By John McMullen
Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic) - Dave Spadaro, the Eagles employee that videotaped himself spitting on the star at midfield in Cowboys Stadium, has always struck me as a wannabe -- a guy who desperately wants to fit in with his perceived "in crowd."
In Spadaro's case "the in crowd" is the journalists that cover the Eagles.
A lot of sportswriters can play the elitist card like a classically trained cellist. In fact, I personally know a number of scribes that look down upon the fans who read them. I will admit that I can occasionally fall into the same trap. I mean, it is hard to understand a 40-year-old man who cares more about his favorite sports team than say his family or job.
That said, we all got into this business for one reason. At one time, no matter how much we deny it, every single sportswriter was a fan of some player or team before they embarked on their chosen career path.
Most of us can put that natural bias aside. In fact, I take pride in being tougher on the teams I followed as a child. Being fair and balanced isn't a FOX catchword in the world of sports journalism, it's a necessity if you
want to be taken seriously.
That's why Spadaro is the butt of jokes to the people he wants to impress so badly. Despite his spin of wanting to be "entertaining" for his fans with "out of the box" type stuff, that was the real Dave Spadaro spitting on the star.
Spuds is a fan. He lives and dies with the Eagles and hates the Cowboys. He is what he is and I wasn't shocked when Eagles spokeswoman Pamela Browner-White said Spadaro will not be reprimanded and will be at tomorrow's game in his role as the team's Web site blogger and commentator.
Anyone who has made dollar one in this industry can see through Spadaro and Eagles.com. It's "state-run media" with Spuds serving as the lead sycophant to an organization that thinks a little too highly of itself.
Spadaro will be credentialed in Dallas as an Eagles employee tomorrow, not a member of the working media.
There is a difference. Dave Spadaro has never been a journalist and he never will be.
If you want an unbiased, lucid view of the Philadelphia Eagles, Eagles.com is the last place you should be looking.
-You can contact John McMullen at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com
No comments:
Post a Comment