Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism.
The Dartmouth
July 15, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

ROLLIN' WITH DOLAN: Sports Media

On August 12th, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino was pelted with a plastic cup of beer while fielding a fly ball at Wrigley Field. The fan who threw the cup, John Macchione, surprisingly got away from authorities, although he was eventually arrested the next day. What is not surprising, however, was the sports media's reaction to the incident. News outlets were quick to say how it was typical of rowdy Chicago fans and that they were not that surprised it happened in the Windy City. Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney even felt the need to apologize on behalf of the city saying, "It's not a reflection of our city or organization."

Chicago is a city of 2.8 million people. Mr. Kenney really felt the need to declare that one drunk fan's actions, that easily could have happened anywhere, are not a reflection of the entire city as a whole? The unfortunate answer is yes. When Mr. Kenny said this, the media had already made assumptions about Cubs fans based on one incident. The media's reaction shows two big problems across all types of sports. Sports media loves to fixate on one tiny thing and loves to jump to quick generalizations.

Try using the word "practice" around any National Basketball Association fan born after 1998. Approximately 4 times out of 10, someone will interrupt the conversation to say, "Practice we talkin about, pract-tiss?" They will be referencing a press conference given by Allen Iverson a few years ago, in which he calls out the media for overreacting because he missed a practice. He notably points out that he, a 6 ft 0 in. shooting guard in a league where most shooting guards are over 6' 5", goes out every game and throws his body on the line. Yet, he misses one practice and the media goes nuts, peppering him with questions about it.

Even the media's reaction to this press conference was typical, as many analysts and reporters ripped on Iverson for degrading the importance of practice. The media focused on this press conference so much that it is now one of the first things people think of when they think of Iverson.

A more recent instance of sports media overreacting is how the media berated Tiger Woods for visibly acting upset after hitting bad shots at the British Open. He was criticized by people such as ESPN's Rick Reilly for cursing and angrily shaking his clubs after mistakes. Really, Tiger Woods? The guy has never once said anything remotely controversial in a press conference, founded multiple charities, is one of the most gracious winners in all of sports and by all accounts seems like a genuinely good guy. Yet he gets ripped on for showing a little victimless emotion after hitting a bad shot. What do people want him to do, shrug it off? He cares about his sport. If he never got upset after a bad shot, perhaps by laughing it off or something, that might suggest he didn't care, which would be far worse. Sports media tried to blow this up and make it into a bigger deal than it was.

Examples of the sports media generalizing a little too quickly are abundant as well. The media presumed the Duke Lacrosse kids guilty, and irrevocably changed their lives. Kobe Bryant was declared a rapist before further investigation proved this to be highly unlikely. In both these cases, the media had limited information, but were still quick to make assumptions. After Michael Phelps lost a race at the World Championships in Rome a few weeks ago, I actually saw an article suggesting the loss may have been a result of Phelps's marijuana smoking. Because one photo emerges of him holding a bong, that must mean he is a big time stoner now and explains why he lost the race?

Admittedly, sometimes sports stars deserve the reaction they get. Mike Tyson once said, "I want to throw down your kid and stomp on his testicles, and then you will know what it is like to experience waking up everyday as me." And that was one of the few Tyson quotes tame enough to print. Based on quotes like that, the sports media portrays Tyson as crazy. That's fine though, because, as anyone whose seen The Hangover knows, he actually owns two pet tigers.

More often than not however, sports media loves to try to make stories and broad assumptions from instances that aren't indicative enough of something or someone to do so. An obvious example being me trying to stretch the beer throwing incident into a column, but nevertheless I think sports media, and many people, including myself, could use this timeless piece of advice. Don't sweat the small stuff. Whether it be a failed test, a lost game, or even a slighty questionable joke in a party blitz.