Jameis and us

In light of recent comments, Jameis Winston must have three attitudes:

a) He doesn’t think it’s a big deal. He lacks a true sense of social perception, discounting how people might view a Heisman winner formerly accused of sexual assault and publicly reported “stealing” soda at a Burger King and held at gunpoint then handcuffed by a police officer because he and teammate/friend Chris Casher were shooting BB guns at squirrels in an area locally known as the “Rape Trail” and knowing he and his school is amidst an ongoing Title IX investigation into what happened regarding the accused sexual assault and how it was handled and that the Tallahassee Police Department is currently revising its official procedures regarding sexual assault cases because of a botched investigation involving him. Considering all that, maybe it’s best not to shout—in the most populated place on campus—where exactly to place a male’s genitalia to initiate consensual intercourse. Even if his friends might be shouting this popular Internet meme. But then again, because of that, and his penchant for dramatic flair, a quality people like quite much when it involves sports games, he doesn’t think shouting “FUCK HER RIGHT IN THE PUSSY!” is a big deal.

b) He is innocent, has always been innocent, and therefore behaves like an innocent man might. While it’s an avenue very few entertain exploring, it’s worth mentioning. If Winston is innocent, and sees a media that lifts him up then tears him down (and then does it again and again) and a national audience who believes every negative comment said about him is true without any questions asked, and legitimate and not-so-legitimate investigators digging up every piece of his past as evidence of accused wrongdoings, at what point would he stop trying to be a Good Person. What reasons does he have? Social perception? That’s been gone. Winning people over? Not rational from a guy as adamant and relentless as he is. Why would he worry? He knows if he wins game people will love him again soon enough.

c) He’s an asshole who doesn’t give a shit.

So that’s where we stand on it—one of those must be true and I’m not sure which is true and what I wish is true. Lots of people have a firm belief what’s true, but who knows at this point? Jameis Winston’s narrative and character is so convoluted and confounding that to discern fact and fiction might be near impossible. He might be a Good Person or a Bad Person, or maybe this is all just a 20-year-old kid doing dumb 20-year-old-kid stuff.

He might wish to be “normal” and try to act “normal,” but he must know he’s not. Although it’s unfair we spend more time postulating ethics and morality when it comes to 20-year-old football players than other pressing issues, this is also the life Winston chose; the one he wanted. It’s the one he sells to up-and-comers at the Manning Passing Academy, where he served as a youth instructor and informed kids its details.

“That’s the price we gotta pay because we quarterbacks, baby!” Winston said. “We get all the women, all the love, all the fun. We touch the ball every play. Us and the center. Every damn play. Don’t y’all love it?”

And to be fair, Winston isn’t the only student who would be prosecuted for shouting such a remark in the student union. Had the student body president or fraternity council member or student newspaper Editor-in-Chief done something similar and caught*, they (surely) would be prosecuted as intensely, albeit on a local level.

*Let’s not forget that all this was caused by less than ten students passing by tweeting about it and a sports tabloid blog picking it up. That sentence is (kind of) terrifying to me. Has our private sphere disappeared so completely that any action any time is liable for public reprimanding should it receive enough social noise? If Deadspin never picks up those tweets, nothing happens. Damn, if no students tweet it, it doesn’t (really) exist. In wake of all these sports scandals during the past six months, something has crystallized: Like Winston’s fame and profile, this technology has tangible consequences. Had this happened three years ago, Winston wouldn’t be suspended. What’s the slippery slope to where common citizens are convicted in the same manner?

One truth is certain, though: Florida State needed to do something. The university has supported and stood behind him throughout everything. All of it could be defended away, but this: it’s just kind of stupid and unnecessary for Winston to do. Also, know that this incident is the one that has FSU alumni and booster most upset at Winston. They’re “extremely disappointed.” Try to work out that logic.* If FSU didn’t take a stand here, especially considering the social noise it caused, they’d be sending a message they had no control over the situation and Winston can do whatever he pleases.

*Well, again, how the hell do you defend that to mocking co-workers and bosses and friends and even yourself? There’s no “but, maybe…” to cling on to for “self-defense” other than sophomoric-level humor.

…Not that their punishment is really a punishment. FSU showed it has power, but threatening the team’s overall chances of winning in its biggest game of the year so far? They wouldn’t quite do that. Everyone feels good about what they did, especially the audience it was intended for, and it probably helps Winston more than it hurts him.

Because now, when Winston enters in the second half, the game will be in some contention. Maybe FSU is up a score, or down a couple points, but a threat will exist. And Winston can recapture that glory, lead his team over that hump, demonstrate how fundamentally necessary he is to the whole system, remind people why they love him, all while showing true compassion and regret for his actions. He made a “mistake” and now he’s “learned.” Maybe that won’t happen, but that’s what my money’s on. At that point, whatever happens Saturday, we won’t have any better idea who Jameis Winston is, but we’ll know a bit more about ourselves.

Editor’s note: These views are strictly my own and don’t represent anyone else’s.