 |
| Peyton Manning was accused of using HGH during his neck rehab. Manning strongly denies these reports. Photo by: Andy Lyons |
This past week, the sports world was rocked with yet another
cheating scandal. A report was issued by Al Jazeera, an international news
organization based in Qatar, linking Peyton Manning, among other NFL players,
as using human growth hormone (HGH), a banned substance in the NFL.
Manning was accused of using HGH during the rehab he had for
his neck, which caused him to miss the entire 2011 season. The report said that
Manning had the supplements sent to his home under his wife’s name.
Manning returned to the NFL the next year. During the 2013
season, he set NFL records for yards, touchdowns and points scored in a single
season on his way to leading his team to the Super Bowl. Manning has since gone
on to set practically every quarterback record. He is a sure Hall of Famer,
most likely ending his career after this season.
Oh no. Here we go again. Accusations of yet another beloved
sports hero.
But this isn’t just any sports hero. This is the equivalent
of Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or David Beckham. Manning is
likely the most well known football player in the world. Even people who don’t
follow football know who Peyton Manning is.
He is one of the most marketable athletes ever. From Papa
John’s, DirecTV, Master Card and Nationwide to his appearances on Saturday
Night Live, Manning is a recognizable icon. His goofy sense of humor has
brightened our lives for years. He is also one of the greatest quarterbacks of
all-time.
Now with these accusations, Manning’s integrity has been
called into question. We have been through this before. Barry Bonds, Mark
McGwire and Sammy Sosa and steroids, Lance Armstrong and blood doping, Alex
Rodriguez and others in the Biogenesis scandal.
In this age, people are quick that believe such reports.
After all, we have been deceived before. When Lance Armstrong admitted on Oprah
that he had indeed cheated, the world was shocked. We believed that he had
overcome the odds of cancer and had been clean on his way to many consecutive
Tour de France titles. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice. You know the
rest.
We want to believe that these men and women use their own
training, willpower and determination to realize their athletic achievements.
But how can we know the truth?
Manning vehemently denies any act of malfeasance. Manning is
downright angry about the reports. The usually calm Manning used coarse
language when answering questions about the report.
"I think I rotated between being angry, furious,"
he said in an interview with ESPN's
Lisa Salters. "Disgusted is really how I feel, sickened by it. I'm
trying to understand how someone can make something up about somebody, admit
that he made it up and yet somehow it gets published in a story. I don't
understand that. Maybe you can explain it or somebody else can.”
Other athletes named in the report used similar language
when answering questions this week about their involvement. Green Bay Packers linebacker
Julius Peppers was baffled about his name being linked to the report.
"It's completely erroneous and I think it's
irresponsible journalism, in my opinion," Peppers told the Chicago
Tribune. "I'm subject to the same steroid and drug-testing policy as
everybody else, so I don't understand how I could be linked to something like
this. I do not know anybody that's involved in this."
In this case and in this writer’s opinion, Manning and
Peppers have earned the benefit of the doubt. They are some of the most
respected individuals in the NFL. Until we see actual proof, and not just
hearsay from a former employee, who now says that this is a fabricated report,
I trust them.
This might be another case of irresponsible journalism.
Anyone anywhere can post anything about anybody. This is the era of anonymity. As
a trained journalist, this report was released without substantial evidence.
Journalists are supposed to be able to support their facts. With Armstrong,
these facts were presented to where Armstrong couldn’t deny it anymore. Until
that happens, Manning and the others will remain spotless in my mind.
Journalism isn’t what it once was. It used to be about
integrity, not flash. It used to be about getting to the truth, not getting a reporter’s
name out there. Journalism is now ruled by clicks of a mouse or views on a
page. Some take it too far and will write something as click bait. This has
launched far too many careers.
Citizens deserve better than this. Journalists have a
responsibility to the public. Journalism is known as the fourth branch of
government. It’s time they start acting like it again. While sports are an
entertainment industry and in the scope of things aren’t really that important,
false accusations against public figures for clicks isn’t right. Journalism isn’t
Hollywood.
