Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez opens up on OCD after pre-kick routine goes viral
NY Post
Social media was ablaze with jokes for Commanders’ kicker Zane Gonzalez until those fans realized that the comments were pointing out his long-standing battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
After being shown on camera going through an unorthodox pre-kick routine during Sunday’s wild-card win over the Buccaneers, Gonzalez became the subject of jokes on social media — and even a few quips were made by the NBC broadcast — after he doinked in a game-winning field goal in the 23-20 triumph.
NBC’s Mike Tirico chuckled that it was no time for a “fashion malfunction” as the camera panned to Gonzalez touching his head and playing with his socks.
It apparently doesn’t bother Gonzalez anymore, but his wife, Lizzy Gonzalez, didn’t like the ensuing internet jokes, telling trolls to “scram” in a TikTok post.
“If anything, it makes my wife and family more upset than it does with me,” Gonzalez told The Washington Post. “I’m used to it. … Everybody that’s known or seen me kick has seen me do it millions of times. Being on such a big stage on Sunday night, a game-winner, it draws a little bit more attention, I’ve learned. It’s who I am, and it’s what I go through, and I, above everybody else, realize how crazy it looks doing it. I’m aware. But at the same time, you can’t help it.”
Gonzalez has had to answer questions about his OCD for much of his career after being selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
We might as well start talking about this now. As early as next Tuesday, it’s at least possible that Carlos Beltran will earn the 75 percent of the vote necessary to gain entrance to the Hall of Fame. And when that happens — if not now, then some year soon — it’s going to be a most interesting thing to watch how Mets fans react.