DBTFB Commentary

POLARIZING FIGURES THROUGHOUT SPORTS

HISTORY

There have been many polarizing figures in sports over the 20th and 21st centuries. I’m going

to name a few, and then I’m going to talk about one. Those of you who know me know exactly

who I’m referring to.

Some of these guys can start a barroom brawl just by mentioning their names: LeBron James,

Muhammad Ali, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Michael Vick, Colin Kaepernick, just to name a few.

Then there are the unequivocal members of this fraternity: Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Tiger

Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, John McEnroe, Serena Williams, Dennis Rodman, Conor

McGregor, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Jackson, Deion Sanders, Lance

Armstrong, Kobe Bryant, Brett Favre, Terrell Owens, Draymond Green, O.J. Simpson, Mike

Tyson, Aaron Rodgers — and we could go on all night. But I won’t.

TOM BRADY

Tom Brady won seven Super Bowls as a player before retiring after the 2022 season. Brady

spent 23 seasons in the NFL and was at the center of more than a few controversial “events”

during that time. There was the “Tuck Rule” game — the game that helped launch a dynasty.

Unfortunately, that game was against my childhood team, the Oakland Raiders. Trust me, it

WAS a fumble! Then there was Deflategate, Spygate and more. Brady’s career spanned more

than two decades before he turned to broadcasting. It’s weird that TB12 is now a part-owner of

those same Raiders — albeit now in Las Vegas. Kind of funny, if you think about it.

SOME OF THE OTHERS

Colin Kaepernick took a stand, became one of the most divisive figures in American sports, and

never played in the NFL again after the 2016 season. Tiger Woods has repeatedly found

himself in headlines away from the golf course. The late O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder

in criminal court and later found liable for wrongful death in civil court. Pete Rose gambled on

baseball while managing the Reds and spent decades barred from the Hall of Fame before MLB

changed his posthumous eligibility status. John McEnroe was a maniac on the tennis court.

Brett Favre became entangled in the Mississippi welfare-funds scandal. Terrell Owens cried on

national TV while defending his quarterback. Dennis Rodman wore wedding dresses and

makeup. LeBron James, in my opinion, forever tarnished his reputation with “The Decision.”

Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear. Aaron Rodgers has generated enough headlines away

from football to fill a book. Lance Armstrong largely disappeared from the spotlight after

admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs during his incredible Tour de France run.

Yes, there have been many polarizing figures in sports, for many different reasons.

THE ONE

In my opinion — it’s my blog, lol — Baltimore Ravens two-time MVP and University of

Louisville 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson tops this list. And it’s not close. The

question is: Why?

I have my opinions about that, too. From racism, to hatred, to lack of knowledge, to an inability

to admit being wrong, to endorsement deals, to media-generated narratives built for clout andengagement. There isn’t one thing that defines all of this when it comes to Lamar; it’s

cumulative.

Lamar Jackson has always been a phenomenal athlete and quarterback. In high school he was

a YouTube sensation. In one clip, he ran toward the end zone, stopped on a dime, let a

defender fly past him and then slowly walked in for a touchdown. In another, he effortlessly

launched a football from one end zone toward the other. That’s 100 yards, 300 feet.

Then there was the story from shortly after he arrived at the University of Louisville in 2015,

when Lamar raced then-NBA player Rajon Rondo in the street. Rondo, a Louisville native and

former University of Kentucky player, was home hosting his basketball camp. According to the

story, Rondo had been racing players and challenged the group again. Lamar, who had only

recently arrived on campus from Boynton Beach, Florida, stepped up. By all accounts, Lamar

smoked the fleet-footed Rondo. Then, to rub salt in the wound, Lamar posted about it on social

media with the heading, “I left Rondo, Bye Rajon!” LOL. I love Lamar.

LAMAR IS INTRODUCED TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD

The real introduction of Lamar Jackson to the national football world came on September 17,

2016. ESPN’s College GameDay was in town for the first time as the No. 2 Florida State

Seminoles rolled in to face the No. 10 Louisville Cardinals. Lamar put on a show for the ages,

and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance, having held Louisville football season tickets

from 1996 through 2022. I have never seen a more spectacular player in my 65 years on this

planet. NEVER.

Lamar Jackson was introduced to a national TV audience that, if they were like me, was left

with its jaw dropped. I’ve seen some phenomenal athletes in my 65 revolutions around the sun,

but none quite like Lamar. I witnessed Darrell Griffith — Dr. Dunkenstein — lead his

hometown team to its first NCAA national championship in basketball in 1980. As a teenager

working security for court entry from the locker rooms, I got an up-close view of the players

and coaches. I also saw one of the most physically imposing teams I had ever seen, then or

since, when Ohio State rolled into town with Clark Kellogg, Todd Penn, Kelvin Ransey, Herb

Williams and Granville Waiters. I thought the Cards would not survive that day. Griffith and

his teammates had other things in mind, beating the bullies from Columbus, 75-65.

