Jack Nicklaus is not shy about sharing his opinions on anything from the sport that made him rich and famous (give Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson a break, lose the task force) to politics (there’s nary a Republican candidate for anything the 18-time major winner won’t support). And now Nicklaus has weighed in on college football, coming to the defense of Jameis Winston in the Florida State QB’s autographs flap.
Jack Nicklaus defends Jameis Winston in autographs flap
Jameis Winston has an ally in Jack Nicklaus.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nicklaus’ grandson, Nick O’Leary, is a star tight end for FSU and has been one of Winston’s top pass-catching targets for the last two seasons.
“I just hate to see them hammering a 20-year-old kid,” Nicklaus told the Palm Beach Post on Saturday. “Has he made mistakes? Maybe. But you’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, I think. Not charged and convicted and sentenced.”
The Florida State quarterback’s autographs showing up in droves on an authentication site would seem to be the least of the issues for the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner. There was the sexual assault accusation and the whole stealing crab legs incident, which Michelle Wie playfully sent up on Twitter on Tuesday.
"@JamieKuhn: @themichellewie took the last crab leg #BlameJameis pic.twitter.com/ZtFUDxEjNp"
— Michelle Wie (@themichellewie) October 21, 2014 Nicklaus, who has inked a few mementos in his time, somehow linked himself to Winston’s predicament.
“I wonder how many autographs I have out there. Every game I go to I sign, probably 20 or 25 [people] and four or five each. Start adding that up. And he’s a lot more available than I am. He’s not the only kid with a couple thousand out there. A bunch of those kids have to have a couple thousand.”
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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