The timing of this article is perfect. Wait, no, that’s not the word. Coincidental? Nope, that’s not it, either. A premeditated hatchet-job timed to coincide with the Yankees’ march to October and to dredge up what any reasonable and objective observer would call “old news”? Yep, that’s exactly what I’d call it. And that, in 44 syllables, is why I have come to hate the way sports are covered in the United States.
Had this story come out in late July or early August, when it was still fresh, would have represented solid, topical journalism about the most psychoanalyzed player playing for the highest-profile team in baseball. But to release this story six weeks after the fact just reeks of lazy journalism.
Worse than the Sports Illustrated article, however, is how ESPN and other media outlets will cover the story. They will dissect it and make inferences about the players’ true intentions and feelings. They will re-hash the “Trade-Rod” and “E-Rod” stories that died in late July. They will blow up a cloud of dust around the team when, truthfully, there’s not much to report here.
My hope is that the fallout will not serve as a distraction to the team and re-open an issue that had been neatly closed when ARod climbed out of his slump. You know, for a guy who “can’t handle the pressure” and “should be traded” (to quote ESPN), ARod ended up with yet another 30 HR/100 RBI season. That makes it nine such seasons in a row and 10 out of 13. Yeah, he really sucks.
My final thought on the subject is this: I want the Yankees to win the World Series and I want Sports Illustrated to suck it. My subscription, going back to September 1984, will be cancelled, effective immediately.
Had this story come out in late July or early August, when it was still fresh, would have represented solid, topical journalism about the most psychoanalyzed player playing for the highest-profile team in baseball. But to release this story six weeks after the fact just reeks of lazy journalism.
Worse than the Sports Illustrated article, however, is how ESPN and other media outlets will cover the story. They will dissect it and make inferences about the players’ true intentions and feelings. They will re-hash the “Trade-Rod” and “E-Rod” stories that died in late July. They will blow up a cloud of dust around the team when, truthfully, there’s not much to report here.
My hope is that the fallout will not serve as a distraction to the team and re-open an issue that had been neatly closed when ARod climbed out of his slump. You know, for a guy who “can’t handle the pressure” and “should be traded” (to quote ESPN), ARod ended up with yet another 30 HR/100 RBI season. That makes it nine such seasons in a row and 10 out of 13. Yeah, he really sucks.
My final thought on the subject is this: I want the Yankees to win the World Series and I want Sports Illustrated to suck it. My subscription, going back to September 1984, will be cancelled, effective immediately.
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