What Lee Jenkins' LeBron scoop says about our industry

I didn't read it that way at all.

I actually think this was the best story I've read on the subject.

"In recognizing James' ownership of his own damn story, SI and Jenkins violated no journalistic ethics, but they did impugn on the media's imagined ownership of the news. The very notion of allowing a source to tell his story registers as offensive to those still wed to ancient codes ill-suited to modernity, even as the present reveals their bloated self-regard. Remember, this all comes down to who you'd rather hear about James' decision from: X sports reporter or LeBron James. Imagine the ego it takes to believe the public would prefer the former.

Now, let's never talk about sportswriting ever again."

 

To clarify, I meant the writer was taking to task the people who grumbled about the way SI handled the story.

 

OK, gotcha. That makes more sense.

I thought it was a great read and I would not have seen it if you hadn't posted the link, so thanks for that.

 

That stance, distilled, is: <i>Who the fuck cares about standards? It's sports.</i>

It's a cynical, boring, nihilistic stance for which I have little use.

 

That last sentence is off-putting, but the rest of the story is far more interesting than the whining in the WP and NYT articles.

 

<i>Remember, this all comes down to who you'd rather hear about the second Iraq War from: news reporters or Dick Cheney. Imagine the ego it takes to believe the public would prefer the former.</i>

 

I meant the "Let's never talk about sportswriting again."

 

Can we stop with this comparison already?

LeBron James is not an elected official who is directly accountable to the public, and makes decisions that affect hundreds of millions of people's lives, often for selfish or nefarious reasons, and have every reason in the world to twist facts to fit a political narrative.

 

Well said, Mr.
I like the way you construct a syllogism.
Were I an old lady instead of an old man, I might find your logical progressions sexy as hell.

 

The "toy department" label is convenient sometimes, isn't it?

 

<i>Remember, this all comes down to who you'd rather hear about Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks from: sports reporters or Scott Brooks. Imagine the ego it takes to believe the public would prefer the former.</i>

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/74566668/oklahoma-city-thunder-scott-brooks-la-clippers-nba-west-playoffs#!bgfMQI

Is that better?

 

Yes, thank you.

Strong analysis absolutely has a place in sports writing. If I had my way, it'd be a way more prominent place than it has currently.

But, still, the LeBron situation was as black and white as it gets. The interest in reading about The Decision II lies in his rationale. I don't know which sports writer out there could explain it better than the man himself.

And, a first-person essay is no more polished than the sanitized quotes another writer would've gotten for a traditional story.