The press and the Internet
A dangerous combination if ever there was one.
Within the last week news outlets reported failed drug tests by Bengals trouble child Chris Henry and Yankees lightning rod Jason Giambi. Both reports turned out to be false.
As regulars here may have noticed, my only reference to either incident was a note that Henry "might have more trouble coming his way." Like many bloggers and reporters, I will jump on a controversial story, but this time I stayed away. I couldn't tell you why.
I can say that the Internet and news stations televising 24/7 have done more damage to the quality of reporting than anything else.
Print journalists are so desperate to get a scoop, that sometimes corroboration falls to the way side. Let's face it - it's difficult to scoop anything now because the Internet and television provide close to instant access to the news. Print journalism is slowly becoming obsolete, although not slowly enough for the newspaper companies.
For those of you that believe that the news mediums are still working - I have a question; are you seeking news, or are you seeking entertainment?
I pose this question due to the three weeks of coverage of the run away bride story that didn't feel like it was going away, and the coverage of Anna Nicole Smith's death. Let me tell you how NASA PR people breathed a sigh of relief when all the cameras turned to the Bahamas...me, I still want to know how the raving stalker passed the military psyche profiles to be picked for the space program.
Now back to my regularly scheduled sports coverage...
After his last two starts, I would say someone needs to remind Curt Schilling that he's not throwing batting practice.
Clemens was unimpressive against AA ball last night, giving up 3 earned in five and a third. By all accounts (from major league scouts) he was out-pitched by Red Sox prospect and Portland Sea Dogs pitcher Clay Buchholz. According to an article by Rob Bradford at the Boston Herald, a major league scout said, "we need one game to win the division and you’re giving me a choice between starting (Buchholz) or Clemens, I’m taking (Buchholz) off of what I saw tonight."
Rumors have circulated that Clemens next start will be with the Yanks. From the scouting reports - I wouldn't hold my breath that it will be a quality start.
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3 comments:
Speaking of Schilling, I think he would agree w/ your take on the media.
As for Clemens, I think it is clear that they are rushing him. No way start #1 is a quality start. I look for him to struggle for at least the first month or two.
The funny thing about it is I've been drawing paychecks from the media for years - The Boston Chronicle (defunct), The Suburban & Wayne Times, The South Philadelphia Review, The Frederick Gazette...and that's just a handful of them. And most of those were weeklies, but if something was breaking, they wanted to get it onto the Web site.
I'm not convinced that Clemens is going to do anything but struggle. The dude's career ERA in pinstripes is a shade over 4.00 and that was two years ago.
There is a nice article in the Boston Herald today about Schillings blog and the future of blogging replacing print media. I only see the role of the beat writer and columnists diminishing from here. There will always be a place for guys like Gammons but I feel the desperation in the rest of the writers. The sports journalism train has left the station. I personally now prefer to get my baseball commentary from blogging. I supplement it with the dailys.
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