But back to September 17, 2016. Lamar was special. He twitched, switched, twisted, flicked,

pumped, twirled, sliced, diced and flat-out outran the entire Florida State defense. Louisville

rolled up 521 yards of offense — 216 through the air and 314 on the ground. Yes, I know those

numbers don’t add up exactly if you know football; team yardage accounting can do that. The

Cards averaged 7.8 yards per play, had 25 first downs, went 5-of-10 on third down, ran fewer

total plays and possessed the ball for less time than FSU. Louisville still won 63-20. It wasn’t

that close.

Lamar completed 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But it

was on the ground that he left FSU in the dust: 17 carries, 146 yards and four touchdowns. By

halftime, Louisville led 35-10. The Seminoles were out of the game before they knew what

happened. Lamar had already run for three touchdowns and thrown for another in the first

half. Wow. Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. was now front and center in the college football

world — must-see TV on his way to the 2016 Heisman Trophy, the first in University of

Louisville history.LAMAR... MEET THE NFL

Let’s jump forward and try to figure out why I feel this article is necessary. Coming out of

Louisville after the 2017 season, there was a lot of debate about Lamar entering the 2018 NFL

Draft. He was publicly discussed by some evaluators as a possible wide receiver rather than a

quarterback. Former Colts GM Bill Polian was among the most prominent voices making that

case, though he later acknowledged he had been wrong. Questions about Lamar’s testing,

mechanics and decision not to run the 40-yard dash became endless fodder for the NFL media.

It hasn’t stopped since.

My question is: Why? He is a tremendous athlete and football player. He’s won two MVPs and,

in my opinion, had a legitimate case for another after one of the greatest quarterback seasons

in recent memory. Through the 2025 season, his career passer rating stands at 102.2 — tied

with Aaron Rodgers for the best mark in NFL history. That’s a hell of a stat for a player people

still insist “can’t throw the ball.”

The larger point is simple: Lamar has repeatedly produced elite passing performances in

addition to everything he does with his legs. Yet fans and wannabe analysts will come up with

all sorts of metrics, analysis, stats and pure garbage to prove their guy is better than the other

guy — especially when it comes to Lamar Jackson. None of it changes what you can see. The

one thing that means more than anything to me is the “eye test.” If you know football,

especially if you’ve played the game, there is no denying Lamar’s uniqueness and greatness. So

why do so many people go out of their way to deny what they see? I don’t get it.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has spent decades as an NFL defensive

coach and head coach. He’s seen a lot of great players. Asked about Lamar and dual-threat

quarterbacks, Fangio essentially put Jackson in a category of his own. To me, that is about as

high praise as you can receive from an opposing defensive coordinator. He is the guy

responsible for building a game plan to stop the opposing offense. Fangio knows Lamar is

different. Unique. Great. Why won’t others admit it?

PLAYOFF CHOKER

Part of the reason some people will never give Lamar his props is his playoff record and

performances. First things first: let’s get this out of the way — wins and losses are NOT solely a

quarterback stat. Football, more than any other team sport, requires contributions from

offense, defense and special teams. A quarterback competes against an entire defense while

relying on ten teammates around him. Then he goes to the sideline and has no control over

whether his defense stops the opposing offense or whether special teams swings the game. So

how can every win or loss be reduced to one player? Yet more people than not — former

players and fans alike — constantly quote that imaginary “QB win-loss record.”

The point is this: through the 2024 postseason, Lamar and the Ravens had won three playoff

games and lost five with him as the starter. To be completely honest and transparent, Lamar

has not played well in some of those games. I’m not sure whether it’s pressure, jitters, nerves or

some combination of all three, but it’s true. That in NO WAY diminishes his greatness as a

quarterback and player. You don’t win two MVPs by being mediocre. Nor does playoff success

or the number of Lombardi Trophies alone determine whether someone is worthy of the Pro

Football Hall of Fame. See Dan Marino. See Jim Kelly. See Dan Fouts. See Fran Tarkenton. See

Warren Moon.I could go on, but I’m getting tired — tired of all the bullshit that gets put out in the NFL media,

social media and the local pub about a player and human being who has done nothing but win,

give and lead. Why can’t everyone just enjoy the show? It’s highly unlikely any of us will ever

see this type of greatness in a player again in our lifetime. Sit back and enjoy the show.

Shoutout to #RavensFlock #BillsMafia #WhoDey #HereWeGo #FlyEaglesFly #RaiseHail

#DaBears and #Skol... stop with the hate and enjoy. You don’t have to tear one player down to

build yours up.

MB - DBTFBB