallas and Pittsburgh went to the Super Bowl last season, in part on the play of Michael Irvin and Bam Morris, the Chargers went home early, disgusted and frustrated. No more disruptive influences, no more tolerance for extended night life and no more poor practice habits, the Charger brass said.

And so, running back Natrone Means, defensive end Leslie O’Neal and tight end Duane Young were asked to leave.

That left Mims, a 1992 first-round pick from Tennessee who played at Dorsey High and in junior college at Pierce, Harbor and Southwest. And that suggested an obvious conflict in the Chargers’ new policy until the team insisted that their starting defensive end was a new man.

A good story--so many questions to ask--and then just like the Chris Mims of old, he went moody. He would not talk, leaving only his record to speak for itself:

--In the last four years, the Chargers have paid Mims more than $4 million in salary and bonuses, and according to his statements in court papers, he’s broke and unable to pay his bills.

“You think it’s hard to blow $4 million in four years?” asked Gene Simpson, a stockbroker for H.G. Edwards in Orange County. “I’ve seen a player go through $30,000 in six weeks at a Versateller. You try and restrict their spending and they fire you.”

--Mims’ salary has been garnisheed before and will be again starting Sept. 16, so he can make good on a bounced check of $28,526.65 to a car dealership.

--A writ of repossession was granted a few months ago for another car he bought after his first payment bounced.

--According to court documents, a hearing has been set next week in Superior Court in San Diego to give Mims an opportunity to answer a suit claiming he owes $191,000 on a home loan.

The suit claims he misrepresented his financial situation by failing to disclose a judgment against him for damages awarded in an assault-and-battery action and that he was in arrears in child support. The suit also claims that he represented his house being worth $700,000 when it was really worth $500,000.

--Mims pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of damaging a vehicle--in an altercation with Robert Michael--in exchange for having two other misdemeanor charges dropped and was fined $330 and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service.

Mims advised court officials that he had performed that service between Dec. 2, 1994, and April 15, 1995, at the Bates Resource Center, a favorite Charger charity.

Mims wasn’t talking, so he could not be asked about Michael’s claim that Mims reportedly was in Los Angeles at the time he was supposedly performing his public service.

“He did his hours,” said Dick Lewis, the Chargers’ security officer, who urges players to assist the Bates Center.

--Michael’s windshield was smashed by Mims, and Michael settled a lawsuit with Mims, who agreed to pay him $45,000. After Mims bounced a check and failed to make payment, Michael returned to court and later received his money.

--Three times Mims was hit with claims in court for state taxes amounting to more than $112,000.

--There were small-claims court lawsuits in recent years for $873, $960, $5,000, $941.35, $10,276.71, $10,328.32 and $11,672.72 in cases ranging from not paying people who cleaned his house to not paying for purchased bedroom furniture.

--Last week Vic Hanhan, the owner of a deli down the street from San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, said he was taking Mims to small-claims court for $596 in liquor bills. An attempt to serve those papers will be made in the next few days.

“When they shot the first round, eliminating all the troublemakers, boom, it should have been Chris Mims,” Hanhan said.

--A collection agency filed a fraud case against Mims in June for depositing four checks of $4,000 each on accounts with insufficient funds or closed accounts. The agency wants more than $9,000 in funds, interest and attorney fees.

--Mims’ four-year, $48,000 commitment to the Los Angeles Prep Senior Bowl ceased after falling $4,000 short his second year and failing to provide any financial help the third year. The game had to be canceled and has not returned.

“I was tempted to go to small-claims court, but the whole thing was done in mutual generosity, so I didn’t,” said Jerry Weiner, director of the game. “This game is no longer being played and it bothers the hell out of me. He could have made such a difference for these kids.”

--Besides actions filed to win evictions on apartments leased by Mims for relatives, he lost his $243,750 home in foreclosure.

--If Mims had talked, he could have confirmed or denied the story about the night he was arrested for urinating in public. The way it goes now, he called a friend from jail and had him drive Mims’ new car to bail him out. On the way, the friend wrecked the car.

--Or, there’s the story being told about Keyshawn Johnson’s draft night party at the House of Blues in Hollywood earlier this year. Allegedly, a ruckus broke out between Mims and a former junior college teammate. Mims reportedly got whacked in the head with a bottle of champagne.

