Now, after the Orange Bowl, tell me who's hot, who's not. Tell me who rock, who sell out in the stores.
If you guessed Ashlee Simpson, try again.
I'm referring to Matt Leinart and Pete Carroll who appear to have an affinity with a late '90s Notorious B.I.G. tune entitled "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems." Both have recently been presented with a bigger stage, but both have shied away from more money, and more problems.
Head coach Pete Carroll hushed hullabaloo about a possible return to the NFL when questioned about the San Francisco 49ers opening and standout quarterback Matt Leinart held a press conference declaring his return to college football for his senior year.
Leinart, a potential top-three selection in the upcoming draft, is being sacked by pundits for his controversial decision. With two national championships under his belt, they say the risks outweigh the reward. The possibility of a career-threatening injury is not worth the prospect of making history, while passing up guaranteed financial security is simply unconscionable.
There's no question that this is an ominous decision, but is this the type of society we live in? A society that discourages taking chances if they involve risk?
Leinart has the opportunity to win three national championships as the starting quarterback of his team, something that has never been done before, and he has the opportunity to become just the second player ever to win back-to-back Heisman Trophies.
As Wayne Greztky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take."
Are you too scared to play basketball because you know you will eventually miss a shot? Do you reserve your feelings for cute significant others because you're afraid of rejection? Are you deterred from walking because one day, you might trip and fall?
No. If you miss a shot, you try again. If you don't get that hot date, you catch an eye for someone else. If you tumble, then you get back up and keep walking.
We all know his stock won't rise any higher, and we know 99.9% of society would take the known instead of what could possibly be behind door number one, but that is what makes Leinart truly special.
Matt Leinart and Pete Carroll will return to Southern California next season, but even though the endeavor is pious, it doesn't mean they'll accomplish their goal. Pessimists will surface at every bend in the road berating: "Ha, I told you so! You could have flossin' on the cover of Fortune," but win or lose, it's the effort that counts. In a time where money makes the world of sports go round, college athletes forego junior and senior seasons and high school athletes forego college, and NCAA coaches display minimal loyalty, a decision to stay and strive for glory should be revered.
Money has jaded sports to the point where enthusiasts have forgotten the very foundation of the game. The almighty dollar is such a ubiquitous concept in sports and is the basis for so many personnel decisions that one of the few times a decision is made from benevolence and competition rather than bankroll and chips, followers scoff.
Props to these two for passing on more money and more problems and using goodwill as the foundation of their determination.
Failure and fear of failure mix like Mondays and me.
Have a comment, question, or thought? Keep it to yourself! But if it still persists, shoot me an e-mail at [email protected].
Leave a Comment