Did any of you watch the NFL Championship games on TV this past Sunday? I watched them both....they were great! But the image that lingers with me today isn't Peyton Manning shredding the Patriot defense with his laser-like passing or San Francisco QB Colin Kapperticknick running wild through the Seattle secondary like he was Barry Sanders in his heyday.
No, what I remember is this asshole ^ , Richard Sherman, shooting his mouth off to Erin Andrews in a post-game interview about how great he was.
He isn't the only "legend in his own mind" in the NFL. Have you ever noticed how, when a defensive player makes a tackle or breaks up a pass, most will jump up and run about 10 yards away from the pile where everyone can get a good look at them, then do their chest pounding "I'm so cool" dance?
We can thank Kansas City receiver Elmo Wright for giving us the end zone dance. He was the first I can remember doing it. Yes....no? Anyway, I've read that today many NFL players will stand in front of their full length "I love me" mirror at home and practice their goofy little arm-flapping, knee-knocking, chicken-dancing moves. I'm sorry, but I just find that silly.
Here's my theory: Most of these more flamboyant NFL narcissists probably came from impoverished backgrounds. As kids they didn't have much, had little hope for the future, and were told they would never amount to anything. But then at some point they found they had athletic ability, and suddenly they were somebody.
They were high school heroes, then they were fawned over by college recruiters. In college all they had to do was take 12 hours a semester to stay "full time" and keep their eligibility. Grades were often...."manipulated". They didn't have time to learn....all they could think about was the post season awards they would get, the NFL draft, and their $$$$ signing bonuses.
By the time they got to the NFL any modesty they might have had at one time was long-gone and they truly believed they were somebody special, and all their antics are just their way of begging for more attention...."Look at me, look at me!"
The sad part is, they really aren't that special. Most can only do one thing, and that only lasts until somebody bigger, better, faster, stronger, younger comes along, and somebody always does.
Statistically most NFL players will have squandered their considerable earnings within just a few years after retiring. They might be able to live off their past glory for a few more years, but even that will soon fade.
The smart players will employ financial guys to invest and manage their money, but most are too busy buying new Bentley's and shiny rocks for their ears to worry about practical things like planning for a future after football.
As they say, "The bigger they come, the harder they fall." I'm thinking Richard Sherman is just one of many NFL narcissists who will make a major splat one of these days that will register on the Richter Scale.
S
