Althouse: "ESPN regrets... we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."

August 27, 2014

"ESPN regrets... we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."

"On Tuesday, while providing an update about [Michael] Sam’s quest to make the St. Louis Rams’ final roster, reporter Josina Anderson said that a Rams 'defensive player told me that "Sam is respecting our space" and that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable.'"

What exactly are the standards... other than never saying anything that gets criticized? Obviously, it's not: Don't talk about an athlete's sexual orientation. Journalists seem eager to talk a whole lot about the openly gay football player. If it's important, why is it important? Wasn't the issue supposed to have something to do with the intimacy of the locker room?

Watch the whole clip at the link, because I think Josina Anderson did the work she was assigned to do and certainly doesn't seem homophobic. I don't think ESPN's apology reflex is fair to her.

61 comments:

Seeing Red said...: Those few lines are written poorly. I thought respecting our space meant waiting for the decision. I had to read it twice.; 8/27/14, 1:02 PM
Anonymous said...: People who are straight can be creeped out by someone who is sexually attracted to them showering with them. Who knew? I keep forgetting the real world is like the shower scene in the 'Starship Troopers' movie.; 8/27/14, 1:10 PM
madAsHell said...: "He has shown some flashes!"; 8/27/14, 1:13 PM
bgates said...: What exactly are the standards... other than never saying anything that gets criticized?

It's "never say anything that gets criticized from the left."

They'll give Obama unstinting positive press, from pointing out when he goes to a game like reg'lar folk up to giving him an hour a year to talk to the nation about college basketball, but they'd hate to be seen as speaking ill of the famous black gay dude who wants to be in sports. Or Sam, for that matter.; 8/27/14, 1:18 PM
Birkel said...: ESPN is to sports as NBC is to news.

I wish Michael Sam nothing but success, whether in football or not. But Sam hasn't deserved the amount of press coverage he's received based on his play. If he sacked the quarterback as much as Bruce Smith or Lawrence Taylor he'd deserve the press.; 8/27/14, 1:18 PM
Hagar said...: "Liberal" (because liberal they are not) values being strictly enforced in the media environment.; 8/27/14, 1:19 PM
Unknown said...: I would add sexism (if that's the right terms for sexual discrimination) to the list:

"Today, people in the West tend to believe the ills of the age are racism, colonialism, and militarism."

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/183033/israel-insider-guide?all=1

An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth, Matti Friedman (8/26/2014), Tablet; 8/27/14, 1:22 PM
David said...: Of course the news-sports lady did not deserve the criticism. But she has to take it. Because her gutless superiors are in a better position to deflect blame.

It would be fun to ask them to publish those standards. Pretty good chance there is nothing to publish. It's all in someone's muddled head. But these are professional journalists. Let's see if they can write something coherent.; 8/27/14, 1:26 PM
Lucien said...: I think the objection is that in addressing the issue of Sam's "fitting in" with the team Ms Anderson offered up information addressing supposed concerns about his sexuality in addition to other information. If the angle had been "he doesn't fit in because he's not showering with the rest of the guys" or "he waits until he has the shower all to himself & rookies aren't supposed to do that" then the information would fit in with the fitting in topic.; 8/27/14, 1:38 PM
Clayton Hennesey said...: That's the inherent problem with sexual orientation as a hot media movement compared to alternatives. Sooner or later you exhaust talking about everything else and are left either talking about the sex or about nothing at all.; 8/27/14, 1:42 PM
jvermeer51 said...: Ann, you used the word "homophobic". That is a word selected by the gay lobby and used to imply anyone not buying their agenda is mentally ill. It is a word used to shut down discussion and analysis of opposing views. As such is it both hate speech and repressive.; 8/27/14, 1:42 PM
DanTheMan said...: JV,
>>It is a word used to shut down discussion and analysis of opposing views. As such is it both hate speech and repressive.

So are the terms "hate speech", and "repressive".; 8/27/14, 1:54 PM
The Drill SGT said...: wait till the stink when he gets cut. next week, next month, next year or next decade. sooner or later, he'll be cut and it will all be homophobia.; 8/27/14, 1:58 PM
Anonymous said...: The standard is simple. Don't offend the homosexual groups.

Whatever they perceive as offensive to them is wrong. And you need to be publicly shamed and apologize or the beatings will continue until you do.; 8/27/14, 2:12 PM
traditionalguy said...: Sucking up to to the Gay Agenda requires a totally prostrate attitude. Making eye contact with our new Gay Rulers of Culture is a media death penalty...unless you are a Duck Commander who doesn't care.; 8/27/14, 2:13 PM
Forbes said...: The problem with the ESPNization of sports reporting is that the game, match, and sport are of secondary in importance. Primary importance are the personalities, as if E!Entertainment Hollywood-style reporting is what sports fans are interested in viewing.

