Seattle Seahawk cornerback Richard Sherman has been all over the news. Sports scribes and talking heads are lambasting him. Even some of the "mainstream" media has jumped in with their two cents worth to take a few shots. You know, those loveable TV anchors that say they don't have an agenda, but obviously do. The very same folks that constantly interrupt the answers to their own questions, and talk over their guests, when they don't like the responses they're hearing. Evidently, in between their coverage of the usual politics and the latest disaster -- they found a way to squeeze Richard Sherman into their broadcasts. Needless to say, they are looking down their uppity noses as well.
And you know what? These people don't have a clue. They're so worried about being politically correct, they either miss, or are afraid to say the obvious.
Consider what Sherman actually did (said): He called San Fran 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree both "sorry-ass" and "mediocre" He also called himself the best cornerback in the NFL. How good of a receiver Crabtree is certainly remains open to debate, but few with impartial objective minds would doubt Sherman is an elite cornerback, given his size, speed, cover ability, and physical play. Quick, name one team that WOULDN'T take Sherman as a starting corner in a heatbeat. He's that good.
This is not to defend Sherman. Yours truly has no loyalties to him, or the Seahawks for that matter. Rather, ir's about reality in the NFL.
Fans love seeing nothing better than their home-town heros go out and play a ferocious style of football, while manhandling the opposing team. That's exactly what the players themselves want to do. The more big hits -- the better -- as long as it's happening to the opposing team.
Understandably, the players get "jacked-up" for games. Big time adrenalin. They are fearless, and pretty much have to be as they're throwing their bodies around at high speeds into collisions with their opponents. Any given play, in any given game, might result in a broken bone, torn ligaments, head trauma, or even the end of a career. It happens.
So when a guy has been all jacked-up for three hours, emerged intact as a victor in yet another brutal contest, and some reporter immediately sticks a microphone into his face and starts asking questions while he's still in gladiator mode -- what, pray tell, should they, or we expect of the man? A State of the Union speech?
Of course not. The dude's still in battle mode. Reporters don't seem to understand that. They want news NOW, with total disregard of how such a player conducts himself in real life. So the story comes out distorted like what a player does on the field reflects what sort of man he is.
Hey, trash talking happens all the time in any NFL game. And while out there in the heat of combat, the very nature of the game dictates players on both teams hit each other hard and often.
Besides talent -- without major pride and self-confidence -- chances are a player won't last long in the NFL. The competition is too fierce. Fans and the media are always quick to criticize when a player doesn't perform up to expectations. It's almost like the gladiator fights in ancient Rome. Not worthy? Thumbs down. Another will take his place.
But here's a novel idea. Before the media starts interviewing these guys and jumping to conclusions with the answers they get -- how about they let them get out of their armor, take a shower, and let them return to their usual Doctor Jekyll, instead of the Mr. Hyde that is demanded of them on the field?
Bottom line? This whole Richard Sherman thing likely would have never happened if that reporter had given him a few minutes to chill before sticking a microphone in his face and asking stupid questions. And I don't care how many millions FOX paid for the exclusive broadcast rights to that game. If they've got that much money, they can well afford to further educate their on-air reporters into being objective journalists -- rather than prematurely turning them loose as attack dogs.
In my humble opinion, this entire issue was basically media created in the first place. And oh my, look how they continue to run with it.
No comments:
Post a Comment