Two Subjects That Have Been On My Mind…

Two subjects. One which has nothing to do with sports, but has been on my mind and expressed briefly in a previous story.
The other, which has to do with the latest happenings in the NFL, and has been on my mind as something I’ve seen for years.

Let’s start with football. We have taken the temperature of the season long battles for division and playoff races before.
Early on, a note of caution, not to make definitive judgments on teams and the competition, considering how ridiculous it is to assume what the future holds when so much can change and usually does.
How can teams be crowned and written off when most of the campaign has yet to be played.
Patience is a virtue, but I guess not when it comes to assessing the NFL.

So now, as we move into December, it is perfectly within reason to call a division race won, which clubs are solidly entrenched
for the playoffs, and which of the others can pack their bags and wait till next year.
The answer is NO!  Don’t jump to conclusions. Even now.

We have seen, over and over, how teams somehow turn it up and finish the season in a flourish, often winning all of their
remaining games and get into the playoffs over teams that stumble down the stretch, It happens all the time.

Let’s start with the AFC. Is it possible not even making it a stretch, that a team with six losses can ultimately beat out a team with
only four defeats? Of course. So,if you’re counting out the likes of  the Titans, and even the Chargers and Colts, you’re
making a mistake. And don’t tell me about tough schedules. I’ve seen teams out of contention knock off strong clubs, So have you.
It’s not about the schedule. It’s about a team getting a win.
The same goes for the NFC. Perfect example is Arizona. It’s all over for them. It really might be considering how badly they’ve
played.  But who is to say that a turnaround, unlikely as it seems at this point, couldn’t happen and allow the Cardinals to overcome
a two loss deficit. I’m well aware of tie-breakers, but this is not just a plea for not burying teams with simply a “mathematical”
chance. These are real opportunities we have seen before.
Let’s try and be patient. Believe it or not, there’s still plenty of time.

On to a more serious topic. The state of journalism in this country.
This is not about favoring Donald Trump over Hilary Clinton in the recent election. Let’s just take politics out of it.
This is about how the state of reporting and how readers,   listeners, and viewers have lost confidence in what was once a pillar of strength
in the world of communication.
The editorial page in a newspaper, and the commentary portion of a broadcast was the area where opinions were expressed.
Reporting was where the facts were laid out. As simple as that. In journalism school at Syracuse we were taught about the lead.
Who, What, Where, Why and When. As simple as that. Then the facts to fill out the story ensued.
Just the facts, please. I’ll read the editorials or listen to the commentators, but I’ll make up my own mind.

That’s changed. Now, the reporting of stories are really editorials because of a bias by either the reporter, newspaper or network.
Or all of the above. It’s skewed.
In the effort to sway opinion, the world of journalism has been exposed as having little or no impact. The respect is gone.
Credibility is gone. Most important, trust is gone.
Frankly, I don’t know how it can be re-gained.
As one who decided at a young age to pursue a career in journalism, I am sad and disappointed at what it’s become. Are you?

“Keep an eye out for my new podcast, “Stockton!” We’ll take a different perspective on the world of sports and share stories I’ve collected from my unique front-row seat. To learn more and sign up to be notified when it launches, visit www.StocktonPodcast.com.”

Sincerely,
Dick Stockton