That's right, and you're going to have to like it--because that's just the way it is, and should be. I'm talking about my job as an accredited media professional versus your job as a fan.
My job as an accredited sports media professional is to **cover** your team(s), your kid(s), and everybody else's kid and team(s). **Cover** can mean the feel good stories, the inspirational stories, and the golden moments where your kid(s) and/or team(s) shine. Conversely, **cover** can also mean the defeats--whether big or small, where your kid(s) and/or team(s) screwed up--whether on or off the field, and then ones that may make your kid(s) and/or team look unfavorable. It's called impartiality, and there are some of us who endeavor to stay close to the ever-shifty line of neutrality. Call me old school, but impartiality is what lends to credibility. If I'm biased (support) to your opponent, you'd have the right to be upset. Conversely, if I'm biased to (support) you, your opponent would have the same right.
It's **your** job to be the fan--which really requires partiality, as it should. It's your job as a fan to **support** your kid(s) and/or team(s). It's your money, your time, your effort, your choice.
I draw the line when one projects one's partiality (support) to my broader perspective of endeavored impartiality (cover). This is particularly true when it comes to two or more teams being **covered** in one game/match/meet/contest. If one wants me to **support** his/her kid(s) and/or team(s), and all of those teams are asking me to do the same, I can't very well do my job--which is to take a step back and be as impartial as humanly possible (and don't give me your garbage that it's not possible--that's more of your projecting your weakness). My agendas are as follows: 1) accuracy--whether folks like the accuracy or not; and 2) make my deadline. That's it. No ulterior motives. No conspiracy/conspiracies. I can't speak for anybody else--only myself. Those of you who know me know ***I say what I mean, and I mean what I say***.
I've also become adept at picking up when **supporters** are trying to use me to further their agenda--as in the waaaaaaay too common, "You need to come support my kid(s) and/or team(s) because they work hard. He/she/they deserve your support. You NEVER support my kid(s) and/or team(s)!" This has happened in every single market where I have worked, but to be honest, it's been much more prevalent in my current market (the Rio Grande Valley). For example, one gentleman texted me pretty much verbatim what's in quotes in this paragraph. My response was as follows: "The kids who lose and don't hit a lot of home runs also work hard, and perhaps even harder because they're not as good. So, why don't you rephrase?" He couldn't. He couldn't--perhaps because I knew his agenda, which was to promote his kid to college recruiters with press clippings/videos. For those of you who didn't know this goes on, again, it's quite common. For those of you who did and do--shame on you for being manipulative. Just be an adult and go through the front door, and tell me what you want--that's your job. I may or may be able to accommodate you--because that's **my job**.
I've also had a few thousand folks over the years counter with something like this: "Well, I'll just talk to (insert competing medium/media here)!". My response has been and is: "Go right ahead. They can deal with the current headache and future headaches you bring." If it's **that good** of a story, I'll be on it.
And, don't give me "it's not fair". I've found that often times many folks definition of fair is what's in their exclusive best interest.
The biggest compliment I can pay any **supporter** is this: I won't kiss your ass. I respect you enough as a human being to be honest with you when I consider your story pitch, your compliment(s) and/or your complaints. I respect myself and my profession enough to make this delineation: I cover, you support.
That's just the way it is.
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