Inside Conditions…Supply and demand
http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/40636/1/Inside-ConditionsSupply-and-demand/Page1.html
Aubrey Bruce
Courier Sports Columnist
By Aubrey Bruce
Published on 05/8/2008
I have grown quite weary of an almost inaudible whine, sort of like a silent dog whistle constantly being blown regarding African-Americans complaining about the depiction of Black athletes by the mainstream media. It is a known fact that almost any American of color who happens to hold a public occupation whether in politics, sports, entertainment, science or any other vocation that may invite public scrutiny or approval should know that besides having to contend with dual standards, there are multiple layers that have to be peeled away in order to even get to the existing standards.
Inside Conditions…Supply and demand
by Aubrey Bruce
For New Pittsburgh Courier
I have grown quite weary of an almost inaudible whine, sort of like a silent dog whistle constantly being blown regarding African-Americans complaining about the depiction of Black athletes by the mainstream media. It is a known fact that almost any American of color who happens to hold a public occupation whether in politics, sports, entertainment, science or any other vocation that may invite public scrutiny or approval should know that besides having to contend with dual standards, there are multiple layers that have to be peeled away in order to even get to the existing standards.
Why has a significant percentage of the Black community become so sensitive regarding how some Black athletes are being portrayed by the general media? First and foremost, don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time. If you know there are higher standards and a different set of rules applied to your existence, find out what those rules and standards are and adhere to them until you can change them. Don’t expect the advantages or the penalties to be the same for the minority as they are for the majority.
I was having a problem with a superior at a new job. I sought the counsel of my father the great Oprah Elliott Bruce. After listening to my story he looked me in the eye and said in a tongue and cheek-ish sort of way, “Son, sometimes you have to kiss a little ‘hiney’ until you can kick a little ‘hiney.’ Former Steelers great and future Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis seemed to get it soon after he was let go by the L.A/St. Louis Rams, his employer prior to him becoming a prince in the Steelers nation. His reputation had become slightly tarnished when he arrived in the steel city. However, he instantly became a chameleon and fit perfectly into the blue collar psyche of the region. Even his celebration after a good running play had a sort of Pittsburgh flair to it. The high, goose-stepping, legs pumping end of every successful rushing attempt was worth the price of admission all by itself. It was like he was saying, I run hard and I am going to do it, over and over, again, again and again. I am sure at times that celebratory display was demoralizing to a tired and sore defense with an entire fourth quarter left to play. Almost like a steelworker or laborer saying, “Hey, I am going to do this eight hours in the mill or the plant again, again and again, with no complaints.”
Before, during and after each contest Bettis smiled into and welcomed the camera, embracing and cuddling it like and old friend or family member. Bettis was in a comfort zone with the media that is rare for a gladiator of his stature, regardless of sport. But Bettis had beaten them at their own game. He tapped into their inner-consciousness first. He not only identified with the fans and the media, he became a standard bearer for their ideals. To attack him would have almost been like attacking a brother or a friend. Nonetheless, if Bettis had stumbled too many times; he too would have been fair game. It almost seemed as if Bettis was gifted with an incredible amount of ESP or could he have simultaneously studied the positive and negative tendencies of the writers while they were covering him?
Maybe the athletes of today should keep journals and share information on who to talk or not to talk to. Maybe there should be a “snake-ometer” developed for television, radio and print, a sort of “writer to watch out for” gauge.
The lowest or non-venomous level of the “snake-ometer,” the garter snake, is the cub reporter or writer just glad to be in the locker room or clubhouse. He will quote the athlete verbatim and in sequence. There will be no omissions or quote manipulations.
The second level is the rattlesnake level. This is the journeyman reporter who is going to bite but at least the athlete or person will receive a fair warning and the majority of the time will be able to escape with minimum or no damage to his or her reputation.
The third and most dangerous level is the King Cobra. This is the bitter and angry reporter or columnist who will continue to bite and inject venom even after rigor mortis has set in. If you don’t believe this ask Barry Bonds or O.J. Simpson.
When sports reporters misrepresent and manipulate the facts, then the opinions of sports columnists, radio and talk show hosts cross the line of reality into absurdity; but aside from the issues of libel and slander, it is their right to express their opinions. However, it is also the right of the athlete to turn off his/her pipeline of information and insight when they have been inaccurately and often purposely portrayed in a negative light. When approached for information and interviews if athletes would begin to send some of these “rogue journalists” away empty-handed with their tapes stuck on rewind and their tails tucked between their legs, I have a sneaking suspicion that the current etiquette and standards of sports reporting would be transformed into a more positive format almost overnight.
If reporters and journalists use dishonest methods to cover and depict any athlete, coach or person associated with sport, then the individual who is incorrectly portrayed must create and implement a new set of rules. There is an old saying that states “definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” When athletes do and say the right thing then no one, absolutely no one, has the right to sling mud into their drinking water.
