Mike Greenberg dropped a hot take bomb on Monday morning’s edition of Get Up, calling the latest chapter in the Antonio Brown (him forcing a release from the Raiders to sign with the Patriots) “the most unprofessional act that I can ever remember seeing in professional sports.”
"What we have just witnessed is the most unprofessional act that I can ever remember seeing in professional sports …"
—@Espngreeny on the Antonio Brown situation pic.twitter.com/sUTQS8iofe
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 9, 2019
If we were still doing This Week in Hot Takes (may the column rest in peace), we would have dropped five fire emojis on this one.
My main takeaway from this is that Greenberg apparently has no long-term memory whatsoever, because there are a whole lot more egregiously awful and unprofessional things that have happened in pro sports than a player forcing his way off a team that he didn’t want to be on in the first place.
A quick sampling, from Twitter.
I once saw a bunch of Pacers players fight the fans but ya you’re right this is worse
— Dave Snow (@Dsnow93) September 9, 2019
There was a guy murdering people playing for the Patriots.
— L.Z Hunter (@_OfficialProta) September 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/ceddie_stl/status/1171080285867450368
https://twitter.com/YappaPodcast/status/1171074235697172481
Eli refusing to play for the Chargers was by far worst. And by a far less talented player.
— Chris Hairston (@CHairston75) September 9, 2019
Mike Tyson ate part off Evander Holyfield
— Joe Tidd (@joetidd) September 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/Joe_TOC/status/1171116740601729024
Roberto Alomar spit in an umpire’s face.
— The Gentleman Masher (@GentlemanMashr) September 9, 2019
A dude retired in the middle of a game https://t.co/gVBa8nb6IP
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) September 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/DavidDTSS/status/1171095288699850752?s=20
Moral of the story: there has been a whole lot of unethical, illegal, immoral, and unprofessional stuff that has gone on in pro sports (not to mention college sports. Hell, we could probably have a whole new discussion if those were included) over the years. In comparison to all of that, Antonio Brown is small potatoes, let alone the most unprofessional act in pro sports. This is what happens when you prioritize takes and amplifying the current news cycle over being rational, measured, and keeping current events in perspective.
I wonder how Greenberg would have felt if Brown forced his way to the Jets (who Greenberg is an avid fan of), instead of their division rival (and I use the word “rival” very loosely) Patriots. I’m sure his opinion would be exactly the same, and he’d be just as upset….right?
About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.