So Brett Favre allegedly sent photos of his junk to a Jets employee. As with Roethlisberger and Woods before him (after, actually), I am amazed by the hubris of the professional athlete. How they expect not to be caught in the age of digital media and TMZ, I cannot fathom.
And again, we have an athlete not denying a repugnant accusation. And again, I find myself saying "I'd really like to hear you deny this, Brett. Any denial will do."
Hm. Turns out this street name is pretty funny.
Was it really eight years ago that I railed about sideline bimbettes? Wow. Anyway, there's my bias. I'm declaring it. The networks and the NFL shove way too many implants at me for my comfort. Much as the commercials for Viagra, Girls Gone Wild, and
psychics make me second-guess myself for watching Comedy Central, young girls grinding their crotches on a camera lens make me feel moronic for watching football. I want them gone. I would like my sex and my football served separately, thank you.
With this bias on the table, here's the sequence of events. When I heard that the Jets players harassed a sideline reporter, I quickly googled her. I found exactly what I expected.
It's at this point that someone is composing an angry "so was she ASKING to be hit on?" email.
Yes. Yes she was. Shut up.
Mere weeks later, the Jets are in the news again, this time for something that may have happened two years ago. Brett Favre is accused of sending sexts and obscene photos to a Jets-employed reporter. Again, I cut to the chase and went straight to Google Images. Here's Jenn Sterger in her college gig, then when she took her talents to the pros. (Playboy spread not included.)
But John, you say, does this mean she was ASKING for Favre to sext her? Well, no. She wasn't exactly discouraging it, but she does have a right to make a living, however skanky, without co-workers sending photos of their wangs. Call me old fashioned. If he's guilty, Favre deserves what he gets.
Know who isn't innocent? The Jets, for hiring someone whose sole professional purpose is for her to be objectified. The media, for employing and glorifying silicone quarries. The very same media clucking at Favre now, in fact. They are complicit in these scandals and, in fact, I blame them more than the women or even the athletes. After all, if I leave a steak within my dog's reach, I don't blame the steak or the dog when she leaps on it.
What's funnier, Jenn Sterger's Wikipedia entry...
Sterger rose to fame after she was shown on national television during a 2005 Florida State–Miami football game. On seeing the shot, announcer Brent Musburger commented that "1,500 red-blooded Americans just decided to apply to Florida State." She was one of the FSU Cowgirls, who are known for their combination of minimal tops, short shorts, and cowboy hats. She has since posed in both Maxim and Playboy magazines. Sterger is also the "Sports Babe" for Sprint Exclusive Entertainment. Sterger was featured on the E!: Entertainment Television show Byte Me: 20 Hottest Women of the Web that originally aired in March 2008, where she was #19 on their list.In 2009, Sterger had her breast implants removed, stating that they had served their purpose for her career, and that she was tired of being stereotyped.
...or "professional journalist" Sterger's melodious prose?
Sometimes I forget that people actually read this stuff. No, make that.. most times I do. Because I've never had to write for anyone but random English teachers or college lit. professors. They'd simply skim the surface; check my grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure... And give me some subjective grade and send me on my way. The paper? Never to be seen again. And the grade? Well, believe me, after the cowgirl thing began at Florida State, and it became harder for me to blend in, the grades got extremely subjective.But one English teacher stands out in my mind. He was a tiny little man, with fiery red hair and beady little eyes that narrowed at me from behind his frameless glasses that told me "Don't ever do anything that involves writing. Ever. You're terrible at it." Harsh words to say to the youth of America that looks to their teachers for inspiration.
God bless him for trying.