Roundtable: Is the Media Hurting Young Athletes, Tyler Lydon’s Future?
By Josh Peelman
The Inside the Loud staff is back with another Roundtable to debate and discuss whether the media’s attention to both recruits and college undergraduates is hurting their future.
Our question this week is a rather different one than we’ve done in weeks past. We will be discussing whether the media has had a real negative effect on recruits and young college athletes futures, like Tyler Lydon. Since Inside The Loud House is part of the media, we do our best to answer with as little bias as possible. So without further ado, here’s what we asked our contributors:
Q: Do you think the media (in all its platforms) is hurting/negatively impacting recruits (high schoolers) and young college athletes and their future? Additionally, do you think it’s true that the hype the media creates around players leads to unrealistic goals and high expectations they can’t fulfill, and hence, negative fan feedback?
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Considering I have a degree in the Media communications field, my response to this might surprise you. I do think the media harms young athletes more than we think it does.
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When I was between the ages of 15-18, the time period in which college scouts recruit the hardest; I was nowhere near ready for everyone to know what my college choice was, let alone have them judge me for it. Making a college choice isn’t easy, and having everyone and their brother want to know what i’m thinking would be pretty intimidating.
As athletes that pressure is even more magnified. The media really focuses on ranking high school athletes, and when they do that, they create expectations. Those expectations can create an environment around an athlete that puts fans in his path, both on social media, as well as in real life. Its like being a celebrity in some ways. However that celebrity status isn’t for everyone.
In addition, these rankings make the athlete, be that a girl or a boy, feel like they have to live up to their spot/ranking in the future. That’s a lot of pressure, let alone on top of being just a normal teenager.
It gets worse though. If that athlete does not live up to the expectation the media and recruiting websites ranked them to be in high school, then they are labeled a bust or a failure in college. The sad part is that the media created that unrealistic standard in the first place and/or the athlete pays the price.
Most times athletes just cave to the pressure, thus leading to the fan and media backlash. Its sad because athletes are human and aren’t perfect, and things just happen like that sometimes, but fans don’t often see it that way.
In my opinion, there is no shame if that happens to an athlete though. I think its a tragedy that the media, fans, and social media gang up on these young athletes that try so hard everyday for years to have a shot at the pros.
Do I think its bad that the media, like this blog, write articles about athletes in high school? No. However, I think when you grade young athletes, or analyze them like you would a food critic in a restaurant, then that’s taking it too far. These athletes deserve to be treated like normal teenagers and human beings.
Neil Adler- Contributor
This is a terrific, and timely, question. The media- broadcast and print- has existed for eons, but what has changed is the landscape. In my opinion, the 24-hour news cycle, the Internet in general, and social media are all part of that changed landscape. Journalists, bloggers and fans talk about this stuff (recruiting, etc.) literally every second of every day. This is both a good thing and a bad thing.
It’s tremendous that we, as a society, have so much information at our fingertips, but everyone has an opinion. Everyone thinks they know what they’re talking about, and no one shies away from blabbing their thoughts, particularly on the Web. College basketball and football are such big businesses these days. The pressure and stakes are undeniably high for student-athletes, especially in those two sports.
Heck, college coaches are now recruiting kids in middle school, and their early years of high school. That’s insane. There are so many recruiting services out there dissecting these kids, and they really are just kids. They’re getting labeled as three, four, or five stars. When a player names his finalists, or even his school of choice, Twitter and other social-media channels blow up.
I love Syracuse, and root for my alma mater like crazy. However, when Quade Green or another top-flight Orange target decides to go elsewhere, it sickens me to see ‘Cuse fans hate on them.
These kids are merely 16, 17, or 18 years old. They’re teen-agers. I think back 20 years, to when I was a teenager, and I didn’t know anything about what I wanted to do with my life. Can you imagine being under a microscope like these recruits are?
Analysts, coaches and other stakeholders in college basketball love to hail a prospect as the next James or Jordan. That’s ridiculous. It does create unrealistic expectations. Is it fair? I don’t think so. However, it’s the world we live in.
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
I couldn’t agree more Neil, especially what you said about the fans who gang up on these athletes. In my opinion, they need to back the heck off athletes, especially on social media.
Too many fans decide to friend high school athletes (recruits), and say nice things while they’re deciding on a college. However, as soon as the athlete chooses a school they don’t like or isn’t the school they root for, then they trash the athlete’s page and make nasty comments. Just look at the whole Jordan Tucker scenario just a week or two ago on social media and you’ll what I’m talking about. A player shouldn’t have to come out and say this to ease peoples minds:
https://twitter.com/Therealjtucks/status/861305625778819073
What they do is so wrong, on so many levels. Its never EVER okay to do that in my book, but its especially in poor taste with young, influential, teenagers who are just trying to get through his or her teenage years, and all the drama that comes with that.
Now i’m not saying its all fans who do this, but to those who do, its a real shame. So to answer the question, its not just the media’s fault for this whole thing, but its definitely rooted in how they analyze and grade young athletes. Fans feed off the media and listen to what they say.
I think the media can do good by making an athlete feel good about him or herself too, but its a fine line. Its one the media needs to tread more carefully in the future, but only time will tell if they do so.
Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert
Follow: @BoyGreen25
What I think this is is an old dog learning a new trick. The media has been around forever, but they’ve never been this inclusive. Media includes: social media, TV, Radio, video games, pop culture, etc. There’s so much pressure and ridiculously high expectations.
The SU fan base crucified Quade Green after he made a late switch. At the end of the day these are amateurs, aka kids. Grown people should not be berating kids on social media, that’s harassment.
