Anyway, this isn't really about American Football, it's about an American football player.
Now, before I tell you the story, bear in mind that more and more details are appearing every day. So, what was thought to be fact today, may not be tomorrow.
So, here it is, as far as I can gather, at present.
Manti Te'o is a linebacker for Notre Dame. Which if you know as much about American Football as I do, means he plays a defensive position for a college team in Indiana (I think)
This story is all about Manti, a 21 yr old who played his heart out in the face of huge, massive, devastating personal tragedy. Within only 6 hours, the poor guy got news that not only his grandmother had died, but his girlfriend as well.He played that day to honour the lives of his 2 lost loves and kicked the arse of Michigan State 20-3.
The media, being the media, got a hold of this story and hailed Manti as a hero, a man who in the face of adversity and overwhelming grief won the game and the hearts of everyone else.
Then..... 'Deadspin' got a bit of a tip off.Manti's girlfriend Lennay Kekua was not actually a real person, she has allegedly been made up by a 'mate' called Ronaiah Tuiasospo.
Confused? Yeah, me too.
Apparently for about 4 years or so, Manti had been in contact online with a gorgeous girl called Lennay who was a cousin of one of his friends. (Ronaiah's cousin)
The poor girl had been drawn through some awful events, she had a bad car accident and the was diagnosed with leukaemia. She went through a bone marrow transplant but died anyway.
What I don't get is how can Manti have called this girl his girlfriend when he hadn't met her and why didn't he realise that she wasn't real?
What happens now then?
In a statement, Manti said:
'This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her. To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating. It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother's death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life. I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick. I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious. If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was. Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I'm looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL Draft.'
Personally, if it is true and he didn't know he was being made to look like a twat, then I have the deepest sympathy for him. I don't mind looking like an arse when it's my own fault, but when someone who is meant to be mate does this, then it's pretty cruel.
Plus point is, Mel Grieg and Michael Christian are no longer on air in Australia....... So your safe there Manti.
