Short Bus Journalism

By Mark Solway | December 7th, 2006

I just wanted to take an opportunity to dispel a few myths in this whole ‘saga’ that the media has created about the B.Lloyd helmet toss. First off… 90% of the impetus of this story comes STRICTLY from the fact that Joe Gibbs did not answer affirmatively that B.Lloyd would play this upcoming Sunday when asked by the media (on Monday). Gibbs NEVER said that he wouldn’t, NEVER said that there would be discilplinary actions against Brandon… all he did was answer that he was going to sit down with Brandon again on Tuesday and talk about some things. As usual, the media pundits filled in all of their own blanks. Having any basis in fact is obviously completely optional in modern sports journalism… so they just took it and ran with it. It made for ‘good press’ in a week where Redskin fans were coming to the realization that the playoffs weren’t coming in 2006. I’m going to lay out a few things for you… you can choose to believe whatever you like, but I want you to keep in mind that I spoke to Brandon personally about it both on Monday night and last night at the Washington Capitals game. 1) Brandon told JF and I from the start that he couldn’t believe the media were just running with the fact that Gibbs didn’t give a definitive answer. He told us Monday that he was meeting with Joe on Tuesday and that he had no reason whatsoever to believe that he wouldn’t be playing against the Eagles. 2) Brandon hasn’t once changed his stance. He’s consistently said that he apologizes for costing the team 15 yards, but he was frustrated and he can’t ‘undo’ it. 3) Somehow, some media outlets were posting yesterday that Brandon was being suspended by the team and even went as far as to say that he might be deactivated for the rest of the season. A sphincter says WHAT? I’d be interested to know what Cracker Jack box those credentials came from… 4) I got it STRAIGHT from Brandon’s mouth that not only was he playing, but that he and Joe had a really good chat and that he thought that both he and Joe came away with a better understanding of some things. This is just yet another example of the media making a mountain out of a mole hill. It’s their job. Apparently they’re just here to convolute issues for you the reader, and to try and sensationalize their way to a successful career in journalism. There wasn’t much to this story from the start. There wasn’t much truth to most of what has been printed. Just look at the ACTUAL QUOTES in any of these ‘telling articles’. They’re fluff pieces. They stem from an inability to do anything but errantly interpret events. There’s no accountability for the reporters because you – JOE READER – is going to click on the links, or pick up the paper and read it regardless of the level of truth in them. It’s the ‘easy’ way. It’s easier and quicker to write something that isn’t true than to actually find out the truth. Frankly, it makes me sick. I implore you to learn how to read the modern sports piece… with about ten grains of…