DEREK SEDAM
Staff Writer
Matt Leinart’s day started out simply.
He met his best friend and significant other for a day out in his new stomping ground of Scottsdale. They meet for dinner, as they are in town to see how he is holding up away from home.
After a few drinks and a great meal in one of the nicest restaurants in Scottsdale, the significant other says she is tired and has to fly out in the morning for her own work.
This is where things get a little strange.
Somehow things snowballed for the feared Nick Lachey/ Matt Leinart duo into what is now a hot topic for pretty much everyone to comment on.
For a while they were among the most feared lady-killers on the Hollywood circuit.
Now, their game reeks of mediocrity after the two had a “private” party with a few barely legal co-eds, not to mention ones that don’t exactly compare to former flames Paris Hilton or Jessica Simpson (cue the Brody Jenner/ Frankie Delgado high-five).
Welcome to Leinart-Gate.
The pictures surfaced on the Internet, as Leinart had to assume they would, of him being ever the gentleman.
He was so kind to provide his beer bong and hot tubs to the four girls.
They repaid him by sending the photos to various gossip Web sites, causing havoc in the state of Arizona that their professional quarterback can’t get it done.
Newsflash — he can’t.
Matt Leinart needs to grow up.
We all know that for some, it’s hard to leave the college world behind.
We see “those guys” at the parties we attend. Even with a degree at such a prestigious place such as Pepperdine or Southern California, where Leinart spent five years (and ballroom danced for No.-5), the need to live out the prime days of your life is natural.
The average joes like us can get away with it. We don’t start our professional careers right away. Baby steps lead to building blocks. We need an occasional trip back to Malibu to let off a little stress.
For Leinart, who makes millions of dollars a year, already has a child and an entire state’s professional football team on his back, what he does in his spare time needs to better himself and his future for said kid and team.
His immaturity on (Kurt Warner has replaced him each of his first two seasons) and off the field leads to serious questions.
Was the infamy that Leinart made for himself at USC worth the dollars the Arizona Cardinals gave him?
The fame has clearly gone into keeping up his image more as a “do-good celebrity” than it has to working on rehabilitating his injured left collarbone.
Baby-mama Brynn Cameron (whom Leinart broke up with before she announced the pregnancy) started a tabloid he-said-she-said war commenting on Leinart using their newborn son as a media tool rather than actually spending time with the tyke.
Cardinals coach Ken Wisenhunt said although he was deeply “disappointed that those pictures showed up,” he praised Leinart’s ability to be appointed a celebrity endorser of the American Red Cross. Anybody buy that?
At 24 years of age, it’s time for the former Heisman Trophy winner to accept his spot in the limelight as celebrity, father and athlete.
Tom Brady gets photographed everywhere he goes. From dating Gisele Bundchen to attending every swank party on the East Coast, Brady is king.
Brady has three Super Bowl rings, an MVP trophy and 100 wins.
Leinart has more interceptions than touchdowns.
Matt, next time leave Lachey and the beer bong at home.
04-03-2008