What Has Happened To Sports News?

SOURCE: Reports Say that this Nonsense is Not News.

Sports media reporting has gotten out of control. I don’t know if it’s because of Twitter, or Facebook, or David Stern- all I know is that it has to stop. The battle over “breaking news” in sports has now turned into reporters breaking news that a source has told them that “breaking news” might or might not happen soon. Unless you're Ryan Seacrest, that is not news; that’s gossip.

Here are some “breaking” headlines I have read over the last few weeks:

Source: Dwight Howard to the Nets is All But Complete – Really? It is? You’ve officially confirmed that nothing has been confirmed? That sounds legit, no chance of a fall out there…

Source: Chris Paul to Lakers Finalized – Please see above.

Report: Source Close to Favre Says Favre Would Listen If Bears Call – Good scoop gang. Just one question: who wouldn’t “listen” to someone who wanted to pay them a couple million dollars to come back to work for a few weeks? I could have reported that. Oh, and why don’t you check and see if Chicago even had any intention of reaching out to Brett in the first place. BREAKING NEWS: They didn’t.

And my Game On Twitter feed (@Pierce_Brix) during the Baseball Winter Meetings?!?! I mean come on you “baseball people,” just because you have a Twitter App on your phone doesn’t mean you have to use it every second of the day. Play Words With Friends for a few minutes. If I see another “Source sez Mets in on Hanley talks” followed 30 seconds later by “Mets GM confirms they have no interest in Hanley” I’m going to unfollow every one of you. That’s real. Getting a press pass and a free trip to Dallas doesn’t give you the right to spill random rumors to the whole world like they’re gospel. Also, that guy Frank in the lobby who told you Prince Fielder was close to a deal with the Royals, he’s not a “source” he’s an insurance salesman from Kansas City in town for a conference. I don’t need your help to conjure up absurd blockbusters and ideal trades; I need you to let me know the things that are actually happening.

So please, esteemed sports writers, beat reporters and journalists, take a deep breath. I know it’s important to be the first person with the story, but it’s not important enough to compromise the story itself. I enjoy conjecture, and I’m all for educated speculation, but if your job is to report the news, get a hold of yourself before you become The Boy Who Cried ‘Paul to the Heat.’