Odell deserves the full support of his fans
It is time for New York Giants fans to fully support Odell Beckham Jr. We have been waiting for more than two decades for a player like OBJ. He is transformational. He is a mega star. Odell attracts the same attention of defenses that Lawrence Taylor did of offenses during his Hall of Fame career.
Patiently waiting..
L.T. played out the majority of his career prior to my birth, or at least prior to my conscious existence. Since his retirement the Big Blue faithful have been waiting patiently for a player who impacts the game at that magnitude. It was somewhat of an easy and pleasant wait as the team has captured two Super Bowl trophies during this time. The journey was a tougher one than expected however. The Giants missed the playoffs more than they made during this run. The Eli Manning lead Giants just happen to truly capitalize on those few opportunities. Us fans are very thankful.
Here we are, the start of training camp 2017. We are fortunate as fans to have Eli Manning still running the offense. Amazingly enough Eli still has a perfect record of attendance. They say the best ability is availability. In that regard, Eli Manning is an A+ student. We also enter this camp with our fourth year having the chance to watch that transformational playmaker that we had been patiently awaiting.
Odell has arrived
Odell is just now entering his fourth year in the NFL and is still just 24-years old. At this point in his career and his life he is without a shadow of a doubt one of the five biggest names in our worlds professional sports landscape. He could easily be number one.
No one before him has accomplished more at the wide receiver position in their first three NFL seasons. Bleacher Report highlights the fact that Odell is the only player in NFL history to have 80+ catches and 1,000+ receiving yards in their first three seasons. He holds dozens of records for a player starting out their career. I don’t find the need to continue down this road much longer because this isn’t something that anyone tries to contest, or can contest of course.
One of a kind, once in a lifetime
There is no sense in trying to make comparisons because as far as I am concerned, Odell is one of a kind. On a daily basis he is told to be more like this, or more like that, always something different from himself. People expect for him to act like those before him and follow the mold, or else.
Just this week, NYDN writer Gary Myers wrote to OBJ essentially forewarning him of the likelihood that he will end up like some of the worst in the New York sports past. Daryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden were two great, but troubled New York athletes. Neither of them pales in comparison to that of Odell Beckham. After the release of Myers article he tweeted out a clarification declaring how Odell has of course never been in any legal trouble in his life. This is just one of the differences among OBJ and the former NY baseball players being discussed.
Odell the celebrity
Where Odell is truly different is his level of superstar. To expect that he is another replica of something we have seen in the past is so misguided. Everything from the way he trains, to the way he looks is a bit different from those who come before him. In his short time in the limelight he has become a hero to so many young athletes and young children. He has basically brought on a new demographic of New York Giants fans. Those who are just there to see Odell. I can honestly say that I have not gone a week in the last year without seeing someone sporting what we all know as “Odell hair.” He is an absolute icon, and still just a kid.
When Odell enters a room almost anywhere in the world he draws a crowd. To pretend that we all know how we would handle this type of fame and success is an out right lie. In our world it seems the more flamboyant a person appears the more they are criticized. Odell has a flamboyant appearance. He has had a few instances where his actions were in poor judgement. Everything he has ever done has been by way of his world-class passion and his one of a kind intensity. I suppose it his appearance and celebrity that are the source for the over abundance of criticism.
OBJ is a great teammate
Despite it all, his teammates love him. Big Blue View highlighted words from Justin Pugh captured on the Simms & Lefkoe Podcast last month.
"“I mean, there’s not many guys, in any sport, besides basketball — there’s maybe three or four guys who are on his level. He goes anywhere it’s a mob. Seeing him out in public, it’s a whole [different] level.”“It’s like this kid’s life is on a whole [different] level. So everyone always tries to tear him down, and I’m always like ‘imagine you are 24, 25 years old, had the world by the balls, everybody wants a piece of you, you have the hair so everybody recognizes you everywhere you go. It’s tough. I think he’s had his growing pains, but no one wants to win more than him, you can see it in how he plays.”"
Pugh is a guy who can speak for the whole team as he is the resident veteran on the offensive line, and a player who has become extremely reliable playing on the interior.
The world as we once knew it is over
Ultimately, I suppose this message is for the fans out there. The haters and critics will continue to be just that, haters and critics. But for Big Blue fans, Odell deserves all of our support. He is getting ripped this week for saying that he is hoping to be the highest paid player in the league, not just at his position. Odell knows his value to a franchise and thus is stating it.
We are living in the future, and in this new reality, football is just a part of a career for a superstar like Odell. The value he brings to New York warrants that he gets paid like he is the best player in the sport. He must continue to produce like he has in years past, and exceed those numbers. CBS sports outlined Odell himself saying that he has never entered a season feeling more prepared.
"“I think this might be the most [I’ve been ready] in my lifetime,” Beckham said, via ESPN.com. “In every which way, I just feel it there. … I’ve really been training, and to have these next six weeks to get another opportunity to train, it’s going to be great.”"
Enjoy the show..
I’ll take his word for it. OBJ knows better than anyone the repercussions of him not living up to what is expected of him. The thing is, Odell expects more from himself than any fan, hater or critic. He expects to be the best ever. Anyone in this world who ever has been the best at anything, has expected just that from themselves.
Fans, haters, and critics alike, just understand this. Odell does it for him and his, not us and ours. Lets just take a seat and watch the show, because so far, it’s the best I’ve ever seen.