I wrote a column the other day saying Al Davis disrespects fans when he restricts media access in Napa far short of what other teams do. For example, at the 49ers camp media are free to roam the sideline but in Napa they are restricted to a 35-yard box. I also wrote the media respresents the fans and the fans should feel insulted by what the Raiders do.
Many readers of the Cohn Zohn -- I assume they are Raiders fans -- took me to task and said the media does not represent them. They said I am negative about the Raiders and so is the rest of the media.
This is a reasonable point to put forward and I'd like to respond. Does the media represent fans?
Forget about me. I have not yet been to Napa this preseason because I was on vacation and have had other assignments since returning. Anyway, I'm an opinion writer -- I write what I think and I try to state my opinions clearly and forcefully. That's the job of a columnist.
But there are beat writers who work hard at covering the Raiders -- our Phil Barber is one of them. Beat writers try to be neutral in their tone and to present facts accurately and fairly. Phil sure does. But when the Raiders cut off his visibility so he can't see certain drills, they are limiting his ability to report. That means you don't learn as much about the Raiders as you might about the 49ers from their beat writers.
If you want to defend what the Raiders are doing, that's your business. But I must point out other teams allow beat writers to work in better conditions. I also must point out the people the Raiders ultimately short-change are you the fans.
For the most part, true beat writers are filling an information void for the fans. In that respect they do represent the fans.
Opinion writers, more & more, just like to rant in a negative fashion. They don't come close to representing the fans. Most of the time we could do without them just fine.
Some writers, like Tim K. of the Mercury news are just mean. Venom drips from his pen.
is there a new url for Phil Barber's Instant Raiders? It hasn't been updated since that Warriors Anti-Raiders post.
The media is the voice of the fans. Beat writes give us the info. And opion writers call out the mistakes and sometimes give praise. It's been a few years since the 49ers gave them a reason to praise them. But the writers have praised their baby steps the 49ers have taken. The Raiders are always getting beat down because the team is so messed up. They have not done a single thing right since 2002. They are laughable. Al Davis is a control freak that needs to do something else with the time he has left on this earth. The Raiders are just too good at being bad. Thanks to Tom Cable for giving us our latest reason to laugh at them.
I agree 100% Lowell.
Most readers nowdays don't get the difference between what guys like you and Lynch do and what guys like Maiocco and Barrows do.
This is OP/ED people.
*ALOHA*
That said, I believe members of the sports media represent THEMSELVES...and the fans...in that order.
*ALOHA*
Lowell,
Some people just don't get it!
Lowell, I am not sure if the media actually represents the fan. I find your examples to be interesting and I do appreciate your recent insights towards the Raiders organization. The Raiders certainly make it difficult for a reporter to succeed at their given jobs...with that said - I personally do not feel that the media's portrayal of the Raiders is unfair and the bias that we have previous conversed about is likely deserved. At the same time, I am a fan of the Raiders and will always be a fan of the Raiders. I hope this sounds correct...An avid sports fan should be intelligent enough to decipher what the media is saying and the fan must be able to determine their own opinions based upon on our own preferences or emotions towards a given subject that is being reported upon.
Lowell, I am not a Raiders fan, I'm a Niners fan. I cringe when I hear anyone in any media claim to be a representative of the fans. Just write the best column you can and let the chips fall where they may. If you consistently write well, I'll keep reading whether I disagree or not. If you consistently write crap, I'll quit reading. That is the relationship we have. Complaints about how hard it is to make a living watching football practice fall on deaf ears.
I find people all wrapped up in what another human being writes great entertainment. Lowell, you know I'm a huge fan. I appreciate character and honesty. With that said, I appreciated you pointing the difference between a beat and an opinion writer.
Let me just say this. I cannot stand Howard Stern. I think the guy is a complete idiot. Yet people listen and he's made a great deal of money on his opinions. I bet many Raider Fans love Howard. I bet they can't see any difference calling you out and then 10 minutes later enjoying Howard. I have a choice however...and I exercise that choice. I choose not to listen to Howard. Life is too short for me to get upset and try to change him. I don't call into his show and argue with him. I leave it be. Yet for some strange reason people can't seem to let you have your opinion and let it be. I don't understand that and I never will.
Yes the Raiders are acting in an absurd manner. What is amusing is when did you last see anything innovative? I can't remember the last time. So what are they hiding? What great plans? It's really a joke and the Raiders fan suffer as a result with less then optimal press coverage.
Go get em' Lowell. Nice job, as usual.
Lowell: Without your reporting, I'd have never known that the reporters had been herded into a 30 yd--opps, offside, 5 yd penalty--25 yd holding pen. That Al, he's got a mean sense of humor. Did all the national guys get one leg chained to a stake in the ground, too? Keep up the good work.
How do I find your article on Al?
Thanks
I believe the media doesn't represent ANYBODY, whether it be sports, business, or politics. The media is a self-absorbed lot, representing nothing but the interest of itself. Which is why advertising/subscription revenues have fallen so dramatically over the past decade.
Herb,
Go to the PD website, click sports, and scroll down. On the left near the bottom you'll see my mug shot and a list of columns below that. If you can't get it, email me at lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com and I'll forward it to you. Thanks for reading. Lowell
Thanks Lowell. Its nice to read something from you that isn't totally negative.