So, Manti Te’o, Notre Dames starting linebacker, loses his girlfriend to cancer the same day his grandparent dies, but stoically plays on in a very public, heartwarming drama. Te’o’s Heisman stock soars as he is seen as a role model for young people in the mold of Roger Staubach, the antithesis to today’s self serving athletes. A true modern hero! He describes meeting with her and even accepts a game ball to personally give to her parents.
And, then…there is not, and never was, a girlfriend, much less one tragically dead from cancer! This is only revealed when the woman who’s picture was high jacked calls and confronts him! What to do now?! I know! I’m a victim!
Amazingly, Notre Dame and Te’o jointly announce he is the victim of an elaborate hoax. It’s not his fault! Even though the story is absurd and his own teammates never believed the girl was real. One said, “Manti just wanted the attention.”
So another pseudo hero bites the dust. The creators? Us! We need heroes and make then out of athletes and are shocked when they are revealed. This is just another manipulative guy trying to cash in on our need to have him be something he’s not. It’s up to us to know the difference. Maybe he can have lunch with Lance…