My take.
Sure it exists, and it NOT A CONTROVERSY. It's not really all that uncommon.
Do you think that Tiger Woods gets hammered by the commentators when he totally blows a shot? Heck no! Even the ever watchful Johnny Miller falls prey to the Tiger butt kissing. Soon as Tiger blows a shot or does something stupid, they don't say, "that was stupid" or "he choked" they say "his knee is hurting" or "there was mud on the ball". He's Tiger Woods for goodness sake! He wouldn't do something stupid, or something completely ordinary like shank one into the woods, he is simply incapable!
Maybe you don't watch golf. Substitute Michael Jordan and basketball.
Halos don't move you UP necessarily, but they have a tendency to make onlookers more "forgiving" of your glaring errors.
The City Smasher