All the new technology is bitter sweet. It’s a great way too stay connected to friends and family all over the world. It provides a gateway to interact with some of your favorite personalities on the planet. Teams/colleges can creatively recruit using photo shop on Heisman trophies and video games.
It’s all really cool, but I think all these recruiting websites saying that John Smith is a 4 or a 5 star based on blah blah blah is just a lot. I don’t know if it’s hurting recruits, but it’s certainly a baptism by fire. For better or for worse.
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
I guess as a follow-up question then Paul, what’s your take on those who say that the media hypes players so much that it creates unfair expectations they can never live up to? Some fans believe for instance that the NBA is weaker now because players that went one and done were not ready and were too hyped by analysts.
Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert
Follow: @BoyGreen25
Well Trevor Cooney as a hometown example was hyped up way too much. As a result fans were on his tail to be great, anything less than that was a failure. I feel bad because if expectations were different, I think the perception of Cooney would be a lot different.
To answer the one and done part of the question, I really wish the NCAA & NBA could come together and issue a two year mandate. It would increase the overall quality of the March madness tournament, plus the NBA would be getting more ready players, instead of taking on projects. I don’t know if that’ll ever happen, but I’m hopeful.
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
I totally agree. The two year mandate would help a lot, and the recently new commissioner of the NBA Adam Silver had mentioned a while back he is going to look into doing just that. Players won’t like it because it just risks them more to injury to inferior athletes and college scandals, drugs, etc, but maybe it’ll help them. Who knows?
As for Cooney’s and Green’s case, I think your spot on there. In both cases, SU fans were rough on them. If Cooney hadn’t been hyped as much fans would probably see him after in a better light. Much like a Billy Edelin, or a Josh Pace. All three were good guards, but the first two weren’t hyped by the media which helped.
These are different times though and the future is judging those yet to hit the big time. Everyone’s always looking for the next Lebron James or Steph Curry. It’s sad, but it’s the new reality.
Now let’s look at players who did stay two years in college like Paul mentioned. A former Syracuse star fits that mold: Tyler Lydon. Coincidentally, Lydon just shared his thoughts about leaving Syracuse. What he said might surprise you. Check what he had to say, courtesy of an interview by Syracuse.com:
"Have you talked with Malachi, since he’s the guy you came in with, about all of this backlash from fans who somehow think they know more than you do about what’s best for you? How have Syracuse fans treated you since you announced you were leaving and how have you dealt with it?Tyler Lydon: I honestly haven’t talked to Malachi about it or any of the guys who have left early. It’s been tough. I love Syracuse. I loved playing there. I love the fans and how passionate they are about it. But it can definitely be tough to see some of the negativity that comes with it.Those are people who supported you and then it doesn’t go their way and they get a little upset. That’s anybody though, you know? I’ve handled it, I think, in the right way. But at the same time, there has been a lot of negativity about me leaving. There have also been a lot of people who had my back and who supported me. And I’m appreciative and thankful for that. I feel like it takes a lot for somebody to understand when somebody is chasing their dream, to give up one opportunity to try and go after another. And I really appreciate those people."
Neil Adler- Contributor
In terms of Tyler Lydon deciding to go pro after his sophomore stint, all we should do is root for him to succeed. He helped lead us to a Final Four two campaigns ago. Did he disappoint during the most recent season? Sure. But the same should be said about the entire squad in the 2016-17 term. Stuff happens.
Jim Boeheim and the media hyped up our boys this past go-round, and the results didn’t pan out the way we had hoped. Lydon, according to some experts, is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Should he have come back for another year? Perhaps. But he’s doing what’s best for him and his family.
Tyler Lydon’s a smart, humble guy. Any SU fan that trashes him online is both ignorant and simply cruel. Get over yourself. These college players, sure, they get a scholarship. But colleges and universities make millions off of them. Coaches get lucrative salaries. The players themselves, they get a free ride, but not much else. If they have a shot at making it professionally, they should take it. They don’t owe an explanation to anyone.
Tyler Lydon will always represent a huge part of the Syracuse family, and I wish him nothing but the best. I’ll never forget that late-game block he had against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, or how he drained a 3-pointer, minus a shoe, in the Elite Eight versus Virginia. Those are my memories of Tyler Lydon. And, they are great ones.
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
I didn’t really think about it until recently, but college athletes can still be negatively affected by the media and fans just as much as those in high school. If a college athlete doesn’t live up to being a one-and done prospect, he/she hears about it. If an athlete leaves school early when he/she wasn’t expected to, they also get criticized by fans and media alike.
I think its lousy that athletes get backlash for making the best decision for themselves and their families. For most athletes, a chance to go to the pros or make solid cash for the first time in their life is a dream can true. Can you blame them for leaving when its something they’ve seen on the horizon as a possibility for years?
The media isn’t as critical about athletes leaving early, but as Tyler Lydon says in the interview, the fans are. They react negatively, when they really shouldn’t. They should be happy he’s living his dream, but instead they’re unhappy because they’re going to miss watching him play in college. How pathetic is that?
In the end, I think the fans are more critical than the media in both college and high school. However, I do think the media hyping athletes doesn’t do fans any favors. Just ask Tyler Lydon.
Next: Roundtable- More intriguing: Boeheim coaching at 80 or Brady playing at 47?
Zachary Weisleder- Contributor
Follow: @ZachWeisleder
Based on what he told Syracuse.com, I think that Tyler Lydon has treated this situation very maturely. Many, including myself, have fed negativity to the public surrounding Tyler Lydon, and how he will fit in the NBA. Instead of responding to this criticism, Lydon has continued to stay quiet and humble throughout this process. That’s something many athletes struggle with, so kudos to him for being smart about all this.