A quasi famous man in an ill-fitting suit named El Debarge once asked a thought provoking question – Who’s Johnny? Seventeen years later and the former lead singer of Debarge’s query is still being asked today, not about a wise cracking robot, but a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.
Sports commentators, analysts and talking heads have lined up on opposite sides of the line to debate who Johnny Manziel really is – a college kid blowing off some steam or a uncontrollable punk hell bent on ruining his own career and making a mockery of college football. There’s middle ground enough for a hail mary but that part of the field looks pretty wide open. Don't expect either side to gain ground after today's SEC Media Day appearance either.
Alright Johnny Football enough is enough this is your last wake up call STOP BRINGING SHAME TO THE GAME !
— Mark May (@mark_may) July 16, 2013
One side, highlighted by chesty goons like Mark May, say the quarterback’s act isn’t just tired, it’s shameful. May likely had a temporary lapse of memory when taking his own youthful shenanigans into account, which raises the argument from the more forgiving side. What you do if you were a 20-year-old Heisman winner flush with family cash and the constant opportunity for partying?
Me? I would have certainly done a lot of the same things as Johnny Football. In fact, I might even find myself in more trouble than him. Hell, I’ve already done some things that would make him blush, although more embarrassing than impressive. But do my drunken inclinations make it okay for Manziel to act the way he does? Do any of our baser instincts make it okay for him to play out the college version of Varsity Blues?
The constant refrain heard in defense of Johnny Manziel is the challenge presented by social media. But isn’t it that new aspect of college life, of celebrity culture, of society in general that demands that he practice some discretion and better judgment?
Don’t expect me to be shocked or offended when a 20-year-old kid shows up late for summer camp counseling because he drank too much. Don’t ask me to be upset when he’s spotted in a party pic on Twitter once a week. But don’t expect me to stand in the way of the angry mob either. Not until this guy realizes that the reason people are watching is partly because he keeps filming the show.
No comments:
Post a Comment