Arthur Church of Christ

What is it that earns the media’s attention? When we answer that question, we have another: What does it say about the media and about the direction in which our country is going?

One recent story that the media jumped on concerned Mike Rice, basketball coach at Rutgers, who was filmed on video shoving, kicking and yelling at his players.  He was even seen throwing a basketball at them.  Even worse, he was guilty of using “homophobic slurs,” which marked him as a homophobe, and thus an obnoxious villain.  I understand he was fired as a result of his misconduct.  I have no intention of defending his course actions, but wonder why it justified  at least 36 news stories, taking up 41 minutes and 26 seconds on air-time on ABC, CBS and NBC.

Another news story that I heard over and over again on the news channels was of a basketball player, Jason Collins, who achieved acclaim as the first active athlete in major American sports to “come out of the closet,” announcing himself as a practicing homosexual.  The media was beside itself in trumpeting his “courage” and “boldness.”  In one day he was elevated from a virtually unknown to a gallant “hero.”  So earth-shaking was his announcement, that even our president is reported to have taken the time from his busy schedule to call him on the phone and congratulate him, saying, “I’m proud of you.”  The few who respectfully took exception to such plaudits were quickly declared to be bigoted, intolerant and hateful.  After all, “We live in a new age, a new world, where times and cultures have changed and are changing,” as one declared.  Collins’ status has risen from being an unknown in the sports-world to receiving endorsement-offers and a guarantee of his position on the team for next year.