“Yes, he’s had his rough road,” Lewis said. “But I see the guy wanting to do the right thing now. His whole attitude is seemingly more responsible.”

--After the Chargers’ playoff loss to Indianapolis, Mims showed up almost an hour late--emerging disheveled from a limo--for the final team meeting. A changed man this season, he was late to a team meeting in Tokyo on the Chargers’ preseason trip.

--A computer check of local courts in San Diego produced more than 20 actions involving Mims, who failed to respond to repeated inquiries to discuss the matters. Further checks in Los Angeles, where he spent much of his off-season, are pending.

“It really is an amazing kind of situation,” said Michael, who unsuccessfully had sought the Chargers’ help in settling his dispute with Mims. “Mims was probably the biggest potential negative they had on the team and I don’t think they accepted any responsibility for the image they say they want to maintain. It’s just a lot of lip service.”

Twice, the Chargers renegotiated Mims’ contract to give him signing bonuses, for which a player surrenders free-agency potential.

“The guy is basically stealing and they’re talking about having good character,” said Hanhan, a die-hard Charger fan with two season tickets. “What these players do at night, so long as it doesn’t hurt the Charger name or embarrass themselves in public, is their business. But once the team gets a letter telling them about a problem, something should be done to straighten that relationship with the community. The community is the backbone of that team.”

The Chargers contend they have worked hard with Mims in trying to right himself and be responsive to his problems.

“I wouldn’t say we covered for him,” said Bobby Beathard, Charger general manager. “The responsibility of the team is to have him meet his responsibilities.

“Chris has been a troubled guy. We knew he had off-the-field problems, just like a lot of young kids when they get money and are not good with it. I assume it’s going in the right direction now. His attitude is much better. For the first time, he’s being selfish and looking after himself. He was such a soft touch for everybody around him, and was not understanding the consequences.”

Mims’ financial concerns will probably continue, considering the number of outstanding court assignments he has. But he’s due to earn $1.5 million in base pay in 1997.

“Money problems become such distractions,” Beathard said. “Athletes get bailed out of trouble all the time, but then it comes time when they can’t be bailed out anymore. A year ago he was angry, didn’t work and was not productive. But he’s a different Chris Mims now, with a renewed goal to become a good football player. He’s gotten married and that’s been great for him.”

Last season Mims reported to work weighing more than 320 pounds--30 more than the Chargers wanted. And after averaging 9.3 sacks his first three seasons, Mims managed only two in 1995. Approached by a reporter from the San Diego Union-Tribune after a game last season, Mims proclaimed, “Mims is over with.”

At the start of training camp this year, defensive coordinator Dave Adolph all but agreed: “I’d rather not discuss Mims right now. Mims is not ready to play like Mims can play yet, so I won’t discuss him.”

Mims reported to training camp more than 10 pounds overweight, and has been fined regularly $62.50 for each pound beyond the team’s prescribed weight. Given his financial situation, one might think he would take an interest in Jenny Craig, but a month into training camp, Mims was still being fined for being too heavy.

“I think finding a solution is not only important for him, but for us too,” Coach Bobby Ross said. “I think Chris is a good person. Character doesn’t mean everyone walking around with a halo over his head. It’s how you handle adversity. I think he’s going to make it.”

Mims certainly has had experience dealing with adversity.

“He’s the most important question we have on defense,” said Billy Devaney, Charger director of player personnel. “The biggest and most important. His track record indicates he’s really up and down, both on and off the field. When he’s up, he has the chance to be among the best, and when he’s down he’s a non-factor.”

As good as the Chargers say Mims can be, there is this character flaw in the team’s approach to using him. In third-down passing situations this exhibition season, a time when Mims’ pass-rushing skills should be exploited, he has been benched. So why keep Mims, given all his struggles and limitations, if a team is going to make a statement by dumping Means and O’Neal?

“Chris is a good person,” Beathard said. “With certain other people around, he wasn’t going to make it. Absent those influences, we think he has a shot.”

* PRO REPORT: The Indianapolis Colts, who came up a miracle short of the Super Bowl last season, might make it this time. C6

* NFC: Jerry Rice agrees on a $32-million extension with 49ers. . . . Emmitt Smith says he will play Monday night. C7