Athletes are the same today as they've always been. They work hard and play hard. Night out with a pornstar? Drunk driving arrest? Barfight? This ain't nothin new. The catch is that the microscope is amplified in 2011. The 24-hour news cycle (I'm looking at you ESPN), Twitter/Facebook, Smartphones with cameras and over-informed/overzealous fans have contributed to the massive scrutiny the modern athlete endures.
They were always doing this stuff, we just hear more about it now than ever. The "Gotcha" journalism, the bloggers, the haters--these are the folks I look to blame.
The hypocrisy (Not all of us fans are squeaky clean) stretches further when you hear the media and fans complain about their favorite stars lacking personality in interviews. Of course they lack panache in interviews! With endorsements and legacies at stake I'm surprised we don't see even more cliched interviews.
Don't scrutinize these athletes and then ask for them to be more colorful. It's one or the other. I'd love to see these guys have more fun.
Who are the athletes we love to watch the most? Mayweather, Ochocinco, T.O., Joey Barton. We may not love these guys but we tune in or log on to see what they're doing and saying in their leisure time.
To the haters: Back off and shut up. These guys deserve to have fun.