It was bad enough that reporters wanted access to the locker room so as to get bland quotes from the athletes while changing, showering, and dressing immediately after the game. Now ESPN decides to report on the showering after the game. From the bland to the banal--it can be said that ESPN jumped the shark.

Note to ESPN: Thee are no LGBT-related topics in sports. Sports consists of participants displaying competitive skills--not their sexual orientation.; 8/27/14, 2:19 PM
richard mcenroe said...: I had a cat who used to beat up on our family basset so badly that the traumatized mutt would run to the far end of the house and start howling.

When it comes to gays the media are that traumatized bitch.; 8/27/14, 2:27 PM
n.n said...: The lack of reconciliation, or rather its avoidance, in politically correct policies leaves victims in their wake. The resultant confusion from the inherent contradictions or selectivity in those policies was predictable. The notoriety of political correctness is well deserved but not unexpected. While the likely class of victims are in the public sphere, it is not limited to this subset of the population.; 8/27/14, 2:45 PM
MayBee said...: Some people think if you only talk about things as if they are the way they want them to be, they will magically be that way.; 8/27/14, 2:52 PM
n.n said...: Homophobia is a projected or displaced fear or hatred of a normal condition. Homosexual activists and advocates are not seeking tolerance of their orientation but normalization of their behavior. The conflict they have created is similar in character to the outcome of immigrants or migrants who fail to assimilate or act to subvert the normative culture. So much for principles of democracy or republicanism for that matter. Selective exclusion, or elevation, will need to be clarified and reconciled.; 8/27/14, 2:55 PM
RecChief said...: hmmm perhaps you should examine just why it is that they have that apology reflex in the first place.

In a related note, why is a 7th round draft pick (whose game is made for College more than the pros - no shame there, that's about 90% of college players) constantly being pushed in front of us?; 8/27/14, 3:00 PM
Mark O said...: When there are no clear, defined standards, those who enforce them are much more powerful than if there were understood limitations to their disapproval.

It's not about standards, it's about power.; 8/27/14, 3:02 PM
Gahrie said...: Ann, you used the word "homophobic". That is a word selected by the gay lobby and used to imply anyone not buying their agenda is mentally ill. It is a word used to shut down discussion and analysis of opposing views. As such is it both hate speech and repressive.

OOOh you ain't seen nothing yet when it comes to hate speech and gays' rights. You should see our hostess spike the ball when the gays win a court case.....; 8/27/14, 3:11 PM
eddie willers said...: wait till the stink when he gets cut.

I'd like to see him picked up by the Redskins.

Be a hoot watching liberals try to boo and cheer at the same time.; 8/27/14, 3:16 PM
Charlie said...: There are lots of lesbians in the WNBA, how come we never hear about their showering habits?; 8/27/14, 3:33 PM
Luke Lea said...: Just jump on somebody claiming you are outraged on behalf of some vulnerable group and you can make them grovel.; 8/27/14, 3:42 PM
Luke Lea said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/27/14, 3:47 PM
Luke Lea said...: Of course men are being silly supposing the average gay man has an interest in looking at their naked bodies while showering -- unless they happen to be unusually good looking. But you could say the same thing about heterosexual men showering with women. Men like to look at sexually attractive objects. Are gay men different in that regard? I seriously doubt it.; 8/27/14, 3:51 PM
The Drill SGT said...: Charlie said...
There are lots of lesbians in the WNBA, how come we never hear about their showering habits?

and why don't male reporters get to cover the locker room? oh, I forgot....; 8/27/14, 3:59 PM
Birches said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/27/14, 4:17 PM
William said...: The reporter informs us of his showering habits, but shrewdly fails to mention whether or not his pubes were manscaped. That should be the big story. If he doesn't manscape, then he's one of the guys.; 8/27/14, 4:17 PM
Birches said...: Of course Josina Anderson isn't homophobic. She was (under the direction of her superiors) trying to tease out the homophobic behaviors of the St. Louis Rams, so that topic could fill the next five SportsCenters. Unfortunately for ESPN, it backfired this time.; 8/27/14, 4:18 PM
glenn said...: Fart noises.; 8/27/14, 4:20 PM
Michael Fitzgerald said...: What commenter Forbes said. The only time we should hear about LBGT topics in sports is when they are covering the Gay Games.; 8/27/14, 4:22 PM
Mike said...: Tony Dungee was right. It's not the players or coaches with the problem. It's the press that won't leave it alone and makes a very low draft pick more trouble than he's worth.; 8/27/14, 4:22 PM
~ Gordon Pasha said...: The number of sports terms that are potential double entendres number in the hundreds. Wait until this catches up with the ESPN standards.; 8/27/14, 4:49 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: I don't think ESPN's apology reflex is fair to her.