D. Orlando Ledbetter, a sports journalist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution correctly points out that young Black athletes must be educated to understand that “all that glitters is not gold.” We must also educate these athletes that the mouths they look into on a daily basis may not be the mouths of gift horses. The Hollywood quote that “any press is better than no press at all,” may not necessarily apply to the Black athlete.
(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com. 412-952-5811.)
For New Pittsburgh Courier
I have grown quite weary of an almost inaudible whine, sort of like a silent dog whistle constantly being blown regarding African-Americans complaining about the depiction of Black athletes by the mainstream media. It is a known fact that almost any American of color who happens to hold a public occupation whether in politics, sports, entertainment, science or any other vocation that may invite public scrutiny or approval should know that besides having to contend with dual standards, there are multiple layers that have to be peeled away in order to even get to the existing standards.
Why has a significant percentage of the Black community become so sensitive regarding how some Black athletes are being portrayed by the general media? First and foremost, don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time. If you know there are higher standards and a different set of rules applied to your existence, find out what those rules and standards are and adhere to them until you can change them. Don’t expect the advantages or the penalties to be the same for the minority as they are for the majority.
I was having a problem with a superior at a new job. I sought the counsel of my father the great Oprah Elliott Bruce. After listening to my story he looked me in the eye and said in a tongue and cheek-ish sort of way, “Son, sometimes you have to kiss a little ‘hiney’ until you can kick a little ‘hiney.’ Former Steelers great and future Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis seemed to get it soon after he was let go by the L.A/St. Louis Rams, his employer prior to him becoming a prince in the Steelers nation. His reputation had become slightly tarnished when he arrived in the steel city. However, he instantly became a chameleon and fit perfectly into the blue collar psyche of the region. Even his celebration after a good running play had a sort of Pittsburgh flair to it. The high, goose-stepping, legs pumping end of every successful rushing attempt was worth the price of admission all by itself. It was like he was saying, I run hard and I am going to do it, over and over, again, again and again. I am sure at times that celebratory display was demoralizing to a tired and sore defense with an entire fourth quarter left to play. Almost like a steelworker or laborer saying, “Hey, I am going to do this eight hours in the mill or the plant again, again and again, with no complaints.”
Before, during and after each contest Bettis smiled into and welcomed the camera, embracing and cuddling it like and old friend or family member. Bettis was in a comfort zone with the media that is rare for a gladiator of his stature, regardless of sport. But Bettis had beaten them at their own game. He tapped into their inner-consciousness first. He not only identified with the fans and the media, he became a standard bearer for their ideals. To attack him would have almost been like attacking a brother or a friend. Nonetheless, if Bettis had stumbled too many times; he too would have been fair game. It almost seemed as if Bettis was gifted with an incredible amount of ESP or could he have simultaneously studied the positive and negative tendencies of the writers while they were covering him?
Maybe the athletes of today should keep journals and share information on who to talk or not to talk to. Maybe there should be a “snake-ometer” developed for television, radio and print, a sort of “writer to watch out for” gauge.
The lowest or non-venomous level of the “snake-ometer,” the garter snake, is the cub reporter or writer just glad to be in the locker room or clubhouse. He will quote the athlete verbatim and in sequence. There will be no omissions or quote manipulations.
The second level is the rattlesnake level. This is the journeyman reporter who is going to bite but at least the athlete or person will receive a fair warning and the majority of the time will be able to escape with minimum or no damage to his or her reputation.
The third and most dangerous level is the King Cobra. This is the bitter and angry reporter or columnist who will continue to bite and inject venom even after rigor mortis has set in. If you don’t believe this ask Barry Bonds or O.J. Simpson.
When sports reporters misrepresent and manipulate the facts, then the opinions of sports columnists, radio and talk show hosts cross the line of reality into absurdity; but aside from the issues of libel and slander, it is their right to express their opinions. However, it is also the right of the athlete to turn off his/her pipeline of information and insight when they have been inaccurately and often purposely portrayed in a negative light. When approached for information and interviews if athletes would begin to send some of these “rogue journalists” away empty-handed with their tapes stuck on rewind and their tails tucked between their legs, I have a sneaking suspicion that the current etiquette and standards of sports reporting would be transformed into a more positive format almost overnight.
If reporters and journalists use dishonest methods to cover and depict any athlete, coach or person associated with sport, then the individual who is incorrectly portrayed must create and implement a new set of rules. There is an old saying that states “definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” When athletes do and say the right thing then no one, absolutely no one, has the right to sling mud into their drinking water.
D. Orlando Ledbetter, a sports journalist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution correctly points out that young Black athletes must be educated to understand that “all that glitters is not gold.” We must also educate these athletes that the mouths they look into on a daily basis may not be the mouths of gift horses. The Hollywood quote that “any press is better than no press at all,” may not necessarily apply to the Black athlete.
(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com. 412-952-5811.)