Allow me a moment to borrow a paragraph from a story by our colleagues at Seattle Sportsnet.
Beginning September 5th, Times sportswriters will be barred from the Seattle airwaves at the behest of management, preventing reporters and columnists from fulfilling previous commitments to local sports radio stations and television outlets. Once imposed, the ban will primarily have an impact on entities like Sports Radio 950 KJR and 710 ESPN Seattle, where many of the Times’ stable of writers would often appear.
Now before I get the eventual eyeroll I know I'm about to receive from many of my listeners who believe the media "has always had it too good" or that we're all just a bunch of hacks and ruthless hyenas waiting to clutch onto some other agenda, let me first say that some of you are right.
That said, this is still a dangerous precedent.
This story, along with "an exchange of ideas" (for lack of a better term) on social media this week reminded me why sources are so invaluable, why research is so essential and why differing points of view are crucial to what we do, even as silly sportscasters.
I read an online post from a listener who bemoaned that he was going to stop taking in a certain 24-hour news network because he didn't feel there was enough coverage towards one story as opposed to another.
Network television doesn't cater to one specific person. It speaks to millions upon millions of people and sometimes, the things you want to hear or read or see will have to wait.
You bought the television, you bought the provider of the network and you invested time into the product.
But you don't get that exclusively. You share that with the aforementioned millions upon millions.
If you want a news broadcast or a news feed that only caters to you, log on to Facebook or Twitter, remove the images and headlines and people speaking to you through whatever platform and eliminate them from your timelines.
After all, you bought the computer or device, you bought the provider of the social media platform and you invested time into the product.
And it has YOUR name at the top of your timeline.
That does belong to you.
As it relates to the story of the Seattle Times, it's unfortunate that credentialed journalists are being further divided and segmented because of corporate greed or fear.
Hacks and hyenas exist in all forms of society.
Some of them are businessmen, and successful ones at that.
Some of them are very good at what they do.
You as an individual may be one yourself. And that's alright.
Journalism has its fair share of ruthless hyenas, and some of them are excellent at providing you information that you can use to be better informed.
It's called working to be better. You'd encourage your own flesh and blood to do it, so why the difference to a total stranger?
I've worked with these people. Their character and integrity and dedication to a cause or a higher purpose are unrivaled.
This latest development is another sad, sad tale. Another step down on the journalistic ladder.
For more on this story, check out the link right here.
While I understand with the NFL's decision to cancel tonight's preseason finale between the Texans and Cowboys due to the ravages of the Hurricane Harvey, let's not forget who also gets affected by this decision.
There is a guy on both of these teams you've likely never heard of. He's a right tackle or a slot receiver who got drafted in the 6th round and is on the bubble to make the team. Tonight was his last chance to prove himself, in front of coaches, front office types, scouts... his family. The very same people who are going to benefit from his ability to make it onto a roster.
He's busted his ass for days, weeks, months, years to make it to this final game, one more chance to get the job of your dreams.
And just like that... it's gone.
Again, I understand the decision from a tactical and logical point of view. No one would question it.
But that guy's gonna go back home next week, and more than likely he's never get another chance to impress those coaches, management types, scouts. He's never going to be able to tell his kids and grandchildren about his days in the NFL.
Mother nature... what a bitch.
Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers for fleecing the Boston Celtics for just one more asset before finally coming to terms on the Kyrie Irving/Isaiah Thomas trade.
Businessmen are funny creatures, and if I'm reading all of this right, then the future of NBA trades will all be compared to this silly 2nd round pick in 2020.
Well done, Cleveland. It most likely won't mean a damn thing in terms of keeping Lebron James down the road, but it's business at its finest.
Tune in to FIRST SPORTS, with college football previews and predictions from FSU beatwriter David Visser, Ohio State correspondent Kyle McKinnon and Pac-12 correspondent Chuck Hayes. We'll recap the racing debut of BORTSTEIN and much more.
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