Erin Andrews and the Cubs locker room: Discuss

Did WriteThinking ever make a great point or what.

If you're going to do an article like that, how unfair was it not to approach Andrews for comment?

Truly unfair.

To Mike: Did it ever occur to you to ask her about what was going on?

 

If it was an article that would be a great point.
It was a opinion piece. The other side's story is Not a requirement. Granted, it would have been nice to get both sides, but not a requirement.


Edit: I said the same thing about the Buffalo columnist who trashed Carl Malone about his treatment of his unclaimed son. The guy ripped Malone, but never bothered to even seek comment. I felt he should have at least tried.
That was a column. Not a blog.

 

It's so elementary, and yet so easily forgotten. If you're going to be critical of someone, you give them an opportunity for response.

And, Mike?

Jay Rotz
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.

 

Nadel back. First, I'm only an occasional reader and a very rare poster. I won't be coming back here three times a day to answer questions, respond to insults/praise, etc. But a legitimate point has been raised: Why didn't I approach Erin Andrews for comment?

When I left the field and went to the pressbox, I didn't think I was going to be writing a column about her. I thought it might end up being a several-paragraph blog item. (Yes, I write a blog, The Baldest Truth, but the Andrews work in question was a column written for the dozens of newspapers we own across the state and country.) Or maybe, given the reactions to her from Piniella and the players, I'd drop a few paragraphs into the column

But as I reviewed my notes and thought about it more, I said to myself: "Self, Erin Andrews just might be the column. Not a third straight day of Cubs-Brewers, with a fourth coming up tomorrow." And as I started to type ideas into my computer, it became obvious. I shared my thoughts with my editor, and the rest was history.

I did try to fold some baseball into it. Maybe that failed, maybe that succeeded; that's for each reader to judge. Asking Erin Andrews for comment wasn't necessary because it was a column. Do those of you out there who write columns always ask the coach, GM, player, etc., for comment before writing about him/her? Still, those who know me know I don't shy away from seeking comment. Again, using 20-20 hindsight, it wouldn't have been the worst thing to do.

The notion that I was a leering, horny, middle-aged man watching the every move of a hot babe is laughable. One didn't have to watch too closely to see what was going on. Not a single person who was there in that media-filled clubhouse - male or female - has contacted me or commented in forums such as this one to dispute what I wrote. In fact, I have heard from four other writers who were in that room - including two female journalists - who praised the column and confirmed its accuracy.

As for the language I used in the column, yes, it was laced with terms suggesting strong opinion from the writer. Hello! It was a column! Yes, I said she placed her hand "suggestively" on his bicep. That was my opinion. I didn't say she stroked it or felt it or hugged it. I said what I saw: The act suggested a closeness that isn't normal writer-source activity.

Now you'll have to excuse me. I'm off this weekend and I'm going to spend the rest of it having fun with my sweet, cute wife. (I'm guessing some leering will take place.) If you have a question for me, feel free to send me an e-mail and I'll get to it when I can, but I hope you'll understand if I say I'm done with this site for a little while.

Mike

 

Sorry Mike, but that column was creepy and it read exactly like a dirty old man.

 

And I thought you were just a gossip monger

 

Thanks for the reply.
Now, how 'bout some pictures of the sweet, cute wife? ;D

 

Wow, chickie. Way to cut through the Nadel bullshit.

 

All of a sudden, I don't wanna know about your pipeline, Moddy. I'm going to start thinking it's a euphemism. Anyhoo, not talking to Erin was definitely a missed opportunity.

 

You know me, spnited, short, sweet and to the point