Kevin Durant openly dislikes the media, but not all stars of the younger generation have such a fractured relationship with the reporters who cover them. Asked his thoughts about the role of media in wake of the reigning MVP’s incendiary comments, John Wall defended the group so many of his peers have grown to disrespect.
Here’s a typically thoughtful Wall in a Q&A with journalists via Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post:
Q: What should the media’s role be?
A: What it is. I think they do a great job. I think sometimes media have to make their stories. Sometimes they’re going to say bad things, they’re going to say negative things but that’s part of their job. It’s like us on the basketball court. Sometimes you’re going to have good games, sometimes you’re going to have bad games.
Q: Doesn’t that create issues between players and media?
A: No, because some players don’t trust other players either. It’s all about you. You can build a friendship with them but still know it’s a business they have to do. So if they ever write a bad story, you can’t ever get mad at those guys because they’re doing the job.
Wow. Talk about a media darling.
Wall makes a lot of the points here that so many journalists did upon hearing Durant’s loaded remarks. Not every player has to like every media member and vice versa, but all parties deserve an initial expectation of respect from the other – until that optimism is proven wrong through action.
Opinions on player, team, or coach performance, for instance, should always be fair game if properly researched and sourced – a combination of statistics and the eye-test. If professional athletes aren’t comfortable being the subject of thoroughly analyzed scrutiny, they simply aren’t cut-out for emotional rigors of the job.
But a player is also entitled to critiquing reporter assessments with equal diligence. That’s one of the reasons why Durant’s take has been met with such a fiery reception from media types – he hasn’t done a good job of explaining the reasons behind that vitriol.
Where we disagree with Wall’s extremely generous assessment is that reporters “have to make their stories.”
We don’t do that at Dime. Every post you read here is based on verified source material, clearly identified as conjecture, or nuanced and fully researched opinion.
The Washington Wizards superstar is right overall, though – the media reaches for stories to drive interest in their work. That’s unfair to the subjects, but also an absolutely inevitable aspect of modern coverage. Money matters, readers provide it, and the juiciest material drives the most eyes. It’s an ugly reality, but one not much different from so many other ventures.
The relationship between players and reporters doesn’t have to be good, bad, or somewhere in between. If both sides perform their duties to the best and most honorable of their abilities, there isn’t a reason why it can’t be one of mutual respect at the very least.
That’s what Wall is saying here, and he deserves plaudits for such a mature take – even if it comes off a bit rosy.
