When it comes to New York sports, most fans know their stuff. With some, however, guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and Carmelo Anthony are Teflon.
This one, my friends, is for the sensical. This particular space on the internet is for those who do, at times, like to hold their favorite athletes accountable for their actions.It doesn’t mean the fandom tag suddenly dissolves, it simply means this particular fan understands the real world. It means we hold our athlete to a higher standard and expect greatness, not silliness.
If what you just read tickles your fancy, don’t venture out on to Twitter. Please, pretty please, stay away. Your sanity is legitimately at stake.
For certain athletes, New York sports athletes in this case, fans take the word fandom to another level. Instead of abiding by the true meaning of “diehard,” they fly by the passage of “sports god” — for his/her athlete can do no wrong, no matter the situation.
Whether it’s on-field play or attitude in postgame press conferences, some people have gotten so serious about defending their guy that it’s become a plague. And quite frankly, it’s annoying.
No athlete is above criticism. No writer is above criticism. Nobody in any field is above criticism.
Yet some people will defend a certain guy to the death.
Here are the top New York sports athletes fans love to defend and make irrational excuses for:
NEXT: Notables
Notables
Welcome to the JV page. These three names only made the notables section because, quite honestly, fans have caught up with the times.
In Matt Harvey’s case, a devastatingly poor 2016 season did the trick. Prior to 2016, Harvey’s allure was a bit heavier than his actual production.
David Wright‘s future career with the New York Mets is anybody’s best guess. While the argument around him came down to Captain America not getting it done with the same protection in the lineup (i.e. Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran), fans understand he can’t be relied upon.
Last but certainly not least, 2016 has all but cemented Darrelle Revis‘s deadly fate with the fans. A season ago, despite the likes of Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins blowing past him time and again, fans would literally challenge you to a old-fashioned duel in regards to Revis’s current greatness.
Now, let’s get on to the big show:
NEXT:
3. Henrik Lundqvist
Where do we begin with New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist?
Yes, the man is great. He’s a future hockey hall of fame goaltender who deserves all of the accolades in the world. His arrival on Broadway has been the closest thing to the Patrick Ewing era for the Blueshirts basketball brethren.
Having said that, don’t you dare ever bring up the fact he has yet to capture a Stanley Cup. And don’t you dare ever say Hank has slipped a bit in his older age.
Rangers fans wouldn’t like that very much.
Through 20 games played this season, Lundqvist hasn’t played up to his regular standards. His save percentage of .914 is far off his .920 mark that went towards seeing his No. 30 jersey eventually raised to the MSG rafters. Additionally, the Rangers have yet to win a regulation game in which they’ve scored three or fewer goals. Granted, the below average defense has a lot to do with this, but Lundqvist shouldn’t be completely off the hook.
Yet when a diehard Hank fan joins the conversation, any criticism of Lundqvist is off limits. Hell, to them, he’s even the greatest puck-handler Gary Bettman has ever seen.
Henrik Lundqvist surely has several months to make up a poor start, but as of now, the 34-year-old has slipped a bit. And when that’s mixed with a hefty $8M salary (the highest-paid goalie in the league), a foundation of explosive material is suddenly present.
NEXT: The Emotional One
2. Odell Beckham Jr.
Not until this season has New York Giants talented weapon Odell Beckham Jr. seen this level of criticism. His blowup against the Washington Redskins in September brought on this sentiment. Crying on the sidelines and allowing the kicking net to physically get the better of you will finally do that.
Of course, his physical craziness with Josh Norman a season ago also brought on criticism. Unfortunately, this is what also brought on the OBJ defenders who’ll fight you to the death.
Around these parts we actually saw people telling other rational people that Beckham’s actions were “justified” in that ridiculous shoving match against the Carolina Panthers. To top it off, in classic anti-Tom Coughlin fashion, the Giants organization allowed him to run the asylum.
RELATED: If OBJ wants to the be the best, he must change
To me, OBJ is so talented that anything less than dominating his sport and doing it with class would be a failure. I expect more of the kid.
Others don’t feel that way. Others make the excuse that “his emotions are what fuels him.”
Garbage.
His heart is what fuels him. It’s not the choreographed dances, emotional outbursts, or trash talk that gets it done for the kid. It’s his ticker on the field of play that allows him to compete at the highest level in between whistles that matters.
Everything else is just noise and will get in the way of Odell Beckham Jr. becoming the best wide receiver since Jerry Rice.
Hold the kid accountable. He may just surprise you and rise to the occasion.
NEXT: The Don of Teflon
1. Carmelo Anthony
Now we get to the good stuff, the crowned athlete prince who can do no wrong in the eyes of so many. We’re talking about none other than New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.
Seriously, head to Twitter and search for some of the Melo fan accounts in the search bar. You will find cult-like accounts of the guy. There are Melo fans out there who make it their personal mission to take on anybody and everybody who says one solitary negative thing about the Syracuse product.
Sorry fans, it doesn’t work that way.
A perfect example came in Sunday night’s win against the Sacramento Kings. Early in the contest, Melo found himself bloodied at the hands of a Kings big man. The entire Melo-defending universe went wild.
“Hammered, garbage, Melo is the only star who doesn’t receive calls in the NBA” — they all said.
The truth? Well, the truth is Melo flew forward into the Kings big man who went straight up. Melo initiated all of the contact on this particular play. He then stayed on the group with a lip boo-boo while his team payed on the penalty kill for over 30 seconds.
Yeah, he was bloody, but Melo initiated the contact that caused the bloody lip. The better argument revolves around why Melo doesn’t seem to get the better whistle, similar to other NBA stars. Answers in this area revolve around the art of flopping — something Melo’s physicality doesn’t play kind to.
Even one guy brought the name of Tony Brothers up, the official who booted Melo earlier in the season after he wouldn’t stop barking:
And, of course, general Melo complaints about the technical from that night:
Here’s the video, the truth about what happened that night:
Once Brothers called the first T, Melo has to be smarter. He needs to realize this particular official woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
Stop barking at him and understand your team needs you.
Anything less than understand that view point and holding your guy, Melo, accountable, is only hurting your own credibility in this world.
Many writers and fans have harsh things to say about Melo at times because, well, these things are warranted.
He is a black hole. The offensive flow does stop with him. He hasn’t experienced much winning success in the NBA. He doesn’t have an NBA Championship nor has he even gotten close.
He’s also very poor on the defensive end of the floor.
All of these criticisms don’t mean the Knickerbockers are better off without him. In fact, some are too harsh on the guy because they look at a guy like LeBron James and expect the same greatness.
He’s not LeBron. He’s not even in the same stratosphere. Nobody is, and that’s OK.
At the same time, don’t make excuses for the guy when he deserves to be pounded a little. He’s a big boy. He can handle it.