The information technology of weblogs and Twitter has caused a leveling or has leveled the playing field for athletes against sports journalists. Athletes have always had to compete up-hill against slanted journalists. In a way, the journalists have been the hunters and the athletes the prey. Give the Deer a gun and then you will have a real sport. Words are dangerous and journalists have wielded them unreciprocated since forever until now.
Reciprocation: journalists are finding out that reciprocation can be an unpleasant experience. Playing by the same rules seems to have diminished some journalists' bravado and excited others'. Journalists don't like it that athletes now have a megaphone as well--a platform to tell their side of the story. Some hate it and some are intimidated by it. Kudos to those non-coward journalists who are not afraid of people's ability to defend themselves; for people's ability to bring to light the truth; for people's ability to shine a spotlight on inauthentic and corrupt journalism. Only the corrupt hate reciprocity; only the corrupt hate mutual benefit.
Congratulations to the authentic and honest sports journalists:
"Journalists practically beg athletes to be honest. We want them to be provocative, fun and raw. And as soon as they are -- particularly if it's an opinion with which we disagree -- we annihilate them for their original thoughts."
A real separation is now possible between legitimate sports journalists and the corrupt.
And athletes, just because you can tweet doesn't mean you should tweet; remember, reciprocation.
