We Get Letters
Here’s some responses to recent reader questions:
1. Several readers asked about the sarcastic tone of comments I’ve made about quarterback Matt Leinart. Most of my remarks revolve around his constant TV and celebrity appearances.
It’s ironic because Leinart’s steadfastly claimed for two years he does not care about celebrity or hanging out with actors or more interestingly to him, actresses. Yet, he became the first college football player to be represented by Hollywood mega-talent agency CAA and always finds time doing ads for Desperate Housewives or appear in fashion shows.
Several of his teammates found it ironic that he seemed more interested in hanging around celebrities Wilmer Valderamma and Nick Lachey than any of them last season.
He’s already displayed the petulant behavior of an actor by firing his agent (Leigh Steinberg) before even been drafted. His desire to be the No. 2 pick in the draft caused his pseudo-agent, Chuck Price, to tell the Nashville Tennessean that if the Titans stayed at No. 3, "they might not have a chance to get Matt. The one thing those teams will realize by seeing Matt and getting to know Matt is that he is a franchise quarterback.’’
Maybe. But why not keep your mouth shut instead of trying to drag the Titans into the draft muck? Tennessee offensive coordinator Norm Chow’s always been faithful and supportive of Leinart and the Titans even flew their own receivers to Los Angeles for his workout. If you want the Jets to trade up to No. 2, then tell the Jets without trying to be coy with the Titans. Or staging a phony trip to New Orleans, which signed quarterback Drew Brees and doesn’t need him.
Before anyone says I’m out to get Leinart, let me just say offer a quick story about Leinart’s freshman year. In April, 2002, I reported that Leinart was detained by campus security on Fraternity Row because of several altercations that broke out one evening involving football players and other students.
``Nobody wanted to arrest anybody and it was mutual combat, but it was a violation of the rules of our community,'' said former Robert Taylor, the former deputy chief of USC's department of public safety.
Student affairs did investigate the incident however, which also involved wide receivers Devin Pitts and Steve Stevenson.
If I had it out for Leinart, I probably could have mentioned that incident many, many times in stories. Imagine how interested all those national media outlets, like ESPN, People magazine or even the National Enquirer would have been to learn about that incident involving the most famous player in the country? Or at least would want to ask Leinart about it?
But I did not exploit the issue because I wanted to be fair and only and wrote about it once. I only wish Leinart displayed some of the same fairness in dealing with writers, especially when begrudgingly agreed to give us five minutes to speak to him each week.
2. One reader asked why No. 3 quarterback Mike McDonald’s stats appeared better than freshman Mark Sanchez in some scrimmages. McDonald was going against makeshift defenses (walk-ons, reserves) while Sanchez went against the first team.
3. Basketball forward Jeremy Barr is transferring because of playing time. He does not know where he will transfer yet.
4. Another reader asked about whether the Trojans took recruit Broderick Green from Arkansas too early. Pete Carroll loves big, physical backs like Green and the Trojans will sign several running backs this year, so it’s considered a low-risk offer.
5. Back to Leinart, no I don’t know when he is scheduled to appear on Punk’d.
Thanks a lot for answering my question. I know you're busy. I appreciate your blog
Mr. Wolf:
Thank you for showing your true colors in your post regarding Matt Leinart. There is now one less blog I have to read!
Your petty jealously rings clear. It's obvious to readers that you are not interested in objectivity.
The TRUTH about Leinart firing agent Leigh Steinberg is that CAA has gotten into the sports business and its agents represent over 70 professional athletes, including Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Alex Smith, and Derek Jeter. Since Leinart already had CAA as his endorsements agency, he made everything cleaner by bringing all his business to one place. What Leinart did was take care of business in a very smart, efficient, and professional manner. Yet, you "report" it as displaying "the petulant behavior of an actor". Your comments are so intentionally misleading that I don't know how you can call yourself a reporter. You say "he became the first college football player to be represented by...CAA". That's because all of their other players are already in the NFL!!
I am also flabbergasted at how you criticize his desire to be the #2 pick. Um, excuse me, but doesn't the #2 pick earn more on his first contract than all the picks below him? I may be getting this wrong Mr. Wolf, but my memory tells me that every player drafted in the past 10 years has wanted to be the #1 or #2 pick. I suppose you would prefer if Leinart said "I don't care where I'm drafted. I just don't care".
But the coup de grace of your post was prefaced with the ironic statement "before anyone says I'm out to get Leinart", and then you do precisely that. Seriously, bringing up a non-event that happened over 5 years ago!? And then mentioning that you have held it over his head for all this time, not mentioning it except for the first time, when you could have dropped the bomb at any time and destroyed him! Maybe the real reason you didn't bring it up again is because it wasn't newsworthy. Just how desperate are you to paint your own portrayal of Leinart?
Because you have decided to form one-sided opinions about an athlete that you don't know, I'm taking the liberty to form a one-sided opinion of you. Your post makes it crystal-clear that you are a two-bit writer for a sad little paper in a big town. In your mind, Matt Leinart has disprespected you because you didn't say anything mean about him in the 5 years you covered him, and now he doesn't get on his knees for you when he gives you an interview. Next year, Matt Leinart will have moved on to the NFL. He'll be a multi-millionaire and a success in every sense of the word. And you will be a two-bit reporter for a sad little paper and you'll go home to your apartment and wonder how life treated you so unfairly.
You have consistently demonstrated the bitter petulance of jitled lover ... it is obvious that many players including Matt didn't give you the time of day because they knew what all of us surely do - you are a hack. The next big story you break will be the first, or have we forgotten all your "expert insight" around signing day in february.
You and Petros bitch and wine about college students who have rightly decided not to grant you the courtesy of an interview because they know even if they give into your endless sniveling you will continue to take cheap shots for ratings and readership. You are an embarrasment to the journalist profession and I hope the new college football season commences without the pathetic tones of yourself and the ridiculous "P"
Grow up Scott ... the next well researched and well written article will be your first.
I also want to thank you for giving us a little more insight into what youre comments were based on and I agree with whats going on with Leinart right now. I think the Trojans received the type of coverage we havent seen around here since Shaq and Kobe were together and I think it got to some of their heads, specifically Leinart and White. I dont know whats going on with Reggies family and that house they were staying in and I hope theres nothing to that but it appears that he is the only one who has taken the pre-draft business seriously(along with Justice, Lutui, Byrd and Matua). Leinart needs to get some humility and get serious and stop worrying about hanging out with B-list stars.
That's bizarre: A professional journalist like Scott is being called out for "bitter petulance" by someone with a handle like "ScottWolfHater." For God's sake, watch a little more Dr. Phil and get over the need for Scott to worship USC as much as you do.