We love our heroes.
What’s the anatomy of the mythologization of an athlete? For some, it’s manifest. An iconic play. A dominant season. An outlandish personality. Being or not being the guy before/after the other guy.
But, take the case of Joe Burrow. Burrow just completed one above-average season as LSU’s quarterback. And yet, he carries a mythology that I dare say Jamarcus Russell never will to the bulk of the LSU fanbase. And no, I’m not ignoring the racial component to this either. Looks at Burrow’s numbers in year 4 next to Russell’s in year 3.