ESPN’s Outside the Lines did a lengthy investigation into the role of academics in Florida State’s football program, and the report that ran on ESPN Sunday morning singled out one former Seminole, Antonio Cromartie, as a player who particularly struggled academically when he was on campus.
The Outside the Lines report quoted a former teammate and classmate of Cromartie’s as saying that Cromartie’s reading level was so low that he could only read a word or two every minute.
Cromartie, currently a San Diego Chargers cornerback, declined to be interviewed for the piece, and ESPN reported that Cromartie’s agent, Gary Wichard, also wouldn’t give an interview but did acknowledge that Cromartie has language deficiencies.
Although the tone of the ESPN report seemed to suggest that the Florida State investigation had uncovered something scandalous, the same facts could have just as easily been turned into a profile praising Cromartie for overcoming his learning disabilities and becoming a success in his chosen profession.
Perhaps if Cromartie had granted ESPN an interview, that’s what it would have been.