Talking heads have become news makers and are no longer just vessels for pushing information.
If you accept this as true, the next step is to understand that other talking heads are going to run into instances when they need to speak about their fellow brethren. Suddenly the media outlets become nervous. For some reason they turn into self-conscious teenage girls laughing along when the barbs and jabs are directed elsewhere, but shattered by anything aimed in their direction.
The most topical example is the Tony Kornheiser suspension. Kornheiser is a well-known sports radio personality and co-host of the immensly popular daily sports banter-fest Pardon the Interruption. Both of Kornheiser's outlets are part of the bigger ESPN world. A world which is becoming all encompassing. A world which leaves all other sports outlets impotent.
The Anatomy of the Kornheiser Suspension
The infamous quote from Kornheiser (02/16/2010):
Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing? … She’s what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point.
After the blogosphere blew up and Kornheiser realized the impact of his words he called Storm personally and apologized. He led off his radio show (02/19/2010) with the following on air apology:
I apologize unequivocally. … I was wrong. This is sort of what I do, and I’m sorry for it. … Not the first time and won’t be the last time but I apology for it this time.
John Skipper, of ESPN, issued the definitive stance from the Worldwide Leader:
Kornheiser then addressed the suspension on his radio show (from which he is not suspended interestingly):Tony Kornheiser's comments about Hannah Storm were entirely inappropriate. Hurtful and personal comments such as these are not acceptable and have significant consequences. Tony has been suspended from PTI for two weeks. Hannah is a respected colleague who has been an integral part of the success of our morning SportsCenter.
As a result of this, I have been sent to sidelines from PTI for a while and when I’m allowed back on PTI, I will happily go back because I love the PTI show and love all the people on the PTI show.
The reaction throughout the media has been completly split. There are those who agree that Kornheiser should have been suspended. There are those who believe that ESPN is acting outrageously. I'm not concerned with whether this decision is fair to Kornheiser or not. What I am concerned with is the bubble that big corporation's try to put around themselves to prevent criticism. A radio and TV personality insulting another TV personality is not big news. More so, if you ever listen to even a few minutes of a Tony Kornheiser production you will find that both self-loathing and others-loathing diatribes are the basis for his presentation style. As a frequent listener to the radio show, I can tell you the Storm comment does not crack the top ten insulting, mean spirited jabs. So am I saying that Kornheiser is a bad guy? Not at all, just that this comment was more par for the course than a wild over-stepping of the boundaries.I’ve said about 1,000 times, while doing radio in my life, the following sentence: if you put a live microphone in front of somebody, eventually, that person will say something wrong. This was one of the times I said something wrong. Beyond that, you can call me and ask me for comment. I’m not going to do it. It seems to me that, without any question, I broke the rules and this is the punishment that’s come.
ESPN was never concerned when the attacks from Kornheiser were targeted at The Today Show anchors, the local weather men, political figures, American Idol judges, etc. All is well and good. "That's just Tony being Tony", they surely said. Kornheiser's mistake was taking it to the mothership. You do not insult ESPN. Need proof? Ask Bill Simmons, ESPN pop-culture/sports columnist (who is almost constant in his displeasure with the company policy of not criticising his employer) or Scott Van Pelt (who has also been in the middle of similar arguement). The thing I don't understand is why ESPN takes this stance. I do get that they do not what a environment where feuds are created and promoted on its airwaves, but for the most part I think that ESPN employees are happy with their jobs and with the company they work for. Unless ESPN is running itself like a Soviet sewing factory, do they really think that their image would be tarnished by outbursts like Kornheiser's? The other confusing element is that the suspension drew infinitely more attention to the story. Yes, Kornheiser's radio program is very popular, but it is a local Washington DC area show (although it is available on Podcast). How many people 1.) heard the comment and 2.) were offended by the comment? And after the initial apology by Kornheiser, how many were still upset? I would guess, maybe, seven. What ESPN did by suspending Kornheiser from one of their flagship shows was to bring attention to it. Two weeks of PTI without Kornheiser or an explanation over the same program as to where he is? Even the most casual viewers might begin to wonder what's up and go to their computers to Google-up some answers. So much for trying to maintain a level of professionalism with Hannah Storm. More people know who she is now and more people are taking shots at her attire. Fail and fail.
The worldwide leader in sports often gets a bad rap, just as any dominate market player does. They are not alone in this type of hypocritical policies. Fox News anchors take shots at MSNBC anchors, at Democrats, at movie stars, but they better keep their mouthes shut if Glenn Beck flies off the deep end. MSNBC anchors take shots at Fox News anchors, at Republicans, at CEOs, but better keep their mouthes shut if Rachel Madow messes up. Google protects Google. Apple protects Apple. The NFL protects the 'shield'. NASCAR employees are intimidated to stay positive about policies and management decisions (wanna know who might be the most unfiltered, fair source of criticism? The Comedy Central boys, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Both of them take on all comers, including each other and other shows on Comedy Central, when necessary).
This is how the world has always worked. It is why the 'Public Relations' department was created. But the world is different now. It is much more difficult to simply brush the dust bunnies of criticism under the rug and have them disappear. Cover-ups are eventually all discovered. Bad decisions are nitpicked from every angle. Each word of every statement is analyzed front to back. In this environment, why are we keeping certain subjects off limits? Why build walls that your own employees cannot see over when every other source can report on it? If you only follow ESPN and its coverage of sports, you have no idea why Tony Kornheiser isn't on PTI right now, you have no idea why Micheal Irvin and Steve Phillips are no longer on the network, you would certainly not know about the contract negotiations of Chris Berman and his suitors elsewhere. These figures are news makers. By ignoring the news from within the confines of their own secret village, they create a misnomer of trust issues. Open the doors and open the coverage. Maybe this would let more employees confess their real emotions. Whether ESPN likes it or not, they have created news makers which live in their castle but need to be covered like any other member of the proletariat.
Oh and by the way, Kornheiser was correct, Hannah Storm's outfits have been unsuitable for her position. Just sayin'.
GRM
