On Keystone Light, Heroes, and Hiccups.

I love sports. Okay, that's not exactly true. I can live without tennis, curling, and golf, although I ride the cart and drink beer with the best of them. But my addiction doesn't stop there. I love sports heroes, the men and women who struggle against all odds to not only win, but also win with grace. People like Paula Weishoff, Roy Hobbs,(the movie version) and Johnny Manziel.

At least I thought I liked people like Johnny Manziel.

After all, Johnny and Texas A&M beat Alabama at Alabama last year. The little college that could, lead by the skinny quarterback, defeated the goliath of college football. A few months later he won the Heisman Trophy; the only freshman to ever do so. Then came the summer of  Manziel.

First he was sent home from Peyton Manning's football camp for missing meetings, sleeping through an entire morning session, and lying to Archie Manning. By all accounts, he was out drinking and didn't make it back to camp in time. Fair enough. He's a 21 year old, it's summer, live a little. But as we used to say in the Navy, "If you're going to hoot with the owls, fly with the eagles."

Next he makes the news by showing up to a University of Texas frat party, and subsequently being kicked out of said party. Two errors of judgment there. Error one, it's Texas, your archrival, of-flipping-course they are going to throw you out. Error two, he was drinking a Keystone Light. What's next, Diet Coke?

Finally, the NCCA is investigating Manziel for allegedly signing hundreds of pieces of memorabilia for a five figure sum in January of this year. ESPN needs to say allegedly, the New York Times needs to say allegedly, but here we can drop the crap. NCCA investigating alleged violations is similar to a parent asking their teen age son "Where were you last light?" after they already know. You can rest assured Manziel signed the memorabilia, his punishment is the only uncertainty.

Bottom line? In this case there are two. Manziel comes across as spoiled; someone who has never needed to accept the consequences for his decisions. Lots of college kids drink, but they also show up to work the next day.

The more serious problem is societal. Through the Internet and TV we have created a hero-worship society. Being inspired by others--be they sports heroes, soldiers, or your own daughters--is a good thing, placing heroes on a pedestal, without responsibility, without consequences for their actions, and without a connection to the real world, is bad. Very bad. I love sports, but I love them a bit less every day.