A good example of one current athlete who has been judged and misjudged by the media is Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss. Gumbel profiled Moss in his rookie season with Minnesota and again when he joined the Raiders two years ago. Between mooning fans in Green Bay and publicly stating that he used marijuana, Moss became an easy target for critics.
In a recent “Real Sports” commentary, Gumbel said of Moss, “He’s happy. He’s productive. He’s professional and despite reports of his premature burial, he’s suddenly seen as a good guy.
“The Randy turnaround says a lot about the man. But the public’s view of him says even more about the perspective of fans and media people alike. In a world where every and anybody wants to have a say, and pretend they’re an image-maker, it’s a reminder of a plain and simple football truth that applies to both players and coaches. That if you lose, fans and media types can’t help you…and if you win, they can’t hurt you.”
