This has been quite the sour year for those involved in hero worship -- and we're not quite free of January yet.
We recently found out Lance Armstrong cheated. A lot. We found out Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o had a mythical girlfriend and, at the very least, lied about her even after he knew she was fictional. This week, media outlets, themselves not exactly pristine in their reputation, reported Ray Lewis cheated recently by using preformance enhancing drugs derived from deer antlers to help him recover from his triceps injury. (Lewis has denied the allegation). Then there was the link between Alex Rodriguez and a PED lab.
And now a Dan Marino affair and love child comes to light.
You read right.
Marino, the Dolphins legend, former NFL Man of the Year, and someone whose career enjoyed a squeeky clean image, apparently had an affair and fathered a child with a former CBS production assistant in 2005, according to this report in today's New York Post.
Marino has been working on the CBS Sunday afternoon pregame show since 2003 and is scheduled to be on that show this Sunday prior to Super Bowl 47.
The report is more than just an allegation.
Marino, married 28 years to Claire, released a statement to the newspaper admitting to the affair.
"I take full responsibility both personally and financially for my actions now as I did then," he said in the statement. "We mutually agreed to keep our arrangement private to protect all parties involved."
The paper reports Marino paid Donna Savattere "millions" to keep the affair private. She has since married someone else.
Marino has six children, including two adopted girls, with Claire. They are apparently still together. I saw them Sunday at the Dan Marino Foundation event at Sun Life Stadium.
There are ironies here: Chloe was born only a couple of months before Marino was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This story was confirmed by the Post on Wednesday, the day Marino and his wife celebrated their 28th anniversary.
It is unclear if Marino's bosses at CBS are aware he was having a relationship with Savattere. The network does have at several levels guidelines forbidding co-workers from becoming involved, according to a network source.
It is also unclear whether Marino's reputation will suffer once news of this affair spreads.
Tiger Woods, for example, lost sponsorships, his marriage and his sporting career was derailed when allegations of his habitual cheating became public. It is not known if Marino's dalliance is limited to one woman.
Things Marino did well is not deny what is apparently true. He also moved to take care of the kid financially. I assume he also made this known to Claire because one does not simply extract "millions" from the bank without the wife knowing.
The moral of this?
People are flawed. We make mistakes. We fall. All of us.
Hero worship is a bad idea.
WHO CARES...A MAN WITH A LOT OF MONEY ....
DOES WHATEVER HE WANTS..AS LONG HE HAS MONEY ,NO WRONG,,,,
LIFE
IS
SHORT..
Posted by: ALoco | January 31, 2013 at 01:57 PM
Kris,
I'm not sure I heard back from you on your Tannehill comments from a couple of days ago. Surprised to read some of the things you said.
I guess I'm having a hard time understanding how you can be so tough on Tannehill and yet Philbin gets a completely free pass. Shouldn't there be tempered expectations on both guys from day one?
Posted by: Craig M | January 31, 2013 at 02:00 PM
I hope he gets fired. He has no business on tv. He's a 2 time loser.
Posted by: Derek | January 31, 2013 at 02:01 PM
Bev is jealous, he doesnt know what cheating actually looks like anymore with another woman at least. Dont worry stalker boy, its not considered cheating to choose the left hand over the right one when master-bating.
JUST SO YOU KNOW!!
Posted by: CMON!!! | January 31, 2013 at 02:02 PM
Isn't bev a woman's name?
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | January 31, 2013 at 02:05 PM
Kris,
Sorry, got tied up on a phone call for a bit there. Cleanse went really well, thanks for asking. Dropped about 12 pounds all told. But more importantly, I feel better, sleep better and have more energy. And with the exception of a few idiots on here I have a lot more patience and tolerance.
I'm 45 now and as you guys will find out all too soon, going to the gym just isn't the only answer any more. I'm at the gym 3-4 times a week but it just doesn't come off as quickly as it used to.
How's the cross fit going? You're a BRAVE man to be doing it. I hear it can be Hell!!....
Posted by: Craig M | January 31, 2013 at 02:05 PM
ANY ONE IS SURPRISED BY THIS,IS A BROWN DONKEY,,,
FOOTBALL STAR
ON THE ROAD
MARRIED MORE THAN 20 YEARS..
HE NEEDS A CHANGE,PLUS CHEATING IS A BEAUTIFUL THING..
