Introducing The Commish
For those of you who are not familiar with me (which I’ll assume is many of you), let me delve quickly into my background.
I have written for a number of online ventures, notably Helium and Rootzoo, as well as my own site, No-Fun-League Strikes Back. I’m not a renowned journalist who has written for popular newspapers nor have I won any awards for my work. I have no rabid fan base and I’m not on any blogger’s “Who I Read” list.
If I’m not a popular blogger or a decorated journalist, why should you read my work?
Better question: Why am I telling you all of this up front?
The first question you’ll have to decide on your own. I know I bring my A-game every time I write. I am knowledgeable about sports (some more than others) and rarely let preconceived notions cloud my judgment in terms of being objective. I have the teams I like but I believe you can’t be a solid journalist and hold true to personal biases in the face of proper argument and research.
Most importantly, as much as I enjoy writing about sports, I am writing for you.
I’m writing for the fan, the everyday sports junkie who’s looking for an opinion on SPORTS, not athletes and their life drama. While athletes are famous, they are not bigger than the games they play. While athletes will play prominent roles in my writing, it will be within the construct of the sport they play.
Which leads me back to the second question: Why am I telling you this? Why am I being so candid?
The answer is simple: accountability and integrity, both journalistically and personally.
Today’s world has reached a point where people have conflicted notions of accountability and consequences to their actions. In the days of increasing economic volatility and government-regulated bailouts, as a society, we refuse to take responsibility for our decisions and mistakes. Foreclose on your home? Don’t worry; the banks will bail you out. Make a poor financial business decision? That’s OK; the government will take care of it. We spend money we don’t have on things we can’t afford and expect others to help out when we mess up.
Sports are no different. In essence, sports can be seen as a microcosm of society and daily existence. I won’t beat dead horses, but look at the current sports landscape and tell me what you see:
- Athletes cheating to get ahead while lying about it to preserve image and livelihood.
- Coaches claiming loyalty to the fan base while orchestrating backdoor deals without honoring contracts.
- Teams and institutions making the same poor judgment calls within the front office and then throwing money at it to make it disappear, instead of focusing on the problem itself.
- Mainstream media reporting breaking news stories without doing ALL of the correct research just to be the first to break a story.
While the first three pieces are important, it’s this last piece, the part about today’s media, that I consider the most troubling. As journalists, it is our job to report the news in the most complete, balanced and insightful way we can. It is our duty to provide checks and balances to the world of sports; in essence, we can be seen as the judges in the court of public opinion.
Furthermore, having pride in what you write is just as important as getting your perspective to the masses. Being thought-provoking and insightful should rank just as high as readership and the speed with which news is provided.
Which leads me to the point of accountability and integrity. As people, we are bound to make mistakes from time to time. Show me a person who is perfect all the time and I’ll show you a liar. The problem isn’t that someone made a mistake; it’s when no one takes responsibility for that mistake. If you want to be shown respect and seen as a person with integrity, have the courage to take pride in your work and back it up.
The same goes with journalism. If your stance is wrong, then stand up and own what’s rightfully yours, for better or worse.
These days, what is a fan to do? The athletes, coaches, front office representatives, owners and national media are all looking for ways to make money and build reputation while skirting their responsibilities to the paying public. They repeatedly make the same mistakes without taking responsibility when things go wrong yet expect to be praised and compensated when their decisions pan out.
It’s no wonder we get jaded as adults. If those in positions of power deceive you enough, you start taking everything with a grain of salt. People aren’t naturally cynical; they’re made that way by getting burned time and time again.
In times like these, the average sports fan needs a voice of reason. Someone who isn’t afraid to throw a perspective out there, research it properly and take responsibility for it. At the end of the day, all we own is our perspective. Therefore, we should be accountable for it, regardless of right or wrong.
I believe in being accountable, not just for my sake as a writer, but also for your sake as the viewing public.
So why should you read me?
Because I want to be that voice of reason and accountability you’re looking for. That’s what Taking Back Sports is all about.
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