Jermaine Kearse Knows the World is Watching

Every single interaction between members of the media and professional football players will be magnified during Super Bowl Week, especially on Media Day.  The media masses who have been summoned to NYC this week understand this better than anyone, and it seems Seattle’s wide receiver Jermaine Kearse has a grasp on this concept as well.

Before I asked the Seahawks receiver a single question at Tuesday’s Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day, he asked me “Are you going to write anything bad about me?”  “I just wanted to let you know I’m gonna read this,” Kearse added, referring to this article.  He was the first and only player to ask me that question, and the only player to remind me just how important it is for journalists to remember that they are being watched as well.

When I asked what his favorite experience of being a part of the Super Bowl has been so far, Kearse told me “Talking to you guys, that’s my favorite part.”  My follow up question was regarding his least favorite experience to this point, and Kearse told me “Talking to you guys.”

While Kearse may have been joking about his favorite and least favorite Super Bowl experiences, he definitely didn’t show anything negative in person, or on Twitter for that matter:

Had a great time at media day, now time to relax!

— Jermaine Kearse (@chopchop_15) January 28, 2014

Kearse was also one of the few players to wear a GoPro camera for the duration of Media Day, juxtaposing all of the cameras and microphones that have put him under the spotlight this week.  This is just another example of Kearse keeping an eye on the swarm of reporters and journalists- that encompassed the Prudential Center on Tuesday (myself included)- whose job it is to watch players such as Kearse.

There is a sufficient amount of examples of Kearse’s big play ability on the field, such as his 35-yard, fourth-and-seven game winning touchdown catch that sent Seattle to the Super Bowl.  Here is a fan’s perspective of the biggest touchdown in Kearse’s career.

However, it’s off the field where fans can’t keep an eye on the undrafted second year player out of the University of Washington.  The Super Bowl’s famous Media Day gave this reporter, as well as fans, an inside look at Kearse’s off the field intellectual ability.

Players at the 2015 Super Bowl could learn a thing or two from the way Kearse handled Media Day in ’14.  On the biggest stage in the sports world, Kearse brought to light that while athletes are held to a high standard from journalists, athletes hold journalists to a high standard as well.  Once a sports journalist forgets that reporting professional sports is a two-way street, all credibility is lost.  I’d like to thank Jermaine for reminding me of this crucial component of the sports journalism industry, and for implanting it in my mind so I can’t possibly forget it.