Superville Review

(aol/people file photo)


Amiri Baraka's poetically hard line riff on society at large begins with these foreshadowing lines:

Something in the way of things
Something that will quit and won't start
Something you know but can't stand
Can't know get along with
Like death

Well, I don't know if Baraka's lines were a shot over the bow of modern day media and their coverage of the world, but they do fit that demographic, as well as the people who watch it.

The people who watch what is passing these days for media coverage are the something that will quit and won't start. These somethings and somebodies have quit looking for informative journalism and won't start on a path to demanding better from their media coverage by refusing to engage in the rumor mills that news coverage has become. When ESPN dedicates headlines to Alex Rodriguez and his wife's pending divorce request we know things done got too far gone; especially after the man tied all-time great Mickey Mantle's 536 home runs. The something that the somebodies know and can't stand is that they trade in a he-said, she-said brand of retro-gossip that harken back to days of high school soap operas brought to us by alienation, wistfulness, confusion and desires for popularity. The can't know/get along with like death is the idea that rummaging through time on the wings of minding other folks personal business is a waste of time. It is a type of mental death for meaningful knowledge.

Now, if A-Rod were a politician or pastor sworn to uphold certain standards maybe this coverage would be more worthy. Some would say taking vows before the Lord counts as a sworn upholding of God's law. That might be true, but that's before God and the family of that man and wife. Whether A-Rod is cheating on his wife is between God, him, his wife and their families. Not a public looking for a thrill to shock the doldrums out of their own existence. The sad thing is that for whatever A-Rod's faults might have been in his marriage, there is no proof that he was carrying on an affair with the Material Girl. There is no proof she is seeking a divorce from Guy Ritchie, her movie director husband. There is no evidence that Cynthia Rodriguez was doing anything other than taking advantage of a friend's offer of refuge during a crisis which is what Lenny Kravitz has publicly stated that he offered. But because "professional" photographers (see paparazzi)are allowed to tail folks around town and country based on their bank account or celebrity, and they snap pictures, and send stories down the grapevine, some that, at times, are whisperings from the Public Relations reps of the stars themselves, citizens are at risk for innuendo, lies or secrets being revealed. Does anybody in the media care that any of the above mentioned people have children? Probably not. That's not the "story." But is the state of A-Rod's marriage truly news?

I am lifelong Yankee fan. I would rather hear why A-Rod's general manager, Brian Cashman, has not been able to pull together a pitching staff that is consistent or why many of A-Rod's teammates' bats have gone soft. Professional athletes have long been known to carouse. All of them? No. A lot them? Yeah. But during the more archaic times in national media coverage, BI (Before Internet) and B24 (Before 24 hour cable news cycles) this information was kept between the athletes, teammates, beat writers and no one else. It was off the field and, therefore, irrelevant to the story of the game.

Now the media has made everything on the record and much of it seems to be no more than simple junior high mischief; and the viewing public eats it up and gets a glut of fast news that gets imaginations fat, but leaves intellects painfully malnourished. And there is wonderment in some quarters of America in regard to how the red, white and blue is ceding financial power to China after decades of financial dominance on the world stage. Well, Americans don't have time to think about these types of issues. A-Rod is sleeping around and his wife wants a divorce. Cue up the violins and soap detergent ads here. To quote Toni Morrison's classic character Sula Peace, "harrumph!" There's something in the way of things indeed.

Labels: A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, Cynthia Rodriguez, ESPN, Lenny Kravitz, Media Coverage

(Sports Illustrated Photo)

Brett Favre is one of the NFL's all time great Quarterback's that is not up for question. With his swashbuckling style, strong-arm confidence, emotional toughness and improvisational approach to the game Favre generated a nation of fans not just in Green Bay, but across the country. A good ole' boy, with a man-child shrug and grin appealed to football fans tired of the modern era, high maintenance, primadonna persona of NFL player. Who knew Favre was no different?

For the past several seasons Favre has turned his possible retirement into a soap opera that extended well beyond the NFL draft and into OTA's that are used to build team chemistry and chart an organizational strategy for the coming season. Favre traded on his legendary status and general likeability to hold the Packers hostage to his decision on stay or go. This off-season was no different except for the fact that Favre decided early in the process that it was time to call "game." Through tears and wistful deep breaths he thanked everybody and their mama for the good times, the memories, the camaraderie and the support. He went into the sun chin up, chest out and still loved by the media, the league and his fans. His early decision, unlike previous seasons, allowed the Packers to prepare for the future; preparing Aaron Rodgers to take the reigns as the number one and drafting Brian Brohm, the Louisville gunslinger holding more than a passing resemblance to Favre's big arm tactics. But of course it was too good to be true.

The Packers just recently cleaned out Brett Favre's locker. And only after news reports painted the picture of the organization as embarrassingly unable to let go like the guy who had the dime girl, until she moved on, but couldn't let go and let everybody know the power she still had over him. But actually, last season the world could have seen the Favre's selfish nature. After another slow build-up of deciding on play or retirement Favre started getting called out in the media about quickening his decision. His response? Favre said, "what are they gonna do? Cut me?" Favre is that gridiron dime piece who knows his status and used it with abandon. So is it really any surprise that after holding that epic press conference in Green Bay back in March that he would change his mind?

Latest reports have Favre changing his mind after catching an itch on his back that told him he still wants to ball. His family vouches for his good shape and his undiminished ability. Favre calls it all a rumor to newspapers in his native Mississippi. Yet ESPN is reporting that Favre has contacted the Packers front office about a possible return. So what do the Packers do now? Pull Aaron Rodgers, a man who was already under the heaviest pressure to perform well in replacing a legend, and re-insert legend himself? This would delay the Packers, the NFL, fans and Rodgers himself from seeing if he's up to being number one in Titletown. It would also push back the development of Brian Brohm.

Favre, as great a signal caller as he was, is showing himself to be all about Brett. And if he hasn't noticed, it's really not. The Packers should tell him thanks, but no and send him back to his deep south farm life to tip a beer and wheel his tractor.

Labels: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Brian Brohm, ESPN, Green Bay Packers, NFL