Is it just me or is this entire Mantei Te'O situation just somewhat beyond belief? In an interview, conducted by and ESPN broadcaster, way back in October - Did anyone see that?
This young man, the supposed leader of Notre Dame's football team, has the demeanor of a child. His facial expressions, his eyes, his vocabulary, his naivete' were so evident had I not known his age I would of thought him a 14 or 15 year old boy.
Cyber world is a place where anyone can be duped. Having a cyber relationship is not uncommon. More couples meet on the Internet than any other place. These couples actually meet. This kid speaks of the love of his life, he never met her. He speaks of staying on the phone with her until she fell asleep as that was the only way she could fall asleep. He has kept messages which he has shared with media.
Notre Dame is an institution of higher learning based on Faith, Football, and GPA. When I think of Notre Dame I place it in the academic circles of Stanford, Harvard, Duke - Maintaining a high academic standard in lieu of recruiting football players just so the school could win football games. Mr. Te'o has obliterated this belief.
Notre Dame administrators knew of this "hoax" in early December. They did not share any of it until after the National Championship Game. Their investigation consisted of listening to a few voice mails, listening to Mantei and listening to his parents. After this "deep and thorough" investigation they found Mantei's story credible. So while Notre Dame fans, college football fans, Mantei's teammates, coaches and players from other teams, while all of these people spoke of Mantei's courage and resiliency - they were being deceived.
I cannot respect a University that keeps quiet this "hoax" thereby leaving many of us to pray for this young man and admire his strength of character. An administration, putting football in front of truth - they should all feel shame.
This young man is just one of the many young men who possess athletic skill. The athletic skill carries with it so many benefits for the athlete, his family, and the University he attends each is willing to look away when it is obvious the athlete is a human being with mental illness or defect.
Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Mike Tyson and Baron Davis, the entire 1986 Mets Baseball Team, are athletes who come to mind. These young men were so athletically gifted everyone in their circle looked the other way when their behavior clearly indicated there was something amiss.
Some athletes such as Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Tom Brady; these athletes have a look in their eye, a look of determination, a look so hot it could melt ice. Their athletic gift is only matched by their practice regiment and their demand of teammates to put in the same amount of work. The eyes of such athletes are black as coal and hard as diamonds.
Then there are the athletes, who only need open their mouth and you know something is missing. The eyes of these athletes appear innocent and vulnerable, sometimes even confused. For them being on the "big stage" is a thrill similar to you or I riding a roller coaster. It almost seems they can't fully digest all that is happening around them. Thus their behavior is sometimes self-destructive, demonstrative, and bizarre.
In general we worship athletes. Parents start training their children as early as 1 year of age. Becoming a professional athlete brings "a pass" into a world of glamour and celebrity. School becomes secondary. Teachers look the other way. Grades are doctored. Many people are complicit in this road map to the big leagues. It is an accepted part of today's society.
The result of such "grooming" creates an individual who can hit a ball, shoot the three, drive a ball, or hit a slap shot - the same individual cannot read or write a coherent sentence. They have no need for impulse control; their every whim is filled by one of the many who ride his coat tails. (We see this more and more among female athletes)
Tuiasapopo has an excellent "spin" adviser. He will tell his side on The Dr. Phil Show. This is just to let us all know he is mentally ill - his defense when someone sues someone.
Teo is a young man who exhibits behaviors that indicate he has a mental disease or defect. Such athletes are present every where. In every sport. We, the fans, are somehow assisting in this sad circle.
I'll tell you this - if I were an NFL scout I would not draft Teo. Falling victim to such a scam, that kid will be nothing but trouble and he won't perform - he will not be a gifted linebacker in the NFL.
These stories are sad. These stories will continue to be told as long as we place fame over substance, money over education, popularity over work ethic. Shoot any ethics! Really sad.
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