Is it just me? Ok I’ll admit it, I think I must be getting old. The sports media seems to be becoming something that is exactly what it wasn’t ‘back in the day’.
“What are you mumbling about old man?” I hear you yell at your screens.
Why has journalism gone to hell in a hand-basket? The sporting media is no longer full of stories about derring-do on the field of play.
It appears to be consumed by misdeeds and off-field controversies, quickly followed by caustic bile regurgitated by the commentariat.
In the last couple of weeks we have had the More Joyous affair, the continuing Cronulla and Essendon banned substance debacles, the Tom Waterhouse embedded advertising brouhaha, match fixing in the IPL – (See Henry’s superb account) – the list seems endless.
When did it all go off the rails?
Is the media to blame?
Is the consumer to blame?
Why is the commentariat so full of vitriol and bile?
I used to think that sport was something that you either did, or you enjoyed as a pastime. Clearly it has moved beyond that. Well, maybe it hasn’t really moved past that, it’s just that people think it has.
Would it be possible to ever go back? To enjoy the games we watch for the skills and the excitement generated by the players?
Here is an idea:
Next time a Weidler or a Wilson or a Hadley or anyone one of that ilk start to profit by dragging sport through the mud, how about we all simply comment on the stories with “Lalalalalala, we’re not listening!” and refuse to feed their obsessions?
I am sure there is plenty of the good stuff to comment on.
When the bad stuff happens, don’t glorify it, merely ask the sports administrators to do their job and rid the game of the cheats/gooses/fools.
Who knows? We might even enjoy watching again.
Richard
Guest
Some great comments here. ACA & TT....quite possibly the two worst and most moronic tv program's ever!!!
Garth Jones
Roar Rookie
"Journalism" is a term I try to use when talking about news (sports and otherwise) these days. Their research seems to be based around what they read on the internet, whether it be gossip or social sites (most stories these days mention something to do with facebook) and the focus is on getting the story out first regardless of the facts. Of course if it wasn't for the crap in the mainstream news sites I wouldn't spend so much time here on the Roar. At least on here there's no disguising it's just someone's opinion and I get to read interesting comments that broaden my sporting knowledge.
Mitcher
Guest
Unfortunately a society generally gets the media it deserves. Outside the sports sphere, shows like ACA and TT survive because morons watch it. Anything featuring seriously analysis either chugs along barely noticed on the ABC/SBS (not exclusively) or is canned through lack of interest. In relation to sport, I don't doubt most Roar regulars would relish a higher plane of discussion, but for everyone of us there's probably 20 who enjoy the Footy Show's (eg) craaaazzzyyy shenanigans. *sigh*. As for Danny Weidler, well nobody deserves that.
Richard
Guest
Thanks for posting Rabbitz, a very interesting topic. Journalism as a whole has for the better part lost its way. Personally, there appear to be more average/bad journalists than good. But the trick is to identify those who you feel write good articles and stick with them. I made a point of not reading or listening to those journalists you mention, and many others a very long time ago. The problems are too many to list but most relate to the quick headline, the personal agenda, the lack of substance and fact checking, writing a story when no story exists, regurgitating old rubbish stories...the list is endless. Give someone some time on tv or a newspaper column and they soon start to think that their opinion is the only possible opinion (insert Patrick Smiths name here). So I totally agree with you. That is why watching a great interview, or reading a great article or opinion piece is refreshing.
Tom
Guest
The execrable Danny Weidler exemplifies most of the problem with Australian sports journalism - personal opinions dressed up as analysis, and letting his personal relationships with certain players and managers get in the way of having any sort of objectivity in his reporting. Witness his recent efforts on the ASADA scandal, basically acting as a mouthpiece for Stephen Dank and Wade Graham - it was appalling, and I fear it may well turn out to be a repeat of the Lance Armstrong fiasco on a smaller scale, whereby any journalist who dared to suggest that the performances were not exactly kosher was ostracised (a la Paul Kimmage and the widely ridiculed Le Monde reporting of LA's positivesin 2005 which turned out to be entirely correct).
astro
Guest
What is missing from Australian sports journalism is ANALYSIS! One of the great aspects of American sports coverage is a dedication to breaking down the game in detail. Take the NBA for example...I can access advanced stats easily, see what plays teams runs on offense and defense, have actual experts highlight why plays work well or break down...all adds to the pleasure of watching the game. In Australia, the best you get is a report of the result. Who scored and when...Only cricket does a decent job, and even then, they don't go far enough. Actual experts adding depth of insight into the games they cover are what's needed in my mind...
Johnno
Guest
It died long ago. The old crusty tennis scribe's, and crusty golf hack's. They don't make sport's journalist's like they used too. David Lord is one of the last old school scribes left. Jeff Wells was good and he retired. Crowden and Gordon Bray, are 2 of the last 2 left, and Les Murray, good old Les. Na the new brigade, go down the tabloid line to much, and also can be too fluffy and hot air, not fire and brimstone like the old guard.
mds1970
Roar Guru
With electronic communications and extensive TV coverage, there's little scope for news reporting in newspapers - by the time anything is written up and printed into newspapers, we've all seen the game and any news stories are already out of date. Newspapers are increasingly about opinion rather than news, because that's all they can really offer.
jamesb
Guest
Reporting sport on the field has gone by the wayside. Instead we have off field stories that seems like Bold and the Beautiful type endless soap opera, which quite frankly is utterly boring.
josh
Roar Rookie
When opinion overtook the news, is when it all awry.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i like your idea about not listening, strangely as much as i dislike Weidler i still read his rubbish every Sunday
Chris
Guest
We need to make a stand against the tele and smh. Its like reading womans day - every headline has to be dramatised. Im sure they think its selling them papers but sports fans are going to read regardless - just give yourselves some credibility(sydney papers)