Two Atlanta radio hosts
are about to be fired, because they chose to do a comedy bit based on an article written by Steve Gleason. Gleason has been the face of former NFL'ers suffering from ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a brain condition believed to be brought on by constant hits to the head. Was it in poor taste? Sure. Is it offensive? Well, of course; anything can be offensive to anyone. But should we give a damn? Of course not.
But some do. Including the
Times Picayune's Jeff Duncan. And he's a hypocrite and everything that's wrong with sports journalism.
First, he's commenting on something he never heard: the first line of his article is about how he hasn't heard the bit, but he's more than qualified to pass judgement on it. Which is great, Jeff; I wonder if your bosses would enjoy you breaking down a Saints game without even seeing the highlights. Then he goes into a diatribe how two radio hosts count as "journalists," and invoking the name of Bill Kovach, discusses how journalists are supposed to have some sense of higher morality.
Excellent point, Jeff. You first. No, I'm serious, Jeff.
Maybe you should think about who's name you just brought up: Bill Kovach. He covered the Civil Rights Movement, he wrote about poverty across the south, and he fought to keep the Tennessee legislature open to the public even as they tried to ruin his career. That's what journalism is, Jeff. It's standing up and showing people reality so society can fix it's problems.
I've only glanced though your archives (more than you did with this story), but I don't see what gives you the right to invoke one of the biggest names in journalism, or what claims you have to be a journalist. In fact, it offends me you think of yourself that highly as a journalist.
So pack your bags, Jeff. No, I'm serious. I want
you fired, because you
offend me.
You offend me like most of the other sports journalists, taking on soft targets and not asking big questions. God forbid sports journalists do anything to upset the powers that be, because they might take away their press pass. What's integrity compared to free seats to sports events, feeding one's fat face with free food, writing a quick recap with a soundbite in 30 minutes, and hoping to God it's enough to get an ESPN gig and being able to transcribe some boring illiterate athlete's ramblings into a book?
Last month, Britney Griner revealed
she was told by her coaching staff to hide her sexuality. A woman, who was openly gay throughout high school, had to walk the halls of Baylor and hide the fact she was a lesbian. At a time when most young people are exploring life with their new-found freedom, she was forced into the closet by a coaching staff who (pay attention, Jeff, that's a huge part of journalism) were afraid it'd offend someone. Where's the outrage? It's 2013, pro athletes are starting to come out, and no one gives a shit that a college violated one of its students' Freedom of Expression?
How about Navy? Last month, the
New York Times reported three of it's football players were under investigation for rape, and that victim and a separate victim said they were both afraid to speak out against the football program. It's like nothing happened.
Steubenville's Reno Saccoccia got a 2-year contract extension: where's your "do the right thing" stance on that, Jeff? I don't see it in your archives, and you claim to be a football journalist. Some gamer tells a rape joke, and it's front page news. Where's the articles on the
culture of rape in football? Surely someone sees this problem, right? For you Jeff, it wasn't as big as that post of you promoting an interview someone did with an LSU player who couldn't keep off the weed long enough to finish college. And how about LSU? Nothing about the
USA Today report bringing up the academic fraud scandal ten years ago? You didn't want to comment on the real piece of journalism that pointed out then-LSU chancellor now-NCAA president Mark Emmert sweeping the case under the rug while having a nice chunk of his salary paid by the Tiger Athletic Foundation
? Or how about the Sugar Bowl making billions of dollars yet tax exempt as a non-profit?
Real Sports isn't based in New Orleans, and they toured abandoned buildings supposedly rebuilt by donations from the Bowl.
I also found this looking through your archive, Jeff (again, more than what you did). Did you really defend Gregg Williams during Bounty-gate? Because you have an article saying
he shouldn't be a scapegoat for the scandal. So you think Gregg was a victim? Well, excuse the hell outta me, Jeff, but if you're so offended that someone would make fun of Steve Gleason, why not someone who passed him in the offices on a regular basis, knew about the brutal hits that possibly lead to his and countless others' condition, and still told his players to "affect the head" and target a player with a concussion? But he's on the hometown team, isn't he, Jeff? We're "us" and they're "them," right? Nice journalistic standard you have for yourself.
And let's not forget the double-standard New Orleans holds for itself right now. As everyone else tore apart the Gregg Williams footage that laid out his standards, Saints Nation yelled back, saying the quotes were "taken out of context" and that people shouldn't hold him to just things he said. Don't see the double standard? Sure, one's a joke and the other's a pre-game speech, but you don't see the irony of now calling for firings because of something that's been caught on tape?
And what's really insulting is this part of your article, Jeff (which, again, I actually read):
"Steve doesn't need me to defend him...Anyone who knows Steve's story or read his heartfelt guest column on SI.com today knows he has bigger battles to fight these days. But after hearing of this ugly incident, I simply can't stand idly on the sideline and allow it to happen without weighing in. Not when I have the bully pulpit of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune at my disposal."
Exactly, Jeff. You have this "bully pulpit," and instead of making real change, you've gone after another soft target. Two radio guys made a joke, and even though you think the "victim" can handle it, you still took it upon yourself to "defend" him. If anything, you're using his name to lift yours, and that's offensive. And if you really wanted to make change, you'd drop this silly charade of "journalistic standards."
Journalism is a key part of our Freedom of Speech, which you want to rob from two radio hosts you probably never heard of before today. And if you think there's nothing wrong with that, ask Britney Griner.
You offend me, Jeff. Do the right thing and quit.
