Rich Hofmann's article on Philly.com about the Steve McNair killing is right on point. He says that most of the time sportswriters and the public really don't know the professional athletes, which they watch perform.
I couldn't agree with him more. I constantly find out things about players that at times conflicts with their public personna.
The truth is that most people don't have a clue about these guys. Many times the guy who they call a good really isn't. Many times, vice versa is true.
Many times, all the media knows is what the guy said in an interview after the game. Some athletes tell the truth, while others will lie and tell the reporters what they want to hear.
Some athletes are horrible in front of the camera and microphone, while others are great. Sometimes that the guys they great in front of the camera, isn't so great in his private life.
What does have to do with what they are really like as a person? Nothing.
That's why the practice of judging a player by a soundbite or trying to read a player's mind is such a joke.
When I was playing, I saw players smile in the face of members of the media, then lie to them about how they really felt about something, then talk about them like a dog, once they got away from the camera and microphone.
I've played with guys for four and five years and later found out that I didn't know them nearly as well as I thought I did.
Unfortunately admitting that the sports media barely knows the players cover doesn't sell well, so you will rarely hear, read or see this type of opinion.
Many times, the media calls a guy a "good guy" because he's available for interviews. Other times it's because the guy is their source on stories.
