Last year, when John Terry, the Chelsea captain, and formerly the captain with England, was widely and understandably criticized, for allegedly having an affair with the former girlfriend of his former team-mate Wayne Bridge, I wondered what the reaction would be if a player attached to a more popular team, like Manchester United, were caught up in some kind of scandal ? Would that player be treated as harshly by the media and the fans as Terry was ? As a result of the out-cry by the media and the public,Terry was stripped of his captaincy with England.
Sure enough, allegations swirled around Wayne Rooney in September, suggesting that he paid for the services of a prostitute while his wife was pregnant. Unlike the outrage that was oozing from near and far about Terry, the initial reaction from some media sources and fans, seemed to be very muted, only making reference to it in very sterile terms, generally referencing it as personal matters. There was initially, very little criticism that went along with it. Could it be that some of the journalists covering the sport, are fans of both Manchester United and Wayne Rooney ? I wouldn’t doubt that the mostly subtle comments by some journalists and many fans surrounding the star-striker, stemmed from their admiration of his past stardom on the pitch.
Adding to this suspicion, was the the tip toeing by some in the media, when Rooney quickly switched from doubting the future of the Red Devils in terms of their intent to spend money on improving their roster, and his initial comments about signing on with a rival team, like Manchester City, Real Madrid, or Chelsea, and within a few days of expressing his displeasure with the club, and questioning the current roster of the team, to signing a 5 year deal with United, that some estimate to be worth more than $400,000 per week. There was vey little criticism of the tactics used by him and his agent, Paul Stretford. Rooney got some well deserved criticism from many journalists, for telling off England supporters at the World Cup in South Africa, after the Three Lions played to a draw with Algeria. As detailed in Wikipedia, the former Everton player told the fans: “ Nice to see your home fans boo you, that’s loyal supporters.” To his credit, Rooney did apologize for his inappropriate remarks towards the England supporters in South Africa. According to media reports, the Liverpool native and some of his England team-mates did receive some boos at Wembley, during their first friendly match after the World Cup, so there was some equal treatment for all in that situation.
Among the journalists,- and I can’t say that I know or have read or heard a of them,- that I have found who do not play favorites, and treat all athletes the same way, are James Lawton of The Independent, in the U.K., who's work is reprinted in the Toronto Sun. Others who are even handed on serious issues, and to his credit will even criticize Rooney, even though he is a Manchester United fan, include Gareth Wheeler of the Toronto Sun, and Sun TV’s “The Grill Room”.Similarly, Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star, has taken a very even handed approach in covering soccer stories. There may be many more that I have not mentioned, and more than likely, it is because I have not seen or heard their work on this topic. I am mostly referring to what seems to be a more gentle approach to dealing with Rooney by some media and fans, than was the case with John Terry last season and through to the World Cup.
Wayne Rooney, until the start of the World Cup, has been on a level with some of the very best strikers in the world. I have never met the man,so I can’t comment on him in any kind of personal way. I can only write on what I observe from a distance. He deserves a second chance like anyone else. John Terry deserves the same even handed treatment from the media and fans as well. The scorn that Terry received from many, was on a much louder level,and more cynical one, than what was dished out to his England team-mate, Wayne Rooney.