Volume 96, Issue 46
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
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The sports "Odd Couple"
Bell
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Jordan Bell
Sports Editor
When athletes suit up to battle, their inner competitive fire yields a hatred of the opposition not often rivalled. But there is one more thing which yields a similar feeling in athletes – the sports reporter.
Athletes and reporters share a unique bond, one I have come to witness over the years. That bond was never more evident than in a highly publicized event after the World Series last October.
In a post game interview with the sullen Barry Bonds, a question was asked by a reporter pertaining to Bonds' career and his thoughts on the series hence past. Bonds lost his mind and went on a tirade, belittling the reporter's question in typical Bonds style.
It was a confrontation that should be witnessed by every reporter and athlete on the planet for the message it sends – both athletes and sports reporters need each other, but need each other at their best.
Athletes never fully receive the due warranted them. Fans see the finished product on the field, but what they don't see is the countless hours spent shooting baskets on the driveway in frigid winter temperatures.
Reporters need to respect this work ethic and demand the same out of themselves. They need to do research and look to bring their "A" game as well. There's nothing worse than watching a televised game and having the reporter ask the same lame ass question we have heard a million times. Sometimes, it's tough to find a different angle, but life isn't always easy. Michael Jordan didn't become the greatest basketball player ever by eating magic mushrooms.
On the other hand, athletes and coaches need to strive to give something other than the "We gave 110 per cent" and other clichéd responses. Political correctness has killed the ideals of sports reporting.
I can't understand why people have such a hard time expressing their feelings – it's as if the reporter is Inspector Gadget out to snag unsuspecting athletes with his "go-go gadget arm" and throw them in "the hole" with Dr. Claw.
Give the reporter something to work with – readers will appreciate honesty more than some trumped-up cliché.
In the summer, Western athletics underwent a complete realignment, severing funding for many teams. Now, I don't know about most people, but if I just lost all my funding, I wouldn't be sitting in the corner worrying about hurting the psyche of Western's Sports and Recreational services director Dan Smith, or Western President Paul Davenport, by questioning their decision.
I would be vilifying them as if they were the second coming of Lucifer. Yet, the typical response to the re-structuring went something like, "I would rather not speak on the subject."
Western football head coach Larry Haylor has been called many things and questioned by many people, but I respect the man because he is willing to lay himself out on the line and speak from the heart. And you wonder why the Western football program rivals any in Canada with its support and alumni.
This seemingly senseless rant has a point – reporters aren't the enemy. They're around to chronicle the exploits of the athlete and the athlete is around to provide us with fodder.
Just don't shoot five for 20 or throw six interceptions.