Duke's Gerald Henderson Deserves More Publicity?

Every now and then a sports analyst says something on air that just blows your mind. I'm talking really stupid stuff, the kind of remark that truly makes you question the speaker's sanity. Dick Vitale delivered such a comment during ESPN's "Feast Week," as he revealed a collection of super sophomores, players he believes "flew under the radar" as freshmen and who deserve far more ink over the coming season. One of his designated underrated players: Gerald Henderson of Duke.

Now, granted, Vitale is both legendary and unabashed in his love for Duke Basketball. It is therefore not surprising that at least one Duke player appeared on his list. But what is incredible is that the man would, in any way, suggest that Gerald Henderson "flew under the radar," or that Henderson was somehow short-changed in the publicity department during his freshman year.

The irony here is not the utter lunacy of suggesting that any Duke player could ever be media underrated. Nor is it the fact that this particular player was touted as the next great college impact player before he ever set foot on campus. (Vitale himself wrote multiple columns touting this "special newcomer" while Henderson was still in high school.)

No, the problem here is that Henderson, as one of Vitale's heralded "Diaper Dandies," earned and received coast to coast headlines, commentary, and notoriety for the dirtiest play in college basketball history. Somehow, a mere five games later, Henderson is being portrayed as a quiet, unassuming, underrated player worthy of more positive press. The suggestion is nothing short of a journalistic outrage.