Annie Apple, mother of Giants rookie defensive back Eli Apple, is getting checks off the strength of her sons NFL career. And he hasnt even played a down yet. I dont know if this is a classic case of media hyping and typical sheep journalism, or if his mom has a real future. But considering the culprits, Im going to play this by ear.
Already caking off of a job as a correspondent for ESPNs Sunday Countdown, Annie will also be writing a column for SI.com throughout the season. Her column is being touted as a behind-the-scenes-look at the unique experience of the mother of an NFL rookie.
Much props and respect to her, but at the end of the day, the question begs to be asked: is she just a loud, overbearing mom? A sweet lady and she did a fine job raising Eli and supporting his dream, but is ESPN really reaching, as is SI.com?
There’s no doubt she is one of America’s most vocal, comical and culturally aware Sports Moms. She’s also an avid tweeter (@SurvinAmerica) who combines honesty, humor and a pop culture swag with her motherly suggestions, advice and tough love for her son.
She’s also been on the homie Jemelle “Juice” Hill’s ESPN show, “His & Hers.” Getting co-signed by those two pop culture taste-makers is a stepping stone to stardom.
(Photo Credit: espnmediazone.com)
America first got a kick out of Annie’s tweets when she responded to a scout who said Eli’s Draft stock takes a hit because he has “no life skills.”
She went in on the anonymous scout and from her first confrontational tweet, her legend was born.
When Annie’s piece, which included a nugget about not letting the 20-year-old Eli wear a Rolex to Draft Day, dropped in SI, it was a wrap. She was an overnight celebrity.
Annie wrote about the draft experience in which she revealed that she told her son “no fancy jewelry”…because he was a jobless kid right out of college.
“Eli was offered Rolex watches and diamonds to wear on draft day. I told him, ‘Dude, you’re an unemployed college dropout. You will not be on TV with a Rolex,'” Annie wrote. “So we decided if he needed to know what time it was, he could just look at his phone. I bought him a portable charger.”
She’s a natural on the screen and her philosophies and beliefs are on point. Her on-camera persona is captivating.
However, let’s look at this from Eli’s perspective. While he supports his mom 100 percent in anything that gives her fulfillment, I personally don’t see how a pro athlete’s mom giving personal insight on a team her rookie son is on could mesh well with the other guys in the locker room, coaches and management. The last thing Eli needs is the distraction of his mothers broadcast journalism career as he transitions to the grueling next level. He didn’t make it anywhere yet. Let the boy get off his feet first!
By all means, take advantage of New Yorks myriad marketing opportunities, but Annie, this is your sons dream, not yours. Let him get his feet wet with the NY media and the fans and experience the harsh realities of failure and glorious successes that a New York player lives.
He is entering shark-filled waters filled with demanding owners, new coaches under pressure, a GM whose time is running short, c’hip thirsty fans, a carnivorous media and a mom with no chill button.
She says she doesn’t live Tweet during the game and doesn’t discuss team business. So all thats left is for her to be is the loud mom, and the TV world has had enough of those reality show cliches.
Seems like another desperate act by ESPN to be cool and fake inclusive.
I just wish Annie had a pause button. She could have waited a season or two for him to assimilate into the league. Its time to let Eli become a man and he doesnt need his mom stealing his shine or getting in his way as he establishes his own identity.
