While LeBron James became the biggest sports star in Northeast Ohio history, there was a time when Johnny Manziel had a shot at becoming something special in the region himself. The Texas A&M quarterback was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2014, and although there were real concerns about him, some thought he would be huge in the NFL.
In fact, shortly after Manziel was drafted, Skip Bayless boldly tweeted that he would “one day be bigger in Cleveland than” James ever was.
That didn’t exactly happen. Manziel played poorly and lasted just two seasons in the NFL, and he had an array of off-the-field problems.
Manziel and James have been friends for a while (James is a big Browns fan), but when the former signal-caller was asked who he thought the greatest NBA player of all time is, he didn’t pick James. He didn’t even pick Michael Jordan, whom many still feel is the greatest player in basketball history.
Instead, Manziel went with the late great Kobe Bryant and said he loves Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality.”
.@ChandlerParsons "MJ or LeBron?"@JManziel2 "Can I be a Kobe guy? I love the Mamba Mentality, that's right up my alley."
📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/SdeqZRxxCE
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 20, 2024
Over the years, Bryant attracted a big following, and many of today’s players, not just in the NBA but also in other sports leagues, have cited him as a major influence, if not a mentor.
Here’s hoping Manziel truly adopts the “Mamba Mentality” and overcomes his personal demons to, at the very least, become an inspiration to others who are facing difficult circumstances.
