Hatfields vs. McCoys Mentality Won't Die Overnight

Apparently, when Graham Rahal won at St. Petersburg there was some cheering in the press area.

It's been reported by reputable journalists Curt Cavin and Jeff Olson, so it must be true. Apparently, some of these cheerers were thrilled that a former Champ Car driver beat the IndyCar boys and girl in his first race. Curt and Jeff (and I'm sure others) were aghast -- yes, aghast -- that there was cheering.

Jeff Olson busted off a big rant against anyone and everyone on SpeedTV.com:

Add the growing number of untrained and unprofessional word butchers to the clutter, and objectivity goes the way of the front-engine roadster. Apparently this occupation is now open to anyone who can type with his or her knuckles, no education or experience required. No need for a degree or employment, just crown yourself a bloggist, start typing and apply for that credential.

Wow. Read it all here.

Well, speaking as a former, real, professional, working-for-a-newspaper, award-winning JOURNALIST, I think I can maybe say: Simmer down, there, Jeff. Flash back with me to Mass Communications Law class. Question 1: "Who has the freedom of the press?" Answer: "Anyone who has one (a printing press)."

Despite Jeff's romantic notions, the occupation of "journalist" has always been open to "anyone who can type with his or her knuckles, no education or experience required. No need for a degree or employment." Back in the day, all you needed was a printing press, ink and paper and, poof, you're a journalist.

Well, today everyone has a printing press. It's call the Internet. So, in a very real sense, bloggers and everyone else have as much right publish as someone who works for USA Today and has 19 Pulitzers to his or her name. Deal with it.

The real issue is quality. Some speech is crap that should be ignored and some isn't. In America, the distinction between the two is left to the consumer. That is how it has always been and always will be. Jeff Olson's opinion that much of what's published online is total crap and therefore should be ignored is one that's shared with a lot of people. But it's still just an opinion.

I think that it's a little naive to think that the Hatfields vs. the McCoys mentality -- IRL vs. Champ Car -- that's grown up over 12 years will disappear with the first "unified" race. It's also a bit disingenuous to believe that how the Champ Car teams adapt to their first year in the IRL isn't a story. Because it is. It also seems to me that how the Big Three react to having someone beat them for the first time since mid-2005 is a story. But then again, I'm just a blogger.

There's a huge market-driven element to journalism. You try to put the information in your product that readers want to read (or view or hear about, etc.). And make no mistake, the readers decide what they want to read. It's the readers who lead the show, not the newspapers. Newspapers try to anticipate readers, not the other way around.

Readers want to know how the Champ Car teams are adjusting. They want to know how dominant IRL teams feel suddenly having some competition. Now that the shoe may be on the other foot on the road courses, how will the Big Three take it? These are all legitimate stories. As are those mentioned in Olson's rant.

So to get all freaked out because there is some lingering resentments and some Us vs. Them hanging on in the first year of this merger is goofy. Maybe it will actually attract interest to the sport. Hey, if Danica's SI layout and Helio's dancing are great because they attract attention, why isn't a little inter-league rivalry also great? Attention is attention, isn't it?

There's always been cheering in the press box at sporting events. I'm 100% in favor of anyone breaking what minimal behavior standards there are in press centers/boxes to be marched out and de-credentialed at the gate. There was also cheering, I'm sure, in the blogger-free 1952 Indy 500 press box. Because there have always been idiots masquerading as "journalists" and people who get carried away. Welcome to reality. If the league/tracks want to toss people who cheer -- or deny them credentials because their blogs are crap -- that's their right. Why get all freaked out about it now?

Edit: Read a couple more reactions. Meeshbeer has posted, as has Jeff of MyNameIsIRL.com.

Comments

[The American Mutt]

What strikes me as funny about this is that most of the IRL fans were probably cheering on a "transition" victory by Rahal as much as those "journalists". A win by someone other than theig three--come on--cause for celebraion! It's not, however, like a backmarker won. THE team from Champ Car won on a strategy race...color me shocked!

[Duke]

OK this guy is a true asshat. I've have been in many press rooms in both motorsports and stick and ball sports. There is ALWAYS cheering going on, along with loads of betting as well. I think Jeff needs to talk to Vanna White not about buying a vowel, but buy buying a CLUE! As long as they put it down the middle when it comes time to report, WHO GIVES A MONKEYS what they say/do/react before it goes to print.

[The American Mutt]

I think his point was how skewed is their writing as a result of their bias. Not that I'm agreeing with his point. Although, in reading the article, all I could think of was the constant ball washing the Pats got all season long. Does he really think this mentality is exclusive to the open wheel press booth. I can promise you Chris Collinsworth cried many a tear when his team choked it at the superbowl. Man that was a thing of beauty.

[pressdog]

You're both right. Bad behavior has gone on forever in media centers. Sha. And there's always some level of us vs. them. In the IRL it was haves vs. have nots for, um, ever. Another point is what's the difference between a reporter and an opinion writer? Many do both now. Back in the day when I was working for a newspaper, you were either a reporter or a columnist, NEVER both. So in a real sense Olson, Cavin, Miller -- all talented guys -- have blurred the line themselves. I also disagree with his claim that the sports reporters are the idiots of the newsroom. Not in the two I worked in. That's a big blow to the crotch to a lot of really great sports reporters.

[Meeshbeer]

did he ever consider that maybe, just maybe, they were cheering because the son of a racing legend just won his first race?? Does he think there wouldn't be the same cheering and sentimental media swell if Marco wins? And is it really sooooo bad if there is?

Restaurant critics eat the food. Theatre critics applaud the performance. Why shouldn't sports journalists cheer at the conclusion of an event. It was entertaining and enjoyable. It does not demean your integrity to admit as much.

[holtzball]

Congrats to Graham Rahal! Great for a rookie to nail it on the inaugural oval unification!
This just proves that come Indy 500 time, you better have your act together. There will be extreme competition on bump day and some of the prima don's and maybe 1 prima donna will not be able to take so much for granted.
So tired of hearing Danica: "When am I gonna get that first race?" Shut up and take notice, a rookie in his first IRL race just kicked your tail.He's no graham cracker, but I bet you still didn't like the taste of that!

[Evan]

Holtzball, don't you mean you're tired of OTHER people asking that question?

I really do not understand this total disdain by certain MSM members of blogging. It's as if having a blog AND doing the in-depth field work & keeping with journalistic standards are mutually exclusive which they don't have to be.

[Zappatista]

Right on Big Dog! Well said, for a hack and all...

[My Name Is IRL]

Wait, you won an award? Was it a lamp shaped like a woman's leg?

Seriously though, solid job of making a solid point there. None of us (journalists, bloggers, countrymen) needs to have won an award to be able to make a valid point - just say your piece, publish it, and let the free market forces decide which of us are worth a flying WHO GIVES A MONKEYS.

[pressdog]

It was a "major award." I still have it in our living room window.

[The American Mutt]

Frah-Gee-Lee...it must be Italian.

[Allan Brewer]

JO's comments made me think about objectivity: how objectively will those cheering treat the inevitable shunt when GR is punted, or punts someone else, off the track

That's where the problem lies with blatantly siding with one racer, one league, one way of thinking or worshipping or whatever

I see where he's coming, from as 'Objectivity' is typically No. 1 on any list of journalistic ethics