Thursday, April 06, 2006

In this Week's Phoenix

In light of the recent steriod revelations by two reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle, isn't it time that sports journalism shed its old "toy department" label and start to take a harder look at the mega-billion dollar industry it covers? Read "Muckrackers in the Outfield" in this week's Boston Phoenix.

Speaking of sports muckracking, here's a little tale that didn't make it into that story for space reasons. Last Friday, both the Globe and the Herald reported on Red Sox manager Terry Francona's reaction to the 10-day suspension of reliever Julian Tavarez for punching Tamp Bay outfielder Joey Gathright. Only they had it differently.

The Globe piece by Chris Snow quoted Francona saying "That's a pretty stiff penalty."

The Herald piece by Tony Massarotti quoted Francona thusly: "'It seems like a lot,' continued the sarcastic Red Sox manager, who then exaggerated for effect. 'He should have done steroids. He'd get (only) five more (games) and we could replace him (on the roster). It's a little stiff.'"

So the Herald has Francona making what certainly appears to be a sarcastic crack about steroids right after the commissioner of baseball has announced an investigation into performance enhancing drugs and the Globe does not. What gives?

According to Herald managing editor Kevin Convey, the Red Sox asked the paper not to mention Francona's steroid remarks in its coverage, but the Herald refused.
"It struck me as kind of a throwback," he says. "In many ways it still is the 'toy department'...and the [Sox] want us to play ball with the team because they hand out so many bennies."

Globe sports editor Joe Sullivan also says the Sox asked the paper to avoid using the steroids quote, but adds that it had nothing to do with the paper's decision not to report it. Sullivan says the reason the quote did not appear is because Francona was incorrect in saying a Tavarez steroid suspension would have lasted 15 games. It is now, in fact, a 50-game suspension.

"We let [Francona] make his point," Sullivan says. "You're getting involved in areas where he's wrong...it doesn't make any sense...and Chris [Snow] has to explain why he's wrong. I think Chris did the right thing."

No reason not to accept the Globe's explanation on face value. But why not do what the Herald did which is include the quote and then point out what the correct steroid suspension policy is?

If the usually scripted Francona actually makes some kind of off-hand remark involving steroids, reporting it adds a little bit of insight about and flavor to the man -- whether his words were accurate or not.

Reporters wouldn't choose to leave out a telling George Bush quote if he misstated a fact about Iraqi casualties.

4/6/2006 1:09:06 PM by Mark Jurkowitz | Comments [3] |
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"Cialis." (Online pharmacy buy cialis.) [Trackback]

Friday, April 07, 2006 11:32:28 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

The flawed premise in Mark's piece is that what is going on in sports is as important as what's going on in the White House or on Beacon Hill or at Town Hall.

I'm a seriously avid sports fan, particularly of baseball. But we're talking about entertainment here, Mark. And that's part of the allure, as far as I'm concerned.

It's unfortunate and kind of insulting that Bonds and McGuire used steroids. And it's a personal tragedy for them. But it changes nothing. My message to my kids remains: steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are out there. Don't do it. It's only a game and not worth destroying your health.

Mark, at any major symphony orchestra, opera company, or ballet in the US, there is substance abuse and political infighting and sexual intrigue that would absolutely blow your mind. Why are we not apalled at the lack of investigative reporting about it? Because it doesn't matter.

Anon, a Moose

Friday, April 07, 2006 12:45:33 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

And why aren't we calling on the musicians' union and orchestra management to institute mandatory drug testing because people are smoking pot to deal with performance anxiety? Because they're musicians, not airline pilots or T operators. Our lives are not in their hands. And exposing my kids to the music of Charlie Parker does not mean I'm endorsing heroin abuse.

So, why should major league ball players have to pee in a cup on command? What lesson in civil liberties are we teaching our kids if we applaud random drug testing of athletes, and immediately condemn any player who objects?

The one REAL story here is consistently overlooked. This is a law enforcement issue. Regardless of MLB's policies, the unlicensed manufacture and distribution of steroids, and distribution of hypodermic needles, is a crime. If the problem really is so rampant in professional, college and high school sports, where's the FBI and local police? Or is there some hysteria about the scope of the problem?

Moose again

Friday, April 07, 2006 2:39:48 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Moose brings up a good point. Why don't you point the finger at your own paper for not doing investigative pieces exposing the underbelly of the entertainment industry? Why is it all performance/product reviews and puff piece interviews? Where is the hard-hitting aggressive journalism in the Arts and Entertainment section of the Globe and other major papers? Shouldn't the entertainment business be treated like the big business it is?

The Ghost of Will McDonough

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