The sports media seems to be engulfed in two New York based sports stories the last few days that are really non-stories that the media, as usual, has decided to blow completely out of proportion…
–Ines Sainz and the sexual harassment situation that isn’t. Seriously, while I don’t condone what the Jet players and coaches did, and while there is never a good excuse to behave the way they did, and while I agree that Sainz should dress much more appropriately, it has become more and more clear that this has turned into nothing more than an attention-grab by the Mexican reporter. Let’s look at the facts…Dressing in tight and/or skimpy outfits has been Sainz’s claim to fame for years. She has the body to do it, and takes full advantage. The magazine spreads, the measuring of players biceps, all of the stunts are nothing more than ploys to get attention for herself, and her entire career has been nothing more than that. However, her credibility goes right out the window as she does her media tour, when she shows up to discuss the alleged harassment in a blouse that is so low-cut and unbuttoned that it makes her tight jeans at Jet practice seem demure.
Unfortunately, this whole mess has set the “women in the locker room” argument back ten years, and is damaging the credibility of all of those hard-working women reporters that get by on hard work and knowledge, regardless of what they look like. The real shame of it, of course, is that over the last two days, Sainz has gotten more publicity than many more deserving women will get in their careers. That is where the real damage lies. And the sooner we all stop talking about this, the better off we will all be, and the sooner women working in the sports media can get their reputations back.
–Why is anyone making a big deal out of Derek Jeter faking getting hit by a pitch against Tampa Bay on Wednesday? He had the chance to take advantage of a situation, and did it. Every single ballplayer in the majors would have done the same thing given the same opportunity. He wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t. For those who call him a cheater, simply because he got away with something, I challenge you to defend every catcher that makes a phantom tag, or every middle infielder that turns a double play with an “in the neighborhood” touch of second base, or any other similar play. We are not talking about steroid cheating here. We are talking about something that takes place in the flow of competition, and that is simply part of the game.
If you don’t like it, too bad. This is a story that should not even need to be discussed.
Now, can we move on to more important things? I think I hear Rex Ryan cursing again.
