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It began with Watergate. Since then, we’ve affixed the suffix “-gate” to myriad controversies. Sports activities have been included: Bounty-gate, Deflate-gate, Spy-gate. Two of these three contain the New England Patriots, which suggests Invoice Belichick > Richard Nixon.
Now we’ve JuJu-gate. If it wasn’t referred to as that earlier than, it’s now.
JuJu Smith-Schuster desires to bop (poorly) on each crew’s midfield brand earlier than away video games, utilizing the miracle of TikTok to protect the second and broaden his model.
Smith-Schuster doing so at Buffalo drew the Payments’ ire. His antics have been famous in postgame quotes. Quarterback Josh Allen loudly cited Smith-Schuster’s dancing (poorly) as he led his crew onto the sector. The Payments proceeded to whip the Steelers.
I don’t imagine within the inspirational powers of bulletin-board materials. Profitable video games and excelling at your job needs to be motivation sufficient (though for Smith-Schuster, it’s not). You’d have by no means recognized the Payments have been indignant in the event that they hadn’t gained.
However dancing (poorly) on the foe’s brand is insulting. Smith-Schuster did it when these on Buffalo’s punting unit have been current. Not their linebackers, nor anybody else who hits. That’s not coincidence.
Go into the Penguins locker room and step on the brand in the course of the carpet. You’ll shortly be taught it’s thought of a pretend pas.
Locals don’t suppose what Smith-Schuster did is an enormous deal. He’s only a child having enjoyable and residing his greatest life, blah, blah, blah.
However how will you are feeling if he returns to Heinz Subject after signing with one other crew through free company this offseason, then dances (poorly) on the Steelers’ brand?
What you’ll do is overload your diaper, similar to when the Horrible Towel is “dissed,” a phrase you utilize such as you’re in Public Enemy.
Smith-Schuster dancing (poorly) on the opposition’s brand is similar as when Cincinnati’s T.J. Houshmandzadeh wiped his cleats with the Horrible Towel. (The Bengals reignited that tempest in a teapot by tweeting that video earlier than the groups performed Nov. 15.)
Many blame the media for JuJu-gate.
I might proudly stake declare to that, besides it’s not true. Smith-Schuster dancing (poorly) on Buffalo’s brand was first introduced up by Payments gamers. They made it a narrative.
Smith-Schuster has reaffirmed that he intends to maintain dancing (poorly) on logos. He says it makes him “genuine.”
His stats don’t. Smith-Schuster ranks thirty eighth amongst NFL pass-catchers in yards and 121st in yards per catch. He’s having a median season, no higher. He’s been mediocre since 2018, when Antonio Brown absorbed many of the protection because the No. 1 receiver.
However efficient PR generated through social media positively advantages Smith-Schuster, as a result of lots of the residents see him as having a fantastic yr.
Smith-Schuster makes the occasional massive play, as practically each offensive weapon does. However there isn’t a logical technique to see him as something greater than common, until you need to.
However many need to. That’s due to his fixed preening on TikTok and his charitable acts, that are at all times publicized through video. Would these happen if a digital camera wasn’t current?
By the best way, Smith-Schuster isn’t any “child.” He’s 24. He’s in his fourth NFL season. None of his shenanigans on video are something however a calculated effort to construct his model. I appreciated sports activities loads higher when athletes have been athletes, and never a “model.”
However that’s the world we dwell in. Smith-Schuster’s extracurricular actions will be justified as a result of they put cash in his pocket. Whether or not it’s on the expense of give attention to his efficiency will be debated, however not confirmed.
Smith-Schuster ought to cease dancing (poorly) on logos, nonetheless. If he doesn’t need to, he needs to be informed to, both by Mike Tomlin or one of many Steelers’ leaders.
I’ll not imagine within the influence of bulletin-board materials. However coaches and gamers do, and don’t need to place chips on the opposition’s shoulders.
Smith-Schuster gained’t be informed to cease something, nonetheless.
Brown obtained away with way more and for a lot longer. The Steelers have a laissez-faire tradition. They’ve veterans, not leaders. There’s no James Farrior and Troy Polamalu to emphatically say what’s what. That’s residue from the Poisonous Twins period. Smith-Schuster is AB Lite. (Brown cared way more about efficiency.)
So JuJu-gate lives on. Dance, clown, dance (poorly).
Classes:
Mark Madden Columns | Sports activities | Steelers/NFL
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