"I <3 Andrew Luck"
"Luck + Media 4ever!"
"Mr. and Mrs. Media Luck"
These are just some of the things doodled all over the notebook of the national sports media.
It's no secret. The media loves Andrew Luck. And why not, he's the star quarterback, a great student, and he's got great facial hair. He's probably even got a bunch of nice cars! (Just Kidding NCAA!) If the national sports media was the head cheerleader this would be a great American love story.
But the national sports media isn't the head cheerleader. It's majoritily a group of middle aged men. So it's a little creepy, if you ask me.
All of this is a swift change of pace from last years number one overall pick, Cam Newton, who everyone pretty much hated. There was a great debate as to whether he would win the Heisman and then become the number one pick. He polarized the nation, getting booed as he accepted his Panthers hat on draft day. People questioned everything from his skill to his character and the media generally was not his biggest fan. All the while, a golden boy was beginning his first steps towards his acclaim.
Andrew Luck, who could have entered the draft last year to compete with Newton, remained at Stanford University. The media heaved a sigh of relief. "Ahh...Character." The great love affair began.
Ever since then, the media has gone out of its way to praise and defend Luck. Jim Harbaugh was chastised for leaving his post as Stanford head coach and leaving his starting Quarterback. Luck was touted as the obvious first overall pick early this season. His only loss this season, to the the Oregon Ducks, had every member of the ESPN staff openly weeping. Their darling wouldn't be a national champion. And then even worse then that, he wouldn't be a Heisman Trophy Winner either. Devastating.
The media has been so high on Andrew Luck, the NCAA is testing them for drug use (Zing!). His recent loss in the Fiesta Bowl led to every media outlet on Earth coming to his defense. One article spoke of how, despite the loss, Luck crushed every team up to this one except Oregon (who were, of course, the PAC 12 Champs). It also stated that he led the offense "calmly". I don't disagree but I also don't think it would have been mentioned if the losing shoe was on Brandon Weeden's foot. The commentators of the Fiesta Bowl noted how sad it was that Luck, not only didn't win the Heisman, but also that his college career had to end this way. Go ahead and check out some articles about Andrew Luck. You'll be hard pressed to find any that have anything negative to say about him. The only less than positive story I could find was about how Luck shouldn't enter the draft because the teams vying for him aren't good enough for him. It feels like a Disney movie (which I'm sure it will be soon enough). Even the analysts who have doubts about him do so reluctantly as they feel the blasphemy fall from their mouths.
So why? Why has the media fallen so head over heels in love with this bearded beauty? I think the reason lies in a fact I stated earlier. This whole affair began in the midst of Cam Newton's tumultuous rise to fame. He seemed entitled and standoffish. Even though Reggie Bush had to return his Heisman for similar offenses that Newton was accused of, he got off scott free, taking with him a Heisman and National Championship. His attitude stuck with him and gained him infamy in the minds of the media. When John Gruden met with all the Quarterbacks entering the draft, he tried especially hard to zing Newton with a long play call. The media for some reason didn't want him to succeed. Newton benefited from this. Unlike media hogs like Lebron James and Tim Tebow, the spotlight didn't shine so bright on Newton. He succeeded when many thought he shouldn't and I don't think they ever forgave him.
What was the media to do? Their sworn enemy was taking the football world by storm. But wait! There is one guy that can beat him! Andrew Luck! He could take the Heisman and the Number one pick! We don't have to lose to Cam!
But alas, Luck didn't win his Heisman. And he showed great class by returning to college. No matter what Newton did, Luck would always have that. A sense of character (which I believe is more assumed than anything else) that seemed to transcend his skill. Not to mention the fact that his skills aren't too shabby either. The media has built this man up to be something tremendous and it will be their own fault if he doesn't live up to these expectations. Their golden boy and arch enemy will probably end up battling a stat war if they don't actually end up meeting. I can't wait to see the media circus surrounding that battle.
The media loves Luck. That's just plain and simple. It will be interesting to see if he truly lives up to the hype and plays well. And if he doesn't it will be interesting to see how long it takes for the media to turn on him. Whatever may happen, I don't think the media is worried. I hear there is this new guy they've been checking out who just decided to go back to college for another season. Ahh...such character.
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