Editor’s note: Handshakes and Headshakes are my quick takes on local events, groups, or newsmakers whose actions, decisions or performance deserve to be celebrated or called out.
By all accounts, Ja’Marr Chase is everything you want in a franchise wide receiver: elite talent, poised leader, no drama. So it’s worth pausing for a moment to appreciate the way he handled a situation last week that, in a lesser man’s hands, could’ve spiraled into an unnecessary viral sideshow.
On a recent flight, Chase was recognized by a fellow passenger who demanded an autograph. When Chase didn’t sign, the fan made a loud scene, saying, “Should’ve signed that auto and I wouldn’t have blown your cover.” Translation: Give me what I want or I’ll make a public spectacle out of you.
Let’s be clear: That’s not fandom. That’s entitlement.
Chase signs plenty of autographs. Anyone who has seen him at training camp, after games, or in the community knows that he gives his time generously. But he − like any human being − has the right to say no. Pro athletes aren’t public property. They don’t clock in and out like traditional jobs, and fame doesn’t eliminate their right to privacy. Yet we live in an era where some fans act like buying a jersey gives them round-the-clock access to a celebrity’s life.
That’s not support. That’s exploitation.
What’s worse, this fan didn’t just ask for an autograph − he tried to trap Chase into giving a reaction. He wanted a moment, not a signature. And when he didn’t get what he wanted, he tried to manufacture drama in front of a captive audience 30,000 feet in the air. In other words, he wasn’t cheering for Chase. He was using him.
And yet, Chase didn’t take the bait. He could’ve clapped back, snapped a biting reply, or done the Griddy on this dude down the aisle of the plane − and nobody would’ve blamed him.
But he didn’t.
He stayed calm, quiet, and unbothered. That’s not just maturity; that’s brilliance. That’s how you stay out of bad headlines and keep the focus on what matters: football.
The truth is, most of us can’t fathom what it’s like to be so famous that a simple flight becomes a minefield of phone cameras, autograph hounds, and internet trolls hoping to bait you into a viral meltdown. We can’t grasp how exhausting that must be − or how much restraint it takes to smile through it.
So let’s give Chase his flowers. Not just for winning the 2024 receiving triple crown. Not just for torching DBs on Sundays. But for showing grace under pressure − not the kind that comes on third and long, but the kind that comes when people forget you’re human.
This city is lucky to have Ja’Marr Chase. Not just because he’s a stud between the lines, but because he carries himself with dignity beyond them. Cincinnati should be proud − and real fans should be protective of players who handle themselves like this.
Because the guy trying to hijack a plane ride for attention? That’s not a fan. That’s a clown.
And Chase didn’t give him the circus.
Diehard Bengals fan and Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge can be reached at kaldridge@enquirer.com. X, formerly known as Twitter: @kevaldrid. You can message him with any recommendations for handshakes or headshakes.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ja’Marr Chase showed class while a fake Bengals fan showed out | Opinion
Reporting by Kevin S. Aldridge, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
