Watching Florida State’s Xavier Beitia sobbing in the
middle of the field last Saturday, I, myself, was also reduced to
tears.
Tears of laughter, that is.
Beitia missed a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have given
the Seminoles a monumental road victory over No. 1 Miami. Moments
after the Hurricanes clinched a 28-27 victory when the kick sailed
wide of the left upright as time expired, the Florida State
sophomore lay whimpering at the 35-yard line.
After being helped to the locker room by his teammates, a
crushed Beitia wept in his mother’s arms in the training room
and did not emerge until it was time to board the team bus.
George Blanda must be turning over in his grave.
Either this was all part of an elaborate plot by Beitia to
secure an endorsement opportunity in the lucrative tissue paper
market, or it was the most publicized nervous breakdown since
Andrew Golota literally folded in a corner within seconds against
Lennox Lewis.
Not to sound harsh, but after watching Beitia bawling like a
baby on national television, I would not be surprised if this guy
is spending his Saturdays on a black leather couch in a padded room
staring at inkblots ““ not between the hash marks at Doak
Walker Stadium.
If nothing else, Florida State trainers should now carry a
package of Kleenex with them on the sidelines at all times in case
Beitia shanks another kick.
With the stigma that already exists surrounding the position, a
heavily publicized incident like this one can only add to the
perception that kickers are softer than days-old cottage
cheese.
Just as Jillian Barberie has set back female sportscasters 30
years with her scandalous outfits and outrageous antics on the Fox
NFL Pregame Show, Beitia has obliterated any shred of credibility
that kickers had left on the football field.
In fact this has to be the most embarrassing emotional display
on the gridiron since ““ well ““ since another kicker,
the Arizona Cardinal’s Bill Gramatica, collapsed on the field
in agony after tearing up his knee celebrating a game-winning field
goal last season.
Kickers are already the butt of many-a-joke, but imagine the
barrage of insults that Beitia will face in opposing stadiums after
his “Days of Our Lives”-esque performance on
Saturday.
Can you imagine if a 350-pound offensive tackle missed a block
that led to a crucial sack and started openly sobbing in the middle
of the field?
Perhaps kickers truly are a different breed after all.
Beitia could not compose himself enough to speak to the media
after the game, but the university did issue a statement from him
that read “I was not nervous. I was thinking, “˜Just
make the kick, just make the kick.’ Was it a bad snap or a
bad hold? I don’t know the answer.”
Show some back bone Xavier; take responsibility for your role in
the loss. And, above all else, spare me the sob story.