It’s easy to criticize Vince Young.
Tell the Tennessee quarterback to put on his big boy pants and stop whining. Be a man. There are people who have it a lot tougher than a millionaire ballplayer. Like those who are dying and injured overseas fighting terrorism. Those around us who don’t have enough to eat, losing their jobs, losing their homes. Those who are dying of cancer or watching loved ones pass.
There’s a lot of misery in life, which is why we love sports. It is the eternal hope of better times or at least a distraction. I get that.
But, I don’t get the lack of public compassion for players. You need to see past the dollar signs. Stop judging a person on their ability to play the game rather than how they conduct their lives. People often say players are jerks because they’re not playing well. A jerk is someone who acts badly, not plays badly. Fans called Heath Shuler a jerk because the passer failed with the Redskins. Actually, Heath is one of the nicer people you’ll ever know.
Having worked around pro athletes for 25 years, the biggest challenge I’ve seen many face is not on the field, but dealing with the lifestyle. Most careers are cut short or never fulfilled because of the pressures on them.
Consider this — you’re 22-years old. Have a dream job in a city far from home where you know no one but co-workers who largely disappear afterwards. The job has a lot of pressure. After a few weeks or months, you feel increasingly isolated. And if you go out to eat, there’s some jerk giving you a hard time. Like a five-year old telling Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rogers he [stinks].
Add that you’ve always been special. Everybody loved you. The game came easy, championships were a given in high school and college. Now the losses are common and you can’t standout given the excellence of players around you. Nobody is saying you’re special anymore. That’s a lot to quickly accept.
I always thought Michael Westbrook’s biggest problem was dealing with stress. The former Redskins receiver was exceptionally gifted — but until failing with the Redskins, he never dealt with people not loving him. Westbrook lashed out one day when punching teammate Stephen Davis over a harmless comment. He mishandled the apology and things never got better.
The Redskins brought in a team counselor for Westbrook, who stayed two years to help all of the players. She was busy. I know because they talked to her at the dining room table next to mine during training camp, away from overhearing teammates while I tried to mind my own business over eggs. They talked of the pressures, of raising kids, of being away from their families. It revealed they were just a bunch of young men no different than anyone else in their 20s starting careers and families. Unfortunately, their shortcomings are public fodder.
This isn’t to sanction misbehavior. That’s way different. Bad boys get what they deserve. But for those like Young who need some slack, I wish fans would remember money doesn’t make athletes supermen. Give them a break just like you need one now and then.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
