Wednesday, April 26, 2006

The dismantling of Vince Young



It seemed that the confetti hadn't even been cleaned up from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and they were already at his throat. There were whispers about his throwing motion, his awkward stance, he wasn't 'traditional' enough.

I think he first ticked people off when he didn't stand right away at the Heisman presentation when Reggie Bush won.

Whatever the case, the days, weeks and months since the Rose Bowl, the national media has had a field day with tearing down Vince Young. And no one worth their salt, no one worth anything, has stood up to defend him. It's almost as if an edict rained down from above to give this man undue stress and pressure before even taking one NFL snap.

First, he didn't have a big name agent. Well, his family felt that they should trust their family lawyer with the procedings. What a big time agent has to do with his ability on the field is beyond me.

Second, he didn't do well at a skills competition. I watched the skills competition, and he did very well. He didn't win every individual challenge, but he did just fine. Furthermore, the skills competition in no way relates to his ability to play the game.

Third, he had a horrible combine. I watched him run and throw, as he normally does. I watched him receive instruction, and use the instruction to his advantage. So, what's the big deal?

Fourth, the Wunderlic. Regardless of what he made on the test, I made a 46 by the way, this in no way has anything to do with what type of player he will be, or has been.

Fifth, commentator after commentator has made disparaging remarks about his total game. Peter King of Sports Illustrated is the only one who has really stood up and said that the kid's got it. I'm sure Wilbon said the same, but the vast majority of talk show hosts and supposed pundits have already declared him mince meat and not worth drafting on the first day.

It's easy to claim racism. Racism is essentially the act of believing that one is inferior due to the fact that they are a different race, be they in the minority or the majority. Vince Young has proved that he can play quarterback. He has proved that he can win at playing quarterback. He has beaten the other supposedly 'best' quarterbacks in the leagues that he has played on. He didn't get the benefit of going to quarterbacking camps like Leinart and Cutler and a host of others did, because his mother couldn't afford it. He learned how to throw the ball in the sandlots of Houston, Texas. And it seems that those same sandlots did him just fine, since he recently won the Maxwell Award, given annually to the best college quarterback. What else can you point to if a reason is needed for the way that Vince Young has been derided for his game? Is he not nice? Is he trucculent with the media? Is he standoffish? No. He's Black. He's bold. And he's damn good. And I guess that's enough for the dismantling of Vince Young.

But why dismantle this kid? He's got such a great story of perseverance of overcoming the odds and of never giving up. Because in addition to being Black, bold and good, he knows it, and isn't afraid to remind you of it. He did personally beat the golden boy quarterback Matt Leinart who was supposedly unbeatable. And not one word has been written (in any periodical of note) about how Leinart has been such a spoiled brat and never conceded defeat. He never once conceded what we all saw; that Vince is simply better.

I too will watch on saturday, rapt with attention to see where Vince goes. Wherever he does go, he will show off his skills, his flash, his personality, his bravado, and his mystique will be on display on the biggest stage in the world. He will show why THEY wanted to dismantle him, and to their credit, couldn't. Black don't crack baby.

I'm Joe and that's how I see it.

3 Comments:

At Wednesday, April 26, 2006 11:04:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

great post man

 
At Thursday, April 27, 2006 2:37:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Black don't crack baby."

I like, I like! lol

I think if M.Vick had a better record thus far, people might be less skeptical of Young...not say that racism is not in play because this is Amerikkka after all, so I'm sure it's somewhere in there.

But whatever the reason for the hating going on, like you, I hope Vince silences his critics. Good post Joe.

Gen

P.S. I wonder if you'd be so passionate about V.Young and Avery Johnson if they didn't have Texas ties...hmmmm...lol

 
At Sunday, April 30, 2006 5:10:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe,
Nice little post. Everyone who is a potential top 10 pick is taken apart and all the flaws are exposed and discussed. If you are drafted later in the first round and on, then, the discussion changes to what a great upside and individual athlete has. The expectations of a high draft pick, especially a franchise quarterback, just increase the scrutiny. If he wins, no one will care what his test score was--6 or 16 or your 46. But, if he doesn't live up to expectations, no matter how high and possibly unrealistic, he'll be ripped apart by every Monday morning QB. But he'll have a nice fat paycheck to comfort him.

 

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