2008 Woodie Awards
A return to privacy
By: Thomas Lawrence
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Sports
It's where friends are made. It's where teams become families, and dysfunctional families start to care for each other, and play for each other. It's where hands of poker are dealt, life lessons are learned, and where Barry used to recline by himself in the corner.
I'm talking of course about the proverbial locker room, something that has become completely unsacred in the modern sports landscape in America, highlighted recently by the blow-up doll fiasco incident of the Chicago White Sox.
In the midst of the most recent blow-up by infamous White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, this time about the city of Chicago's love affair with the Cubs, a press release came out about a couple of White Sox players who used blow-up dolls in the clubhouse in less than appropriate positions to try to lighten the mood, and get some laughs out of some of the younger players who may be a bit stressed.
So, once again, because of the privilege, and I do mean privilege that the press received of allowance into the team's clubhouse, a simple, comical, adult joke made its way out into the mainstream, and now every member of the media who has a reputation to keep is scorning the veterans of the White Sox locker room for allowing something so "juvenile" to take place.
As a prospective member of the sports media, with a specific interest in the game of baseball, I have constant battles of morality. The clubhouse is a sacred place, where players can unite and be real with one another. Does the media really have a place inside of it? I'm beginning to think not.
Of course, freedom of the press and good sports coverage need interviews with the athletes and coaches. That's what press conferences are for - thought out, detailed responses about the game itself instead of being pressured to talk about a personality conflict on the team when you haven't even dried off from your shower yet.
Without the presence of the media clubhouse, maybe guys like Barry Bonds, Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman would've had different images during their playing careers.
I'm talking of course about the proverbial locker room, something that has become completely unsacred in the modern sports landscape in America, highlighted recently by the blow-up doll fiasco incident of the Chicago White Sox.
In the midst of the most recent blow-up by infamous White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, this time about the city of Chicago's love affair with the Cubs, a press release came out about a couple of White Sox players who used blow-up dolls in the clubhouse in less than appropriate positions to try to lighten the mood, and get some laughs out of some of the younger players who may be a bit stressed.
So, once again, because of the privilege, and I do mean privilege that the press received of allowance into the team's clubhouse, a simple, comical, adult joke made its way out into the mainstream, and now every member of the media who has a reputation to keep is scorning the veterans of the White Sox locker room for allowing something so "juvenile" to take place.
As a prospective member of the sports media, with a specific interest in the game of baseball, I have constant battles of morality. The clubhouse is a sacred place, where players can unite and be real with one another. Does the media really have a place inside of it? I'm beginning to think not.
Of course, freedom of the press and good sports coverage need interviews with the athletes and coaches. That's what press conferences are for - thought out, detailed responses about the game itself instead of being pressured to talk about a personality conflict on the team when you haven't even dried off from your shower yet.
Without the presence of the media clubhouse, maybe guys like Barry Bonds, Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman would've had different images during their playing careers.
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