I'm not sure if the Professor is baiting us here. The earlier news story out of Rotherham elicited incredulity that fear of being seen as racist affected the decision not to pursue the case. This news story shows just how hair-trigger the PC response is to anything that might possibly be construed as offensive to protected classes. No connection?
The reporter's comments were innocuous. The fact that she was still publicly repudiated (or at least apologized-for) lets you know the likely reaction to reporting anything that would actually make the subject look bad, were that subject to be gay. Does anyone believe this won't have an affect on what gets reported? Of course it's not fair, that's the point! Crimethink is fought in a few different ways (redefining words, rewriting history) but one of the most visible is by coming down like a ton of bricks on anyone who publicly contradicts the correct line. Sometimes that means people who did nothing wrong are punished, but that serves as an example for others. Easier just to not say anything that might be construed as less-than-positive-enough, right? Mouth the Progressive sibboleths (whether they apply or have any meaning at all) and move on.; 8/27/14, 5:08 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: 2nd affect-->effect (gah!); 8/27/14, 5:09 PM
Bradoplata said...: ESPN reporting has been unwatchable for years now. I had such high hopes for Fox sports one, but they are just as bad.

When did sports reporting become about the network talent instead of sports?; 8/27/14, 5:34 PM
Pianoman said...: Sam won't make the final team. Maybe some other team will pick him up, but probably not. Hopefully the Rams won't get savaged in the press the way the Redskins are.

(Full Disclosure: I am a Rams fan.)

I thought drafting Sam was a big mistake, because the predictions were that he wouldn't make it in the NFL and I assume that the LGBT Mafia will try to destroy any team that dares get rid of the guy. However, this *is* football, and considering the lack of success that the Left has had over "Redskins", it's fair to say that they might not be able to get any traction over Sam either.

August 30 is the final cut, from 75 to 53 players. We'll see what the landscape looks like on August 31 ...; 8/27/14, 5:45 PM
mccullough said...: Her report is relevant to the issue she was covering. Jackie Robinson had a similar experience with his teammates.

If Sam's teammates have some issues with his sexuality, the showers would be the place it would manifest itself the most.; 8/27/14, 5:46 PM
jvermeer51 said...: "There are lots of lesbians in the WNBA, how come we never hear about their showering habits?"
For the same reason there were far more male bath houses but not many of any female ones. Men and women are different; despite what ideologically blinded feminists say.; 8/27/14, 5:53 PM
Revenant said...: Between this and the Redskins nonsense, American football is blazing new trails in sports-related banality.; 8/27/14, 5:59 PM
Revenant said...: There are lots of lesbians in the WNBA, how come we never hear about their showering habits?

You're watching the wrong channel, that's all. Try the Spice Network, not ESPN. :); 8/27/14, 6:00 PM
mccullough said...: Rev,

Can't blame the NFL for the inanity of the sports media.; 8/27/14, 6:07 PM
jr565 said...: What standard are you supposed to use to report LGBT related topics? the FABULOUS standard?; 8/27/14, 6:29 PM
Doug said...: This is precisely why I haven't watched ESPukeN for the last five years. Journalists are libs no matter what they cover - sports, politics, or style. They come out of J school wanting to "make a difference". It is to vomit.; 8/27/14, 7:02 PM
damikesc said...: In a related note, why is a 7th round draft pick (whose game is made for College more than the pros - no shame there, that's about 90% of college players) constantly being pushed in front of us?

I live in SEC country and I know Sam was not viewed by most people as being the best defensive end in the conference. He was solid, but had a good defense around him and a lot of his sacks were more due to great secondary coverage than his skills (Clowney was markedly more feared and respected than Sam, even having a really down year).

He won't make it by his talent. And he has worlds of motivation and he doesn't give up, but Rudy wasn't going to make the pros, either.; 8/27/14, 7:38 PM
Anonymous said...: Gutless weenies.; 8/27/14, 7:39 PM
mccullough said...: 30% of NFL players weren't drafted. Sam isn't JJ Watt, but neither is Clowney.

The biggest knock on Sam is that he played in the SEC, which has great college players but not enough of them make great pros. But he's got better pro potential than Johnny Manziel and Tim Tebow and the other great college players from the SEC.; 8/27/14, 8:08 PM
J Lee said...: The latest speculation seems to be Sam did well enough this past Saturday in Cleveland to possibly make the team, but he's battling an undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M for what figures to be the ninth and final defensive lineman spot. However, since D-line is the Rams' strong point, Sam may not clear waivers if the Rams try to put him on the practice squad, and could be picked up by another team seeking help on the line....

