Media Schism Strikes Again!

By MikeBullock  |   Wednesday, December 23, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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When Brett Favre first signed on in Minnesota, expatriated NFL analyst Adam Schefter “broke” the story of a schism in the Vikings’ locker room caused by the ancient gunslinger’s arrival in Eden Prairie. While a lot of the sports media grabbed onto this bone like a starving junkyard dog and shook it until it was certainly dead, the players laughed it off, including one defender who accused reporters of making up words to sell stories.

Well, apparently the mythical schism has returned, but this time it’s reared its ugly head between Favre and head coach Brad Childress. Characterized by its multi-headed mouthings of insanity, the Minnesota Schism lurks within the hearts and minds of all who cover the Vikings, ready to strike on unsuspecting prey when real stories are just out of reach.

Instead of analyzing why the running game has gone AWOL, or how a pro bowl left tackle gets pulled from a game with no comment from the TV talking heads after it happened, or even in depth statistical coverage of what happens to the Vikings when they travel from the Norselands to battle on enemy grass in the great outdoors, we get schisms.

Seriously?

Quite possibly the actual schism occurs between real journalism and sensationalism. A great rift torn open in the very depths of reporting, preventing those with a nose for the facts from crossing the newly formed abyss between reality and rumor mongering.

While we must always acknowledge the fact that the NFL is, at the core, a form of entertainment that exists within the larger framework of the modern entertainment industry, cousin to reality TV, distantly related to Dr. Phil and often seen at Christmas parties thrown by Hollywood executives, borrowing marketing gimmicks from them is akin to heresy.

Unlike the National Enquirer or Jerry Springer, football needs to remain embedded in a foundation of rules working hand in hand with reality, not sensationalism. Long winded discussions of schisms belong in tabloids and gossip columns; this is the NFL, not Days of Our Lives.

So, instead of worrying about who said what to whom, how about discussing what style of defense shut down the Vikings running game? Why not look deeper into the Xs and Os that John Fox, Ken Whisenhunt and Mike Tomlin employed to stop the NFC North Division Champions dead in their tracks. How about examining what the Vikings need to do in order to finally grasp the brass ring and bring a world championship to the deserving fans in Minnesota?

Unless, that is, in depth analysis of passionate men arguing passionately fires you up more than watching one of them knock the snot out of another one. Man up and leave the schisms for the pansies.



For more Vikings news and discussions, check out http://www.purplepride.org
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