controversial topic here: has sports media gotten soft?

Tristen DuCross

yes reporters are scared to ask the tough questions.

Bernard Thompson

VERIFIED

100% agree however I will say this. It used to be sports writers/analysts criticized an athlete’s performance/success/effort. These days media goes after them away from the sport as well (didn’t used to be this way) so it’s gotten personal. In response to that many athletes don’t allow access unless a media person is perceived to be soft (example Tom Brady and Jim Gray). It’s unfortunate but I get it.

Frederick Remick

Yes I think thats all media in general. But ya I find it frustrating that most sports media won't even call there home team on bullshit. Thats the most frustrating thing since the Padres left the 1090, no one will question there shit.

Derrick McQuinn

When I covered the Chargers fulltime, I felt few reporters were willing to push with hard questions. When I asked Norv Turner," If now was the right time for a change" at HC after the Chargers blew a 24-0 halftime lead, I thought that was just a poignant question given the circumstances. The audio of the question ran on national shows because I dared to ask it.

Dan McLellan

It isn't reporters, or questions, or the media in general. It is the weakness of the current society. Society is sick and the reporters are reporting illness without a cure.

Yeah I think people who cover sports athletes (mainstream, blogging, radio, etc) need to have an actual knowledge of either how to play the sport or at least the psychology of what it takes to compete. Going after personal habits, traits, faults is easy...really knowing the grind is hard. I played a couple sports competitively through college (unfortunately never pro) and understand the athletes side of this. Also social media, TMZ has put anyone in the limelight on alert to not expose themselves and be honest. I do love old school journalism!

see i fall in the top portion of what you said. I take pride in knowing what I'm talking about to analyze what I see to give a criticism,  I also acknowledge something isn't right I'll call you out on it. I have part old school because that's how I was taught and bit of new school 

So I get what you say

Yep too much influence of certain parties threatening to sue or file a law suit and not enough people standing up for their own people anymore

Good for you Dan!  I remember that exchange... the SD media has been notoriously soft on the Pads, Aztecs, and Chargers (while they were in town). The economics definitely complicate matters, beat writers need jobs, TV and radio stations need contracts, etc. Teams control their own narrative in SD. When you lose like they have for decades, no one outside of the local media cares.