OK, I get as a member of the media we have to report on more then just sports...Box scores and X's and O's just don't sell, especially on the radio. It was a reward to share the moments of Thom's family leading up to the birth of his grandchild, that is why we all could relate...we were all tied in. We love the story, the feel good story, or the bad guy to good guy redemption story...either way we love a winner. Yet one thing we as human beings simply cannot do is look at people strictly as athletes, or hosts, or writers, or contractors, or truckers...Everything we do is molded together and the outcome is how we are perceived. The Tennessean reported with details about Albert Haynesworth's divorce, and I believe that as necessary as it may be to get the story out...to leak details I believe is irresponsible and unfortunately more the norm in this business. If there are criminal charges as in Adam Jones' case then that is something that should be out there, however to nitpick a marriage and the divorce proceedings to follow is an injustice. How many writers on that staff have been divorced or are dealing with a bad marriage? Where as with reporting about crime it's safe to say the paper doesn't employ criminals...or at least the type of criminal reporting on those specific crimes. Let Albert be judged by his performance, mistakes, and redemption on the field; not by us fans who can't separate the nonsense from relevant.
1 comment:
Great Post, Rock. Good to see the media looking themselves in the mirror for once and try to respect the privacy of a public figure.
I'm curious to hear your and your bloggers thoughts on how the media handles the aforementioned issues of crime in athletics in terms of how they perceive athletes presumed guilt/innocence.
Granted, the tone of a lot of pieces when a repeat OFFender or the usual suspects make their way to the papers is understandably critical, but I remember an article on an unnamed pro athlete that crucified this person because of an incident that happened. There were charges filed but nothing was proved. It's like they make these stories front page news and then when the guy gets off, they put a five sentence retraction-type blurb somewhere in the back of the sports section.
Look, I know "what sells, sells" and these guys make lots of money so its hard to feel for them, but there is a difference between allegations and convictions.
Keep em coming Rocco.
-Timmy Bones (son of Dr. and Mrs. Duncan D. Dangles)
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