It’s looking steadily less likely that Johnny Manziel will still be a Texas A&M football player when Alabama visits on September 14.
(The latest is this budding autograph scandal.)
You know, it was really this story that made my fully appreciate what I think is going on with Johnny Manziel. His father is failing him. Johnny’s dad is equal parts fascinated and bewildered by him. He stands in awe of his son, rather than requiring that his son act like a grown-up. “Lie low and go to class” is too restraining, apparently. Best indulge his temper, and alarmingly large appetite for alcohol (isn’t he still 20?), and whatever else, rather than saying “buddy, you’ve got a lot going for you, but there are still rules you have to play by.” Paul Manziel outs himself as a big part of the problem over and over in that story.
Consequently it’s difficult for me to be too hard on Johnny himself. He needs parenting, and he’s not receiving it. It’s no wonder he’s believing his hero worship when even his own dad is infected with it.
I’ve been saying Alabama 34, Texas A&M 13, or thereabouts. Three-touchdown game. If Manziel doesn’t/can’t show, adjust it to 45-9 or so.
And unleash the magpies.
You might also like:
- Manziel slighted, nudged to 22nd in NFL draft; does money fingers anyway
Johnny Manziel was indeed the story in the first round of the NFL draft last night, but not like he … - Grace, humanity, and “mamas and papas”
I have a copy of Coach Bryant’s 1974 autobiography that belonged to my grandfather. It doesn’t have … - I hate Tennessee
Actually I think the state itself is pretty great. But I hate the Tennessee Volunteers. I haven’t al… - Corn flake shaped vaguely like Illinois sells for $1,350
You know the deal with this eBay crap these days. There are Virgin Mary crullers, and perfectly cerv… - BoWilliams.com On Huntsville Hot Wings: Johnny Gryll’s
This is part of an ongoing series reviewing hot wings in the Huntsville area. Visit #HsvHotWings for…
As the parent of a 20 yo, parenting is infinitely more difficult because they are technically considered an adult even if they aren’t behaving like one. I have personal experience in this department. Frustrating, to say the least. Prayers for his parents are going up.
I dunno. I remember what it was like to be that age; I was not in a good place in my head because I was terrified of the future and couldn’t see the forest for the trees. And I HAD good parents. Perhaps a tad overprotective, but good parents.
What I see here is not so much one screwed up kid, but a very public example of what happens when you try to be your kid’s best friend instead of their parent.
At this point, anything the elder can do is too little, too late. This kid is going to have to take a public ass-kicking — and suffer the results of that, regardless of what it does to his “career” — before he’ll wake up to reality. I just hope it doesn’t get him killed.
“I want to be your friend, but I have to be your daddy.”
Oh, are my boys ever familiar with that assertion.