The White Sox and Cubs' Broadcast Networks Are "Losing Credibility" Because They Have Been Editing Out Negative, Honest, Commentary On Their Respective Teams
robertfeder.com - Twice in recent weeks Chicago’s regional sports networks have shown they cannot be trusted.
In both cases editorial standards were compromised in ways that shortchanged viewers and raised suspicions. In the end, they came off as kowtowing to teams whose owners have substantial equity interests in the networks.
On Thursday NBC Sports Chicago edited out a key sequence in the evening replay of that day’s Chicago White Sox game — one that included Tony LaRussa’s controversial decision ordering an intentional walk to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter. It resulted in the next batter hitting a three-run home run, effectively burying the White Sox and costing them the game.
It also subjected the beleaguered White Sox manager to withering criticism — even from the network’s analysts.
But in place of the most consequential minutes of the game, NBC Sports Chicago simply skipped over it and posted a graphic that read: “Due to the length of this program we now move ahead in the action.”
The network later attributed the lapse to an “error in judgment” in the process of editing the rebroadcast for “time constraints.”
Me and White Sox Dave's beloved White Sox are squandering a world series caliber team because they have a drunk steering the ship.
Dave blogged this last week but this is the Tony LaRussa experiment in a nutshell.
Advertisement
You have to wonder where the order came from to make this insane call the part NBC Sports Chicago decided to edit out of the re-broadcast.
I'm guessing it was Jack.
Now for those bums on the North Side.
On May 22 Marquee Sports Network excised a segment from “The Reporters,” a weekly sports roundtable, that included criticism of Chicago Cubs baseball operations president Jed Hoyer. During the taping, a producer ordered the panel to record the segment again — leaving out the critique of Hoyer in the retake.
In response to the ensuring uproar, Marquee Sports Network released a statement acknowledging that “a judgment was made on the fly that in retrospect was overly sensitive.” It sought to restore confidence by moving the show to a live, unedited format.
But damage to the show was done. Sun-Times sports editor Chris De Luca banned his reporters from appearing on “The Reporters,” and critics decried the ethical breach as heavy-handed censorship by the network, which is co-owned by the Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Network.
This move is so Cubs it hurts. Afraid of their own shadow, terrified of the media, and critics of any sort, they are the kings of overreaction. Oh no, somebody had an opinion and said Jed Hoyer sucks at his job when Theo's not around? (He does) Let's ban everybody from going on the show.
I'm not sure Phil's take it right. Might also be a stretch here, because I for one couldn't care less. I never trusted either channel to begin with, or saw either one as "credible", so no damage done. Just think it's funny the lengths some people will go to to cover up the fact they suck.
I miss WGN.