The most recognizable member of this year's draft class, Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football, has experienced the media microscope more than most other prospects. Ever since he became the first freshman to win the prestigious Heisman Memorial Trophy two seasons ago, Johnny has been constantly followed and even harassed by the media. All aspects of his life were covered, from who he hung out with, to which parties he was attending. For what felt like years, every time I turned on ESPN there would be some story regarding Manziel's off the field life, oftentimes scrutinizing it. This got me thinking, is it right for the media to follow around amateur athletes and pick apart their personal lives? In my opinion, no this is not right. As college students, how would you feel if everything that you did was being recorded or watched? I certainly would not like it at all. I understand that by making the commitment to attend a major university to play a sport entails some media coverage, but when the media is constantly probing to catch you slipping, they have crossed the line. The media needs to know when they have taken coverage too far, and let people live their lives without the fear of always being watched. Report something that actual matters, not what a college student chooses to do with his free time.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Draft Day
With the NFL draft under a month away, fans are eager to see who their favorite teams draft, and prospects are more than eager to see where the next step of their journey will begin. Over the years, the draft has become more and more of a media spectacle, marking the unofficial start of football season. The multiple day event is highlighted on the first day when college football's best and brightest talents are usually taken. The first and second rounds include the cream of the crop, athletes who have been working their whole lives towards attaining their goals of playing professionally. They have endured years of practice and conditioning in hopes that one day all their hard work would pay off, and they would be making it big in the league. With the media becoming more and more a part of this process, prospects have been put under the microscope. Not only are their athletic abilities being analyzed and broken down, but even their personal lives have been thrown under the media microscope.
The most recognizable member of this year's draft class, Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football, has experienced the media microscope more than most other prospects. Ever since he became the first freshman to win the prestigious Heisman Memorial Trophy two seasons ago, Johnny has been constantly followed and even harassed by the media. All aspects of his life were covered, from who he hung out with, to which parties he was attending. For what felt like years, every time I turned on ESPN there would be some story regarding Manziel's off the field life, oftentimes scrutinizing it. This got me thinking, is it right for the media to follow around amateur athletes and pick apart their personal lives? In my opinion, no this is not right. As college students, how would you feel if everything that you did was being recorded or watched? I certainly would not like it at all. I understand that by making the commitment to attend a major university to play a sport entails some media coverage, but when the media is constantly probing to catch you slipping, they have crossed the line. The media needs to know when they have taken coverage too far, and let people live their lives without the fear of always being watched. Report something that actual matters, not what a college student chooses to do with his free time.
The most recognizable member of this year's draft class, Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football, has experienced the media microscope more than most other prospects. Ever since he became the first freshman to win the prestigious Heisman Memorial Trophy two seasons ago, Johnny has been constantly followed and even harassed by the media. All aspects of his life were covered, from who he hung out with, to which parties he was attending. For what felt like years, every time I turned on ESPN there would be some story regarding Manziel's off the field life, oftentimes scrutinizing it. This got me thinking, is it right for the media to follow around amateur athletes and pick apart their personal lives? In my opinion, no this is not right. As college students, how would you feel if everything that you did was being recorded or watched? I certainly would not like it at all. I understand that by making the commitment to attend a major university to play a sport entails some media coverage, but when the media is constantly probing to catch you slipping, they have crossed the line. The media needs to know when they have taken coverage too far, and let people live their lives without the fear of always being watched. Report something that actual matters, not what a college student chooses to do with his free time.
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