Time To Go After NPR

After spending too much time (and energy) ripping on David Haugh, I'm going to try and relax and try and parse a Frank Deford piece from NPR.  I know its not a column, but he wrote it and read it and there's a transcript i can cut & paste & comment on-- might as well do it.  I can get out of my comfort zone.

This isn't a terrible article besides the conclusion of it.  I'm easily annoyed by media-propped up white-athletes-- The grinders, the "smarter" players, the "winners" with the intangibles.  They're always white players, usually in college and usually go on to undistinguished professional careers.  Mr. Deford does make a point of Tebow being a lightning rod of controversy-- from the non-football (religion) to the bigger football issues (concussions and the effect of returning too soon.  There's fascinating research coming out.  But that's another blog).  However, this becomes a smokescreen for his actual abilities.  For the first time on this blog:  NPR & Morning Edition present Frank Deford.  Commentary by me.

Tim Tebow: Rare Case Of Game Hating The Player

By Frank Deford 

April 21, 2010

Come up here, please, to the presidential suite and give a big NPR welcome to Tim Tebow, proclaimed by many as the greatest college football player ever, and now ready for the NFL draft - Heisman Trophy winner, the hero who steered Florida to two national championships, bright, strong, a natural leader.

Possibly the most grandiose introduction ever... please go on...

Yes, the intrigue in the NFL draft - which begins tomorrow evening and lasts longer than your average Icelandic volcanic eruption - this year centers not on the top of the draft but on Tebow, who will almost surely not be drafted anywhere in the first round and who knows? Might not even be drafted at all. It's like having a presidential election, with most of the attention going to a congressional race in Montana.

Ok, current news reference is out of the way.  And there's always intrigue about a college star not having the skills to be pro:  I'm not sure about the congressional race in Montana.  Maybe if Palin (not for politics, but as a lightning rod) ran.  

The quarterback, born sickly in the Philippines to missionaries, is one of those people who is not himself controversial, but who just always seems to get caught up in the middle of stuff. Even back in high school, when he was educated at home, he was one of the more publicized cases in the dispute about whether home-schooled students should be allowed to play on public school teams.

Not a terrible angle to take.  Actually, a pretty good thought.  A good sports thought!

When concussions became big news, he got a big concussion. When he starred in a prolife commercial with his mother, otherwise sensible adversaries wanted to temporarily void the First Amendment to prevent the commercial's airing during the Super Bowl.

The first amendment only refers to government censorship.  But I still get your point...

Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, a man who has admitted the pressure might be getting to him, proved that recently by publicly upbraiding a sportswriter for correctly quoting a teammate who had dared say that, by comparison, Tebow might not be a real quarterback.

And here's the problem.  Tebow might not be able to throw the ball accurately or with any strength.  And old teammates might be excited to see a new arm.

That, you see, is the crux of the issue. Sure, Tim Tebow may be the greatest college player ever, but he just doesn't do things the approved, NFL way. What team has the guts to draft him and answer to the nerds who measure football talents as phrenologists used to measure character by the shape of the skull?

And here's where you lose me.  You almost had a good column.  It isn't the evil "NFL ways".  Talent usually outdoes that.  The problem is he can't throw accurately, take a snap from center and possibly not read an nfl defense (he had a low wunderlic score).  Its nothing personal-- its just his physical skills.  Like throwing a ball-- which is important when being a quarterback.

Me, I'm certainly no football scout, but I rather like players who win. I wouldn't mind having Tim Tebow on the bench when the starting quarterback gets hurt, and he has to go in and begin calling plays and doing things his way. Yeah, I think I like my chances with Tim Tebow.

A winner?  Isn't that the rational people use for players without talent?  Players with talent you hear things like "pick apart a defense" or "throw a ball through a wall" or "throw a ball thru the eye of a needle" (i might have made the last one up).  But they involve strength, accuracy and intelligence.  When you can't just give him that, then you say things like he's one of the "players who win."  

If you think he has the skills to be an NFL quarterback, go ahead and say that.  If you think he's a good person and you hope he succeeds, then say that.  Otherwise, you're just propping up "winning" as bad rationale.