Sports Media gets it right again

[BYU 14]

Too bad we get barraged with bullshit like the Tigers Woods press conference and yet the media can barely find a paragraph for this. Maybe I am a minority, but I would watch a story like this over any of the negative stuff/senstaionalized crap that seems to be more desireable to media outlets. Best wishes to an athlete that gets it and to his Wife for a full recovery.

Boxer vacates title to help wife fight cancer - News - FOX Sports on MSN

Robert Guerrero of the United States has vacated his IBF junior lightweight title to be with his wife, Casey, during the latest steps in her lengthy struggle with leukemia.

Guerrero announced his decision Tuesday, a week after he was forced to drop out of a prospective fight with Australia's Michael Katsidis.

Casey Guerrero is hospitalized while recovering from a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy.

Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs) won a featherweight title before his wife was diagnosed with the disease in 2007. He vacated that title in 2008 and moved up to junior lightweight, dominating Malcolm Klassen last year to claim the IBF belt.

The Guerreros have two young children.

[EagleFan]

What exactly is sports media?

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

What exactly is sports media?

Is just Media better?

[terpkristin]

I agree, I wish more outlets were reporting this as at least a headline, alongside the Tiger story.

I was really bothered (and saddened) when the day that Barack Obama visited with the Dalai Lama, the top news on Google News was Tiger Woods' announcement that he'd have a press announcement. Even worse, the 2nd headline was how Ernie Els was pissed about the timing of Woods' announcement.

I've lost faith in people, though. I guarantee this story wouldn't make the news, or make people click-through. Obviously, even the President didn't. Tiger did.

/tk

[bigdawg2003]

News is a consumer product like any other now. What sells the most and what the higher-ups think will sell the most gets the most promotion. What doesn't sell falls by the wayside.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by bigdawg2003

News is a consumer product like any other now. What sells the most and what the higher-ups think will sell the most gets the most promotion. What doesn't sell falls by the wayside.

I know, just venting, it is what it is and will likely never change....A little more eqaulity would be nice though.

[lungs]

If Tiger Woods quit the tour to be with his ailing wife it would be a huge story. Thing is, Robert Guererro isn't a big name so nobody pays much attention.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I agree, I wish more outlets were reporting this as at least a headline, alongside the Tiger story.

Problem there is that virtually no one knows who the hell Robert Guerrero is.

I mean, pro wrestler Sonny Siaki ended his career (which had finally gotten him a WWE developmental deal) by donating a kidney to his brother. But that hardly got covered in the wrestling media much less any other media (I'm not suggesting a wrestling = sports argument here, so let's not go there now). But Kurt Angle's name showing up in some pharmacy records gets covered on both ESPN & by the AP mainstream news wire.

In that case, as with this one, the disparity in coverage in more readily attributable to name recognition than to bad news selling better than good news.

Even in the Lama vs Tiger example, more people in the US know the latter than the former. And further, more care about the latter to boot.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Problem there is that virtually no one knows who the hell Robert Guerrero is.

I mean, pro wrestler Sonny Siaki ended his career (which had finally gotten him a WWE developmental deal) by donating a kidney to his brother. But that hardly got covered in the wrestling media much less any other media (I'm not suggesting a wrestling = sports argument here, so let's not go there now). But Kurt Angle's name showing up in some pharmacy records gets covered on both ESPN & by the AP mainstream news wire.

In that case, as with this one, the disparity in coverage in more readily attributable to name recognition than to bad news selling better than good news.

Even in the Lama vs Tiger example, more people in the US know the latter than the former. And further, more care about the latter to boot.

I know. President/the Lama vs. Tiger, I'm somewhat saddened that more care about Tiger, but not really surprised. With competition like that, Robert Guerrero has no chance. Disappointing, but not surprising.

/tk

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I know. President/the Lama vs. Tiger, I'm somewhat saddened that more care about Tiger, but not really surprised.

I'm not sitting on numbers for it, but I'd be stunned if more than 55% of the country could guess whether the DL is alive or dead (since he's one guy, like Lynyrd Skynrd or Jethro Tull). And if more than 25% could tell you his nationality. And if at least 10% didn't respond in some way that references Gatlinburg, TN.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm not sitting on numbers for it, but I'd be stunned if more than 55% of the country could guess whether the DL is alive or dead (since he's one guy, like Lynyrd Skynrd or Jethro Tull). And if more than 25% could tell you his nationality. And if at least 10% didn't respond in some way that references Gatlinburg, TN.

I guess I'd be hopeful that news of what the President is doing (not so much that he's with the Dalai Lama) would help a click rate.

Even amongst my (reasonably well-educated) friends, I don't know that even 25% could tell me his nationality, or who he is.

/tk

[miami_fan]

Honest questions. Does he get credit for doing something that many of us would not have done or does he get credit for doing what he is supposed to do? I don't want to be negative but what did he do? He chose his wife's health over his profession. Well to paraphrase Chris Rock, that is what he is supposed to do. Athletes are supposed to choose to be with their wife during the birth of a child. Athletes are supposed to choose their faith over playing a game during Rosh Hashanah. But yet in many cases athletes are criticized for not being "professional" enough, not having the proper commitment to the game and their teammates and even worse, being selfish. I don't think the public can have it both ways. If we give Guerrero or Phil Mickelson extra point for what they do, shouldn't we then rip athletes who leave their families in times of crisis to play in games? We don't, we praise them for performing despite the stressful circumstances they are under.

[TroyF]

All social security checks delivered on time.

Security checks get lost, hundreds of elderly are aren't able to pay heating bill or buy medication.

Two headlines. One you see, one you don't. Easy explanation as to why.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I guess I'd be hopeful that news of what the President is doing (not so much that he's with the Dalai Lama) would help a click rate.

Is he planning to launch an attack on China w/ DL's help?
Is he planning to name the DL as a cabinet member?
Is there truly anything about the DL that's relevant to the US?

Given the answer to those questions, I have a tough time seeing it helping the click rate much.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Honest questions. Does he get credit for doing something that many of us would not have done or does he get credit for doing what he is supposed to do? I don't want to be negative but what did he do? He chose his wife's health over his profession. Well to paraphrase Chris Rock, that is what he is supposed to do. Athletes are supposed to choose to be with their wife during the birth of a child. Athletes are supposed to choose their faith over playing a game during Rosh Hashanah. But yet in many cases athletes are criticized for not being "professional" enough, not having the proper commitment to the game and their teammates and even worse, being selfish. I don't think the public can have it both ways. If we give Guerrero or Phil Mickelson extra point for what they do, shouldn't we then rip athletes who leave their families in times of crisis to play in games? We don't, we praise them for performing despite the stressful circumstances they are under.

Couldn't agree more, though yes I think he should get credit for doing what he is supposed to do. Whether it be family, religion, or a cause someone believes in.

To your other question, I don't think we should rip an athlete for leaving their families to play a game, since it may be something their families asked or even insisted they do, so I wouldn't rip or praise the athlete not knowing the dynamics.

Great points though.

[ntndeacon]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I guess I'd be hopeful that news of what the President is doing (not so much that he's with the Dalai Lama) would help a click rate.

Even amongst my (reasonably well-educated) friends, I don't know that even 25% could tell me his nationality, or who he is.

/tk

I believe he now has Canadian citizenship. That makes him a darned Canuck!