....provided the media doesn't keep trying to make his sexuality issues into a personality-based melodrama. While the ESPN report was tame, it still is probing the "How is Michael Sam apart from his teammates" narrative, looking for controversy. If we get a five-thirty-eight.com chart in a few weeks that shows teammates hugged Michael Sam 8.4 percent less after a quarterback sack than other second-team defensive lineman making the same play, it wouldn't be a shock.; 8/27/14, 8:40 PM
Real American said...: the ESPN standard is: positive stories only. anything that doesn't portray Sam as either a victim of bigotry and/or the gay Jackie Robinson need not be shared with the public.

Apparently, this ESPN reporter forgot that she's not supposed to give ammo to the "enemy" i.e., anyone who disagrees or at least isn't yet brainwashed by the corrupt leftist media/academa/politics.; 8/27/14, 8:57 PM
Static Ping said...: As I have mentioned in a prior thread, ESPN had gone all in with political correctness. Stopped watching unless there is a live sports event that I want to watch. If I want sports news I go with Fox Sports Live on Fox Sports 1. Bradoplata may not like it and I won't say its perfect, but it works for me. Dropping the lecture helps a great deal and at least I can get game recaps.; 8/27/14, 10:49 PM
Bradoplata said...: Static, I was posting more to how the reporting is about them. Even on Fox Sports, the host are just SO clever.

Sam has the 40 time of an old woman, and that will be the reason he will be cut. People in his position make teams based on their ability to play on special teams, and that is where the lack of speed is most glaring.; 8/27/14, 11:17 PM
sonicfrog said...: I wish Michael Sam nothing but success, whether in football or not. But Sam hasn't deserved the amount of press coverage he's received based on his play. If he sacked the quarterback as much as Bruce Smith or Lawrence Taylor he'd deserve the press.

First... He has hardly gotten any press in the last three weeks of camp.... He's not been the "distraction" that everyone proclaimed him to be. He's not been in the news since he was mentioned by a retired coach, and then a whole bunch of conservative talk radio.

On his press related to his play.... he has only received national coverage for sacking the biggest name in the draft, "Johnny Football". That is news because of who he sacked, not because of Sam's gayness.

Both Bruce Smith and Lawrence Taylor got to play in the regular season NFL, so Sam hasn't yet had the opportunity to get the press as he's yet to play int the regular NFL.

And, of course, the thing that many are missing is that he seems to be earning a spot on the team based on the merits of his playing skills, not on his gayness, as Rush and others had insinuated.

All that said... This is a silly controversy. The ESPN reporter was responding to a question. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way she responded.; 8/28/14, 12:01 AM
mccullough said...: Bradoplata,

A 4.7 40 yard dash is good for a defensive lineman. Watt runs a 4.8.

Do you watch NFL football ever?; 8/28/14, 12:23 AM
Revenant said...: Apparently, this ESPN reporter forgot that she's not supposed to give ammo to the "enemy" i.e., anyone who disagrees or at least isn't yet brainwashed by the corrupt leftist media/academa/politics

You mean there was a point where sports journalism *wasn't* 99% info-tainment BS?

When was that, 1842? :); 8/28/14, 12:49 AM
Unknown said...: Josina Anderson did not bring up the Rams shower habits innocently as another poster suggests. Through talking to players, she came across the information by inquiring about it, probably having decided previously, whether on her own or in consultation with her editor, that it would be a sensational storyline. Before she went before the camera, her editor certainly knew she would mention it. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know how TV reporters work.; 8/28/14, 7:11 AM
furious_a said...: Since we're talking about ESPN...

...what does Lebron think about what people are saying about Michael Sam?; 8/28/14, 9:11 AM
Drago said...: mccullough said...
Bradoplata,

A 4.7 40 yard dash is good for a defensive lineman. Watt runs a 4.8.

Your 40 time, as a DL, does not matter anywhere near as much as your quickness in "live football time" as well as technique in getting past a blocker and to the quarterback quickly.

Watt is the best in the business right now.

He must have access to the best steroids.; 8/28/14, 1:49 PM
Bradoplata said...: Bradoplata,

A 4.7 40 yard dash is good for a defensive lineman. Watt runs a 4.8.

Do you watch NFL football ever?

8/28/14, 12:23 AM

Sam ran a 4.91 at the combine. He should never run that slow ever.

Watt never played special teams. Sam won't start, so he has to play punt team and kick off team and punt return team and kickoff return team.; 8/28/14, 11:54 PM