Posted by: ALoco | January 31, 2013 at 02:06 PM
Craig,
Tempered expectations from an early 1st rd pick?? Maybe from a 5th or 6th rder.
Posted by: Shula 73 | January 31, 2013 at 02:07 PM
Hero worship?
Are you serious? Marino is a human being. We all make mistakes. If Marino's biggest mistake in his life up until this point was having some affairs and getting some chick knocked up then he hasn't done too bad for himself in my eyes.
In my line of work I work one on one with the worst of the worst. Some guys you struggle to even look at. Other guys who have done serious crimes you see aren't bad people just bad choices along the way. Some caught up in their surroundings like gang members, organized crime, etc. But cheating on your wife lol. Are you serious?
This is not ground breaking news. It's a shame it makes the news as much as it does. Who cares what Marino has done. Do I look at Marino any differently now then I ever have? You can't be serious. Marino made a mistake and he and his family have to live with it not us. Thanks for the great memories Dan. You'll always be Dan the Man to me.
Posted by: AndyNJ | January 31, 2013 at 02:07 PM
Shula 73,
Yeah you're right. Brees, Aikman, Elway and Eli Manning were STARS right out of the gate.
Are you new to football?
Posted by: Craig M | January 31, 2013 at 02:10 PM
This news is troubling that he had to cheat. I wonder what else he cheated at.
Posted by: Shula 73 | January 31, 2013 at 02:11 PM
Craig,
Are you in Canada?
Posted by: Shula 73 | January 31, 2013 at 02:13 PM
shula,
even if he cheated on other THINGS,HE STILL DIDN'T WIN ANY THING ,,...
Posted by: ALoco | January 31, 2013 at 02:13 PM
as far as football goes, it wont change what marino has done for the game and what he accomplished in miami, no more than it did for killer OJ in buffalo or LT in NY. People still consider them great football players and HOF worthy.......
Personally HERO WORSHIP is a bit overdone in terms of sports athletes, I liked wathcing marino growing up, but in no time was I held in AWWW in his every move, only cared what he did on the field of play, and didnt really pay attention to what went on off it, thats his business and nobody elses...(unless it involves killing ppl or selling drugs to kids)just sayin!!!
Posted by: superPHIN | January 31, 2013 at 02:16 PM
Does not change my opinion about Marino, no way, no how. As a retired police officer w/ approx 30 yrs on the street, I can report that all of us are human and we do make mistakes. And we will never stop making mistakes. Dpnt pass judgement on anyone. "Those without sin may cast the first stone".
its a crying shame the media for some reason thinks they are above it all and free to report anyone no matter if they have proof or not.
Posted by: DragonFly34 | January 31, 2013 at 02:16 PM
Not sure how a Dolphins fan can hate the best QB the team ever had. Just wierd.
Posted by: CommonSense | January 31, 2013 at 02:16 PM
CANDA IS KNOWN TO BE A NICE PLACE ,WHERE CIVIL PEOPLE LIVE AND UNEMPLOYMENT @ 6%...
Posted by: ALoco | January 31, 2013 at 02:16 PM
I imagine Marino did PED's like Lance Armstrong did.....and other drugs too. Where theres smoke theres fire.
Posted by: AtlFin | January 31, 2013 at 02:18 PM
Mando, why do you feel the need to report this incident? Just wondering,,,,
Posted by: DragonFly34 | January 31, 2013 at 02:18 PM
Griese was the best QB the team ever had.
Posted by: GetSense | January 31, 2013 at 02:21 PM
Griese was the best QB the team ever had.
Posted by: GetSense | January 31, 2013 at 02:21 PM
Why, becuase Griese won a SB, so if flacco and B-more dont win sunday, does that mean Trent Dilfer was the greatest QB in Ravens history also??
Posted by: No Sense | January 31, 2013 at 02:23 PM
Just looked up photos of the marino mistress. Not bad - nice rack.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | January 31, 2013 at 02:25 PM
Why do reporters report some negatives?
Posted by: Homer w/rose colored glasses | January 31, 2013 at 02:25 PM
Shula73,
I'm in Canada. What does that mean? Let me guess....we don't know football or follow football in Canada, right? You have to be in Miami to know what you're talking about, right?
Ignorance knows no end on here some times.....
Posted by: Craig M | January 31, 2013 at 02:26 PM
It seems like a new scandal comes out every day now. This is crazy
Posted by: Honey... what's for dinner?.. Deer Antlers! | January 31, 2013 at 02:26 PM
Griese was a winner.
