What's eating Matt Leinart?
After the most recent Heisman Trophy ceremony -- the one Reggie Bush won -- outgoing USC quarterback Matt Leinart caused more Internet buzz when some cameraphone pictures of him sweaty and liquored up with some hot chicks at some New York club made the rounds. That's not even including this one that showed up in our email basket recently from a concerned bystander who again found Leinart mugging more with Fox Sports Net's Lindsay Soto, surfer Bron Heussenstamm and Greig Carlson.
(And before other sports sites start cherry picking this photo to start disparaging rumors about Soto as some kind of media lush who's looking for attention, just stop right there, OK? The point here is Leinart, the goofball, not Soto, the budding Carolyn Hughes. She was in the same establishment that night, with plenty of other media people, and happened to agree to this photo with Leinart, not knowing he'd be doing the tongue thing).
Leinart, you all recall, stayed in school one more year because he didn't care about money. He wanted one more year of the college experience. That included one more trip around the nightclubs where he could get sloppy and act like a college kid.
Then reality sunk in. And as of today, he still hasn't started the pro football experience. The guy who refuses to sign autographs for anyone won't autograph a contract for the Arizona Cardinals because, as Leinart's new American Idol, Tom Condon, says, they're arguing over the guaranteed signing bonus.
Well la-de-da.
Tuesday, when the Dolphins reached an agreement with 16th-overall pick, defensive back Jason Allen, to a six-year contract and thus ending a 10-day contract impasse, that Leinart as the only unsigned first-round pick. Leinart will miss the Cardinals' exhibition Saturday against Pittsburgh, and likely the following Sunday's exhibition against New England, losing valuable time and making him almost useless to any fantasy league players (which really is the bottom line here).
And all we get are more pictures of Leinart sticking his tongue out at everyone. Real mature.
For the best take on this, read Scott Bordow's column from the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Ariz. The heat's on Matty so sign. At least in that part of the country, it's a dry heat. And Matt's dad can always foot the bill for a house until the kid's ready to start paying the rent.
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The lady in the photo looks like FSN Lindsay Soto, who does the high school shows. Am I right?
Scott, get a life.
Tom, I've always respected your work as a newspaper journalist and I enjoy your blog. I just thought you were above the likes of Deadspin and posting personal pictures of others for mass consumption. Can we expect personal voicemail messages from Michael Eaves next week?
LIndsey is a class act and to try to even insinuate that she is a Carolyn Hughes wannabe is loose ended journalism at best. Soto is a very conservative reporter who is happily married to her husband. To put her in this article and even make those assumptions is unprofessional at best.
She has had to fight to be taken seriously and crotchety old men like yourself seem to be just jealous. You of course say this is not about her after taking a cheap shot at her.
As far as Matt goes: A college kid having a good time in public, wow thats news. Do you think there could have been a few pictures of you back in the day? The only difference is that you never won anything and thus were not newsworthy.
I don't understand the "Leinart won't sign autographs" claim people make. That is simply not true. In fact, my buddy got his autograph Friday night at a bar in Newport Beach. Matt was gracious and quite friendly.
Quit painting the kid in a bad light and let him do his thing.
What was the point of posting this photo again? Did this year-old picture help further your point on Leinart's hold out? Oh, and if other "sports" sites "cherry picked" this photo wouldn't that be the same as the way you cherry picked this photo off facebook?