Article:I Really Don't Want To, But I Have To, My Two Cents on the Journalism v. Blog Issue

OK, I know this horse is dead, and intentionally stayed out of this disaster because it's a no-win for anyone. Others have taken a turn in expressing their opinion on the subject as well.

I had my own varying level of opinion on the subject, and while there is no doubt I'm infinitely qualified to have it, there's an equal number of people as qualified who think I'm a crackpot. No win, remember. HOWEVER, I found someone else who shares my opinion, so now I can gloat just a little.

In researching a future article, I came across this, written by John Shiffert. I'm going to highlight his first paragraph, as it is almost appears to have been taken right from my mouth.


 * "There really should a law stating that a disclaimer must be read before about 95 percent of all local radio sportscasts dealing with baseball. “The sound bite you are about to hear may not necessarily be true or even accurate. Listener discretion is advised.” That’s because about 95 percent of the local sports guys either don’t have a clue when it comes to baseball, or are so hopelessly prejudiced (i.e., they’re homers) that their words must be taken with a grain of salt. Lot’s Wife probably knew more about baseball than some of these bozos."

No truer words have been spoken, anywhere. The reason why on every sporting event we watch or listen to there is an ex-player or manager or coach providing commentary is THEY are the experts. They know what is like to face a 95 mile per hour heater, or hit a three pointer at the buzzer, or had his bell rung by a blitzing linebacker. Mookie's comment here, specifically, "Before I end this rant, I want to go back to the credibility part. Mr. Bissinger also talked to Leitch about WC Hinds (sp?), and about who would you rather go to for a write up of a baseball game. What?! None of you guys played professionally and neither have us for the most part. ''Why can only a certain group of people write about why Zito should've been pulled after the 5th inning?"  gets to the crux of it all, because most reporters DON'T KNOW WHY Zito was removed. And 95% of their audience doesn't know either, so they buy the BS as gospel, and gives the reporter instant credibility. I wish I had a dollar every time Thom Brennaman, when he was broadcasting the Arizona Diamondbacks games, would say something, and either Bob Brenly or Mark Grace or Ken Phelps would jump in and correct him.

What the Internet has done is given the 95% who listen and believe what a reporter has said or written a forum to go to and sound like he knows what he's talking about. Put fifty of them on a blog simutaneously and it sounds like a playground full of first graders just out of school for summer vacation. A lot of noise but no one is saying anything.

It all goes to credibility. How many people do you think Peter Gammons has to talk to before going public with a story? How many fingers does he have? I applaud InterMat and Sy for going the route, getting a degree and working in an admittedly tough field. I admire Meg and Agent for having the desire and focus to eventually reach that goal. Even me, who's foray into sports journalism was having a relative at a major newspaper, paid the price, because I was held to the same integrity he was.

The reality John Shiffert refers to is dead on, 95% of reporters are clueless to what they are doing, as is 95% of their audience. Does Colin Cowherd or Thom Brennaman know more about sports than you or I? They get paid to express their opinion, we don't, the difference between the two is opportunity. Cowherd doesn't have a journalism degree, and Brennaman has a Hall of Fame broadcaster for a father. Sometimes opportunity finds you, sometimes you are born into it.

For all you aspiring journalists, good luck, and remember, without credibility, you are nothing.