What's the Difference?

The difference between sports journalists and us comes down to motivation - and skill, and style, but also motivation. Mark Purdy's Jed York column in the San Jose Mercury News Wednesday, January 26th is a good example. Mark is tasked with writing about sports on a continual basis. Empty pages mean an empty pocketbook. The need to be original and interesting drives writers to nurture their relationships with newsmakers. These forces and other editorial considerations may conflict with their beliefs. I empathize that it must be challenging to walk that line and still remain relevant. But, I don't have to empathize that much, because here at dumpyork we don't make money. I don't say that proudly. I'd like to make some money. Really I would, but not from dumpyork. 

In Mr. Purdy's column we understand that he finds us "tiresome." Gee Mark, we're working pretty hard at being entertaining with our funny songs, flashy animations, and half-witted attempts at satire. You'd think we'd get a little credit for giving it the old college try. Instead you ask why we "don't get it. Because the Yorks are not selling the team!

Did Lech Walesa, the union organizer who liberated Poland, quit because the Kremlin just wasn't in the mood to chuck its political philosophy? Not to overstate our case here, but when you get beyond dumpyork's goofy persona, you get to read the fan's real pain.

Mark Purdy patronizes that pain. Why? I believe the "Give Him a chance" message was Mark's way of sucking up to a future newsmaker, Jed York. Purdy's case for cozying up to Jed is pitiable. It comes from his motivation to establish a positive relationship with Jed, who he believes will be good interview fodder for years to come. He just wants Jed to pick up the phone when he calls.

That Purdy chooses to demean a legitimate grass roots effort to persuade Jed's mom to fire Jed's dad, at the same time is, in my opinion, a poor choice. In the end that is all sports writers have to offer--their opinion.

Forgive Mark. He needs to make a buck. We don't.

That's the difference.