Johnny Manziel is the most popular rookie in America’s most popular sport, so it’s no surprise that other sports are trying to get into the Johnny Football business.
First it was the San Diego Padres, who drafted Manziel even though Manziel has no interest in playing professional baseball. Now it’s the Harlem Globetrotters, who announced today that they have drafted Manziel as well.
The whole idea of the Globetrotters having a “draft” is, of course, simply an effort to generate attention. The point of a draft is to divide players among different teams in the same league. The Globetrotters are in a league of their own and don’t need to draft anyone. Other players the Globetrotters “drafted” include soccer player Landon Donovan, the two brothers of likely high NBA Draft pick Andrew Wiggins, two winners of college slam dunk contests and 7-foot-5 New Mexico center Sim Bhullar.
“Johnny Manziel is a fantastic athlete that knows how to be entertaining,” said Sweet Lou Dunbar, the Globetrotters’ director of player personnel. “‘Johnny Basketball’ has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
Johnny Football has a better ring to it.