From: 91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca (roger maynard)
Subject: Re: Value of Stats
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 02:22:26 GMT

In <1992Jul29.184931.20619@news2.cis.umn.edu> kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu (Dave 
Nothing Better To Do Kirsch) writes:

>  Very few mediots have ever impressed me with their logic or analytical
>skills. Some have with their material/writing ability (Dan Barreiro of the
>Mpls. Star/Trib is sometimes one), but for the most part I find media types 
>long on style and short on substance. I've got a couple friends that work in
>the business, and the bottom line (of TV journalism, anyways) is that the
>people who get the work are the most photogenic, have the bese elocution/ 
>delivery and can work comfortably in front of a camera. You'd *like* people 
>who are also good journalists, but you don't see Joe 'Crater Face' Schmoe
>doing the local sports too often. 

I can understand your natural envy of - and proportionate enmity towards - 
those who are both photogenic and capable of simple elocution.  You should
understand, however, that not all of us, not even all who are employed in 
the media, are unprincipled idiots.  Unfortunately the one dimensional shills
the Blue Jays employ in their quest for 4 million do fit your description.
(Chevrier, Hutton, Olver, Hughson, Martinez).  The only one of these who has
any character at all is Olver who has become a legendary parody of all that
can be aggravating about the "homer".  Fortunately he is seldom heard these
days.  

>  Most newspaper mediots I've dealt with are IMHO failed ex-athletes that
>build up a schmooze network and spend time trying to romanticize lyrically 
>about a certain person/team's success or failure. (See Reusse, Pat or

In Canada, The Globe and Mail has employed several well-respected journalists 
in their "Sport" section, notably Allen Able in the past and Stephen Brunt at 
present.  And whatever Marty York may be, he certainly cannot be accused of 
building up any kind of netork, schmooze or otherwise.  I don't think that
any of Toronto's professional sports teams will allow him into their dressing
rooms.  Al Strachan, also of the Globe, was roughed up by two Maple Leaf 
coaches, Dan Maloney and Mike Nyckaluck (sp?).  And years ago William Campbell
of the Globe (I think it was him) was kicked out of Exhibition stadium for
stealing Blue Jay head honcho Peter Bavasi's briefcase. 

>Hartman, Sid. Hartman's so bad about calling everyone a 'close personal
>friend' that the players consistently have running jokes going about him.) 
>I've chronicled many times in this forum my problems with the media, citing 
>specific examples. Sure, there are 'good guys' out there, but they're few and
>far between and generally get drowned out in the noise. Since the media has 
>an obvious and powerful influence wrt the general public, I don't think it's 
>unfair to criticize their shortcomings (which are many). 

Well certainly the media here has had a real impact with the Blue Jays.  Over
50,000 people go to EVERY game.  And I can't stand any of the TV announcers.
On the radio Tom Cheek ain't bad but Jerry "Swing" Howarth is the quintessentialweasel.  But Kubek wasn't bad when he was here.  Early Wynn was pretty slow but
harmless.  Bruce Dowbiggin on CBC news is OK.  Most of them are pretty bad
but some are OK so it IS unfair to criticize them generally.  Besides, the 
best criticisms are specific anyway.

>-- 
>Dave "Hung Like Cal Ripken's Injury Report" Kirsch   "Blue Jays all the way in '92"

rm

-- 
roger maynard                    
91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball