Cory's Corner: We really don't know celebrities
We think we know, but we have no idea.
People think they know their favorite celebrity so well, only to be crushed when something comes out that changes the whole narrative.
The latest example is what allegedly occurred at the University of Tennessee 20 years ago. Peyton Manning has portrayed himself as the squeaky clean athlete with a hint of aw shucks mixed in.
Shaun King’s story is from plaintiff Jamie Nauright’s lawyers. Of course it’s going to be crafted to make their client look better while striking down Manning.
But that doesn’t make it OK for Manning to tea bag an athletic trainer and then railroad her career. The moment this bubbled to the surface again, she was fired from Florida Southern College.
Brett Favre often used trips to Appleton, Wis. with Frank Winters and Mark Chmura to turn a now defunct bar into an anything-goes event. And after watching the “85 Bears” documentary, we will never know all the things Jim McMahon and teammates did when they went out partying.
But it’s not immune to actors and musicians as well. Mark Wahlberg stole cars and was overly violent growing up and when Elvis Presley was in his 20s, he developed a liking for 13-and-14-year-old girls.
It really shocks me when people remain surprised when they find out something has stained a favorite of theirs. We have to remember that these are still real people. Just because they are shown on TV, in movies or heard on the radio, doesn’t make them immune to the ills of humanity.
As for Manning, he’s probably deeply upset and embarrassed by the recent news. It means that not long after winning his second and legacy-cementing Super Bowl, he will also be forced to address something that he thought was put to rest a long time ago.
Things were a lot easier for celebrities to act human and make mistakes before Facebook and Twitter. But now that people are armed and ready with smartphones, nothing has really changed. Celebrities are more calculated now, but you still see plenty that make mistakes.
It’s OK to like what someone does. Just don’t think you know the person because you have all of his stats memorized or you know all of her songs by heart.
Or else you will be sorely disappointed.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (29)
Horse
February 16, 2016 at 10:28 am
Manning can't address it because they settled a lawsuit and there's a confidentiality requirement. No one except two people will ever know the details. Of course that won't stop 99.9% of people from drawing precise conclusions anyway.
dobber
February 16, 2016 at 10:40 am
Having read a second account of this, recently, it seems that there was a book or a lengthy interview with the Mannings some time in the late 00s where they talked about this incident and ran the victim through the ringer. She, admirably, took the high road and didn't respond. So confidentiality be damned, if you're the famous party.
Bearmeat
February 16, 2016 at 10:32 am
I don't know about these specific allegations. But, as someone who has been on the receiving end of a teabagging, I DO know the proper response. If someone puts their junk on your head, your punch straight up. Hard. I guaran-dang-"tea" you it won't happen to you again.
That said, that kind of locker room humor is funny in the right crowd of all guys. But to a woman? Not funny. Ever.
Phillthy
February 18, 2016 at 02:27 am
Like a real teabagging, not the video game one? Man that's a heavy thing to admit.
TarynsEyes
February 16, 2016 at 10:33 am
One who denounces something with pastoral vigor is more likely to be an active participant in that something.
One who acts as the holier-than-thou is much more likely not to be close to it as represented to the public.
One who is afraid to accept responsibility or utter a small inference of apology is among the greatest liars of all.
One who is compelled to the say he is your friend is not as he feels a need to secure a sense you believe him.
A few things I use in determining a person's character regardless of their status.
marpag1
February 18, 2016 at 12:42 pm
So, someone who denounces "the one who acts holier-than-thou" is more likely to be holier-than-thou? Someone who denounces hypocrisy is much more likely to be a hypocrite? Well sonofabitch, you might really have something there, Tarynfor12.....
LOL.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 18, 2016 at 07:38 pm
These are very circular arguments. I completely disagree with Taryn´s premise. I know it is now fashionable to not judge others, which has some religious underpinnings. I do not care. I taught my children to judge - size up - people and to discriminate based on character. I suppose that I did not teach my kids to verbalize that judgment.
marpag1
February 19, 2016 at 01:58 am
I have no problem with people who freely admit that they judge others. That's just being honest and sensible. The irony, of course, is when people judge others FOR JUDGING OTHERS, and all the while they are apparently oblivious to the obvious fact that they themselves are... y'know... judging others.
It shouldn't require a very wise person to realize that judging is good and totally necessary, and that if you pass no judgment on anyone else's behavior, then you are a psychotic menace to society. But still there are nitwits who say, "I never judge." They may as well just say, "I'm a total moron."
Thegreatreynoldo
February 19, 2016 at 08:23 am
LOL, and Amen!
Evan
February 16, 2016 at 11:09 am
So, Cam Newton dances and we get 1,000, pearl-clutching words on how he's destroying a whole generation of children.
Peyton Manning allegedly sexually assaults a woman and it's all "Celebrities, gee whiz, you never really know them."
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 11:31 am
I haven't seen anywhere where it says he actually sexually assaulted a woman.
Is that true?
Evan
February 16, 2016 at 11:42 am
He's accused of placing his dick and balls on her face. That's sexual assault.
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 11:56 am
the last I heard was he mooned. Sorry if it was in the story, I skipped the story.
Evan
February 16, 2016 at 12:10 pm
That was his bullshit explanation that he tried to get teammates to go along with.
Again, all alleged.
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Yeah, IF that is what happened, its not right. Really the only people that know what happened were those that were there.
The only thing I hate about this story is that it happened how many years ago. And it was 'settled'. So why is it a big deal now?
I'm not saying that it was right or anything about what happened, but why is it a big deal now? To me there are a lot bigger stories that we should go back and revisit then this one.
Evan
February 16, 2016 at 12:45 pm
"Really the only people that know what happened were those that were there."