Posted by: GetSense | January 31, 2013 at 02:28 PM
I spent about $400 for an authentic Marino jersey a few years back, one of three I own (also have a JT and a Ricky Williams jersey). It won't cause me to have any less pride wearing it than I did before.
I will agree with Kris, though....he SUCKS on TV. VERY wooden!!
Posted by: Craig M | January 31, 2013 at 02:28 PM
The Marino no superbowl thing is just stupid.
Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Bruce Smith, Junior Seau, Jason Taylor, Bert Jones, Bobby Lane, Warren Moon, Sammy Baugh, Fouts, Tarkenton, Sterling Sharpe, Steve Largent, Thurman Thomas...
ect...
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 02:32 PM
It is a Team Game, pals.
Posted by: oscar canosa | January 31, 2013 at 02:36 PM
Marino never accomplished the goal of the game. So he cant be on the highest rung.
Posted by: TGH | January 31, 2013 at 02:36 PM
I agree Poizen, takes a team and some luck to win a superbowl. Isn't a great metric for judging a single player.
Posted by: CommonSense | January 31, 2013 at 02:38 PM
Hope his wife divorces that JACKASS!
Posted by: Debbie | January 31, 2013 at 02:44 PM
When Marino threw an INT he ran out of bounds LIKE A WUSSY GIRL!
Posted by: Dont touch me Dan | January 31, 2013 at 02:50 PM
Marino's last 5yrs as a Dolphin he was only "king of the pic 6". You would have to had been living underneath a rock for those final years not to know this.
Or suffer from "fatal homerism". LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:00 PM
Now we find Marino threw a "pic 6" in his marriage. The "opposing team"(mistress) scored a td(illegitimate child).
Marino is still "king of the pic 6". The other team always scores! LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:03 PM
Dolphins beginning to make some moves.
Posted by: oscar canosa | January 31, 2013 at 03:08 PM
YG, how is that different than any other superstar?
YPC for Emmitt Smith in AZ. Chris Carter in Miami.
Brett Favre, and Joe Montana. They all kinda made the playoffs, but made more bad plays than when they were younger.
Kind of a captain obvious statement that leads to little point...
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 03:08 PM
Never owned a "Marino jersey" nor cared to ever own one. For me, Marino represents the "greatest choke artist" in Miami Dolphins history.
Boo-hooo.... Marino never had a good enough run game or defense. Hell, if he's supposedly and arguably the greatest ever, he shouldnt have needed one.
The Ravens great defense won a sb championship without an entire offense. That's why their supposedly and arguabley considered the "greatest defense" ever.
Anymore flimsy excuses for "fishbone larynx" Marino? LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:10 PM
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 03:08 PM
They all have sb championship rings. Thats even more captain obvious.
I merely made a true staement about Marino's last 5yrs. Highlighting not only had he become a "pic machine", he had become a "pic 6 machine".
Emmitt didnt become a fumbling machine, Montana/Favre didnt become "pic 6" machines. We could only wish Marino's final 5 seasons were as good as Montana and Favre's.
Compare the final 5 season of Montan/Favre/Marino. Then tell me if Marino's final 5 are remotely close. I would take Montana/Favre in their final 5 seasons in a hearbeat over Marino in his final 5 seasons.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:19 PM
Poizen,
Seems you suffer from "near fatal Marino homerism" too. LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:20 PM
YG did Ray Lewis win it or did the defense? Did pro-bowl running back Jamal Lewis have anything to do with it? the 2000 yard guy, Priest Holmes, Shannon sharpe?
It is a team game, your making the point for everyone but yourself... lol
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 03:21 PM
ummmm, how is that YG, What part of my statement is incorrect? Thought so...
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 03:22 PM
Marino lost his feet after his Achilles heel injury. Without his great footwork, he was never the same.
Posted by: oscar canosa | January 31, 2013 at 03:23 PM
Im a huge dolfan and I would never try and defend anyone bringing up points against Marino. They stick out like an overbloated sore thumb.
Trying to defend Marino is absolutely futile. One would have to be a "true blind homer" to even attempt this. Marino is exactly what he is.
Pouring honey over s h i t doesn not enhance its appearance. LOL....
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:23 PM
Your attempt at being funny does not overshadow your ignorance of this topic. You must have never played a team sport in your life.
