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Every now and then, I like to use this space to give tips to future journalists and those who may be generally interested in the ins and outs of the media. Today’s hint- if you don’t like what someone said, pretend they said something else. There’s really no rule against it and it will make for a much more interesting piece.
It seems as if the number of cases of the media royally screwing with people is on the rise. Pac-Man Jones, who is so fed up with the media that he can’t train in Tennessee, and Donyell Marshall, whose words on the Pistons-Cavs series were taken so far out of context that they needed a passport (Context is a city in Ohio, look it up), are just two of the more recent cases.
Members of the media gripe and complain that players only give them generic and cliché sound bites and quotes, but then respond to genuine comments by completely ripping the person apart. We expect them to always be insightful and interesting and don’t understand why they wouldn’t continue to open up. I guess we figure that it doesn’t make sense for people to stop touching a hot stove.
Now, I could make this a biting commentary on bias in the media and the loss of journalistic integrity, but what difference is that going to make? I am only one man, and we see time and time again in movies and in real life that one man can’t make a difference. I have little choice but to succumb to the peer pressure and take part in the practice anyway. Forgive me Matt Leinart.
The quote, from an espn.com piece penned by Leinart- “My draft party in Las Vegas last week was great. I had been looking forward to it since I was in New York City for the NFL draft. It wasn't meant to be a spectacle. It was meant to be a place where I could get away and enjoy myself one last time with my close family and friends. That's all it was. It was an intimate setting. It was a celebration.
People can make whatever they want about it. It amazes me what went on in the media in regard to Paris Hilton following my party”
What I see- “My…party in Las Vegas was great. It amazes me what went on… in regard to Paris Hilton. It wasn’t…a spectacle, it was an intimate…“celebration.”
The commentary- I would like to formally congratulate the Arizona Cardinals on yet another wasted draft pick. Who is in charge of this? How can they end up with a Hollywood playboy more concerned about getting in Paris Hilton than the end zone? What’s the thought process behind this?
“Well, we could take an NFL-ready quarterback in Jay Cutler, or we could take that guy from LA who always seems to be hung-over. Let’s take Cutler, oh wait, isn’t that preppy kid dating that porn star? You know, if he lands a role in one of those movies that could be free PR…let’s take him.”
Mattie’s welcome to the NFL moment is scheduled for day 1- which will be when Ray Lewis knocks him off his Us Weekly pedestal so hard he won’t be able to remember the name of Kelly Clarkson’s latest single. If he wants to be taken seriously as a football player, he needs to trade the swanky soirees for the film room (and not the type of “film” room he’s probably used to with Paris). He was given a chance to reach and inspire millions through his articles on espn.com, but he decided we would better be served with an account of his sexual exploits.
This upsets me, the overweight, bitter, and wholly un-athletic sports writer because Leinart is wasting the talent I would’ve killed for. Instead, I’m forced to hate life and constantly console myself with numberless slices of pizza and t-shirt giveaways that are three sizes to small for me.
Note to Mr. Hollywood-I can’t explain it, but when God was handing out talent, he gave it to you, not me. My job is to simply report on the talent, and I’d much appreciate if this was the last article I had to write about your sexual encounters with ritzy heiresses.
The Sports Gospel is sponsored by betonsports.com. All Sports Gospel readers get a 10% signup bonus at BetOnSports by entering "Sports Gospel Promo" as the promo code. Mark Chalifoux is a columnist with SportsFan Magazine. You can reach him at Rockne48@und.com
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