According to the story, other athletes were present.
Just read the story, dude.
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 01:00 pm
that seems like a lot of work. :)
That's basically what I said though. That whatever happened, others were there. And they are the only ones that truly know what happen.
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 01:05 pm
ok, just read the story.
Now, if its true what is 'Alleged' its not right.
And like in the story, you may like the athlete, but the person might not be a great role model to have.
Phillthy
February 18, 2016 at 02:36 am
Couldn't agree more Evan!
I was so disgusted I stayed away from this site for what seemed like forever to me.
Goes to show the thinly vailed racism that affects America and growing up with dominantly your ethnicity.
It's a fact of life, you grow up around your kind you can't truly grasp the mannerisms of another, you just weren't there to understand why people behave the way they do.
However, this being a public site and forum, I felt it in poor taste to address two COMPLETELY different actions the way they did.
Cam gets a script written about how he shouldn't be allowed to be a role model because he dances. Peyton gets generalized "ya don't know celebrities" and "other people have done bad things too" treatment.
You authors are better than this and should talk to one another about whether or not you're keeping an unobjective viewpoint. Especially if we're going to be talking about other teams and players, I understand the passion for the Packers.
EdsLaces
February 16, 2016 at 11:22 am
"With a hint of Aw shucks mixed in" ...I almost spat my coffee.
Handsback
February 16, 2016 at 12:08 pm
I did stupid stuff and I went to a strict military college. I don't know what Manning did, and I really don't care. It seems that legally, it's settled and frankly not news worthy EXCEPT Manning happened to win the SB.
Wake me when it's over.
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Yeah, I agree for the most part.
I don't mind them bringing up the story, because honestly I never knew anything about it.
But why is it brought up? What is the reason? Because he won the Super Bowl? If that is the case why wasn't it brought up when he won his last Super Bowl? Is it brought up because Cam Newton has taken so much crap lately?
DrealynWilliams
February 16, 2016 at 02:07 pm
Do you really need to ask "why was it brought up"?
RCPackerFan
February 16, 2016 at 02:32 pm
Yeah, I would like to know the main reason why this is made a story now.
The case was settled however many years ago. Why is it being brought up now?
I have caught bits and pieces of the story. I haven't heard the real reason why this is a headline story now.
EdsLaces
February 16, 2016 at 04:23 pm
Not sure of it was the only reason it was brought up but Chris Kluwe went allover twitter about it last week. It was definitely overboard ..and definitely hilarious.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 17, 2016 at 02:19 am
Why bring it up now is a hell of a question. The better questions would be why the news media didn't bring it up in 2003 when suit was filed, or when the book was issued in 2001, or when the alleged incident actually occurred in 1996, and why no law enforcement involvement occurred in 1996?
Shaun King might be astute about sports, and/or a good sports writer, but he is a terrible journalist, imo. Did King contact the University of Tenn for comment? Mr. Rollo? If they couldn't talk due to the confidentiality agreement, did King get off his ass and contact any of the other parties? Since Ms. Nauwright reported the incident within hours to the Knoxville Sexual Assault Crisis Center, did King contact that agency to see what their SOP procedures were at the time, whether all such complaints were forwarded to law enforcement, or contact whoever was the local DA at the time? Indeed, the tone used by King makes it clear that King believes Manning is guilty. Motions for Summary Judgment or to dismiss are common. What King calls a "blast" from the judge in denying Manning's motion is actually pretty standard language. I'd also like to know whether Nauwright ever sued South Florida College, which let her go after excerpts from Manning's book were circulated on campus.
Racism is also entwined in King's story, but while he suggests it in passing, he otherwise leaves it unexplored. I don't know why. Note this excerpt: King wrote:
"To his father, he [Peyton] concocted far worse lies that were torn apart, one by one, when he and others were forced to testify under oath. [Note the tone - King concludes instead of simply reporting the facts.] He told his father, Archie, "she's kind of trashy," and "had the most vulgar mouth of any girl he'd ever seen" and "was unattractive but had big breasts" and had "been out with a bunch of black guys" and "had a toilet mouth." Archie Manning, in his deposition, said: "when she was a student trainer, she'd been out with a bunch of black guys...And she'd been up in the dorm before, hey, you know...." Archie Manning when asked if he meant those comments to be derogatory admits that those comments were not meant to be complimentary. I don't see in the 74 page court document where Archie Manning said he got that allegation from Peyton. It sounds to me like the allegation describes the time when Dr. Nauwright was a coed and was assigned to the recreation department under work studies employment. In the mists of my memory, I seem recall from attending undergraduate school (20 years earlier) that it was not terribly uncommon for coeds to go to the dorms and have sex, and over the 4 years to do so with more than one partner. The operative words/phrases Archie Manning said were "bunch" and 'black guys'. The latter sounds racist to me.
DrealynWilliams
February 16, 2016 at 02:01 pm
Lol, only in America...
It's all good though.
lou
February 16, 2016 at 04:42 pm
Everyone needs to be patient and not jump to conclusions, look at how things ended up with the Duke false rape and the Rolling Stone false gang-rape stories, everyone needs to be extra cautious. I'm, just happy the incidents of the Forrest Gregg coaching era are well out of most peoples memories, that was a tough time to be a Packer fan, more was happening off the field than on the field (Lofton - Cade - Ivery). But as the blog states, there are plenty of surprises that are uncovered about athletes/celebrities/politicians. Who would have thought that current news stories on Bill Cosby and Bill Clinton would completely change opinions over night.
marpag1
February 18, 2016 at 01:25 pm
I see that this article has a "like" rating of MINUS one. But on my computer, I only see the option to vote "thumbs up." Could someone kindly explain how I, too, can down vote? Thanks in advance.