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 03:27 PM
IMO, Marino is a POS choke artist that Don Shula stuck with for far too long. Jimmy Johnson's first mission as hc was to try and phase him out. JJ knew that all the dolfan homers would go nuts if he came in and cut Marino right away. So he tried to phase him to "unwing nutty Marino fans"
JJ's problem was that he couldnt pick a great offensive player if you buried him underneath them.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:28 PM
Yea, Yea,Yea, I hear all of that but he has a beautiful and healthy daughter that he has taking responsibility for. God has blessed him, sometimes we just can't see what is really important in life.
Posted by: khalyd | January 31, 2013 at 03:30 PM
poizen, does henne still have it in your expert opinion? for a couple years there, you became one with his jock strap.
Posted by: what a blow hard | January 31, 2013 at 03:33 PM
Poizen,
All this is, is your opinion vs mine. Dont get upset. We dont have to have the same opinion. We are not clones.
I just happen to see Marino as a POS choke artist qb and you dont. The world isnt coming to an end becuase we widely disagree with eachother's opinion.
IMO, Marino is a POS choke artist, yours is he isnt. But the fact that he's been to numerous playoffs and only 1 sb(loss), comes closer to proving Marino "always choked" on the big stage.
For me that's a slam dunk if presented in a court of law. LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:33 PM
Don't let Yg crank you up. He probably was Marino's greatest Fan but he has flipped now.
Posted by: oscar canosa | January 31, 2013 at 03:38 PM
Bob Griese is the "greatest qb in Fins history". He has 3 sb appearances and 2 sb championship rings to back that up.
If it were presented in a court of law, who's the greatest qb in Fins history, Marino or Griese? When "BIG STAGE" evidence is presented it wouldnt even be close.
GRIESE WINS GREATEST FINS QB EVER HANDS DOWN.
OH BTW, I OWN A GRIESE JERSEY, NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED BUYING A MARINO. LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:40 PM
I also own an autographed picture of Griese in the 72 playoffs vs Steelers. It hangs proudly from my office wall.
You wont find Marino nor marino's name on anything that "I" own. Never!
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:42 PM
I have no problem with disagreeing, but your comments make it seem that one does not agree with you, they must be out of their mind. To not acknowledge any of the other side makes no sense. It is a team sport, I do acknowledge Marino never won a ring, history will say that forever. And the opinion it is a team sport is a valid one.
Just saying.
Oh and for the troll using a fake name, AGAIN. I am well beyond Henne, he is not a dolphin anymore. Never saw his jockstrap, but it is nice that you in your mind like talking about them, that says a lot about your thoughts. And to answer the question. Yea, he still has talent to be good in the NFL, however I think his confidence may be close to shot, and his supporting cast in Jacksonville will be as bad as what he had here in Miami. We will see if he wins the job next year, but new coach means new QB most of the time.
Posted by: Poizen | January 31, 2013 at 03:43 PM
Hahaha, court of law, today YG is a lawyer. hahaha, have to get passed the third grade first.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | January 31, 2013 at 03:44 PM
BOW DOWN ALL...............................
HAIL RETARDOMONGUL @ MARCIA IN TORONTO IS "IN DA' HOUSE!
LOL...........................................................
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:47 PM
*past. should proof read before I send.
YG is still a knob.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | January 31, 2013 at 03:48 PM
claiming that henne still has talent would mean he had to have talent to begin with. having said that, you qualify for free psychiatric care.
Posted by: what a blow hard | January 31, 2013 at 03:52 PM
*past. should proof read before I send.
YG is still a knob.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | January 31, 2013 at 03:48 PM
RETARDOMONGUL @ MARCIA IN TORONTO,
BEFORE POSTING ONE NEEDS TO GET "PASSED" THE 3RD GRADE. ONE NEEDS TO LEARN TO SPELL A WORD LIKE "PAST" WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED TO SPELL CORRECTLY BEFORE "PASSING" 3RD GRADE.
PASSED MEANS YOU HANDED OFF OR THREW AN OBJECT RETARDOMONGUL @ MARCIA IN TORONTO. LOL.........
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:54 PM
Thanks YG for catching the error that I already corrected myself.
Now if this was a court of law ... who would get credit for that one??
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | January 31, 2013 at 03:56 PM
RETARDOMONGUL @ MARCIA IN TORONTO.................
TRUE RETARDOMONGOLISM STRIKES AGAIN!............. LOL...
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone 4Ever | January 31, 2013 at 03:57 PM