Remember Charlie Sheen’s “Winning” part when he went on The Dan Patrick Show mid-bender and rambled incoherently? After that, there was a span of per week or two the place we didn’t know if it was schtick or an addict relapsing in essentially the most public method. Once it was clear that Sheen was actually struggling, the jokes weren’t as humorous, and he grew to become a pariah. It wasn’t unhappy, as a result of he’s an objectively detestable individual, nevertheless it left you feeling chilly and empty.
This isn’t the identical instance however the collective realization {that a} human being was actually struggling additionally struck true when Britney Spears shaved her head. It was like, “Oh shit, this is more than just someone yearning for attention.”
It’s occurred with soccer gamers, too. Terrell Owens’ meltdown culminated with push-ups in his driveway. Antonio Brown flew off the deep finish, and a variety of media members have questioned if it was too many knocks to the top. (That’s not an excuse for his conduct — simply declaring that both a change flipped, or Mike Tomlin is one of the best supervisor of personalities possibly ever.)
Perhaps essentially the most notorious amongst sports activities figures was Mike Tyson. His antics had been up to now on the market that they one way or the other overshadowed rape convictions, and now individuals keep in mind Iron Mike fondly after tattooing his face and showing in The Hangover.
I by no means had the identical fascination as a result of there’s a sure diploma of narcissism concerned, but in addition a heavy dose of psychological sickness, which I don’t discover all that humorous. Americans like to see public figures spiral, and after we, particularly the media, get a whiff, the race is on to offer Lindsay Lohan each alternative to have a psychotic episode on digicam.
G/O Media might get a fee
“Wait until you hear what so-and-so did now. It’s even crazier than yesterday when he put a live salmon down his pants.”
As lengthy because the determine in query is extra egomaniac than schizophrenic, it’s all enjoyable and video games. If their ego is actually a dimension that permits them to be a functioning narcissist, they usually imagine the stream of bullshit they spew each fucking day, then, and solely then, is all people cool with lining up like a firing squad and doing their greatest Donald Trump impressions. (To be truthful, the previous president undoubtedly has some kind of sickness, however I don’t assume even his physician has a treatment for xenophobia.)
And that brings me to my level of right now’s no matter that is…
Aaron Rodgers is sports activities Donald Trump
I waited this lengthy to sort his identify as a result of holy hell am I sick of writing about him, speaking about him, joking about him. Anything to do with him, I’m out. It’s not that I believe he’s having a breakdown although I’m positive psychological well being professionals are enamored together with his “complete overlap of ego and id.” (It’s been theorized, however they by no means thought they’d see it.)
This gained’t be the final time I write an Aaron Rodgers column, although lord is aware of I’d hand over considered one of my senses for that to be true, I’ll say this: I’m good. Nothing he does will shock me or curiosity me or irritate me ever once more. It’s all an finish to a way to deliver the dialog again to him.
The darkness retreat, the anti-vax stuff, the Pat McAfee spots, relationship supermodels (or ladies who in any other case will put him within the headlines), all of it. It’s all for consideration. I’m not an professional, nor his therapist, so I don’t know what the underlying cause is for Aaron Rodgers to be so fully consumed with Aaron Rodgers, nevertheless it’s exhausting.
If it looks like he’s continually gaslighting us, that’s as a result of he’s. The web has empowered trolls to take human type, and right here the fuck we’re. Their specific model of mumbo jumbo elicits such highly effective feelings that we are able to’t not react. It’s like Jim Halpert rattling off a bunch of “That’s what she said” setups, after which turning to the digicam and smiling as we scream it in unison.
The PR strategy to the following public look is solely to “say some shit,” and it’s solely thought via to the extent of, “Will it bring me attention?”
Calling Rodgers “Sports Donald Trump” is extra for search engine marketing than the rest. However, for those who had been questioning, “At what point will his act, and the subsequent jokes about it, grow stale?” We’re right here.