Everybody that knows me, knows I like to vent about things every so often. Sometimes more than others about certain subjects. But when it comes down to things I appreciate and follow, I'm a traditionalist. Since I've been around now fifty years on this earth, things have change and some of those "changes" haven't been for the better in my opinion. As a traditionalist, I'm also very conservative in my views about most everything. This tends to rub some people the wrong way in our ever changing world we live in now. Needless to say; if it isn't broken, it doesn't need fixing. Also, stick to the subject at hand and don't stray to the non-subjects that surround it. This brings me to the national coverage that was done during this year's Triple Crown trail, before and up to it's ending.
Too often today, the national media is all forms (print, television, socially) makes a bigger deal about subjects that really have little impact on the event they are covering. I guess it's the sensationalism that the modern day writer or reporter wants to bring to the table and wants the public to be aware of. This is so prevalent in today's society. We tend to make a big deal over something that has little impact on the subject being discussed. In many cases, news is not news anymore. Just a means to create a stir or buzz around the story and sometimes not for the better. It's off topic and shifts the attention away from the real story at hand.
The controversial "story" about trainer; Steve Asmussen just before this year's Kentucky Derby is the first example. A lot was made by a certain "special interest" controversial group in itself about his barn's treatment of the thoroughbreds in his care. A ten minute video filmed under false pretenses by a undercover "mole" took sounds bites of his assistant trainer, using foul language and candid statements about the goings on during a typical day at the barn. It was sensationalize when edited and presented by this group to the public. The outcries began about how cruel Mr. Asmussen was to his horses and the call for him beginning banned from the sport. Perfect timing just before a big day of racing and his nomination to the Racing Hall of Fame. The video did do enough to have the committee withdraw his Hall of Fame status, get his assistant trainer fired and give the sport another "black eye" just before it's biggest day. Nothing more was accomplished with this story as a result and was just the typical non-story
surrounding the events at hand.
Flash forward to right after the finish of the Belmont Stakes, when the next non-story raised it ugly head during the sports spotlight time on a national stage. The interview with the losing owner of Triple Crown hopeful; California Chrome. A out spoken, colorful new gentleman to the sport, one could cut him some slack for being a bit upset after failing to win the Belmont Stakes. This was understandable, but NBC took it upon themselves to create a bigger issue with his comments (which made no sense in how traditionally the Triple Crown races are run) and made a firestorm on a day when the focus should have been on the race itself. Even the "professional" Bob Costas question to the winning owner of the race after the fact, made no sense in the scheme of things. Instead of giving credit to the winning horse and his connections of the race and also giving credit to the valiant failed attempt of the horse who didn't accomplish the feat; we get the sound bite of a owner who was over-the-top, irate and sounded like a sore loser who made flawed logic statements which were viewed over and over again for the next few days on television. That interview took a little away from what California Chrome had accomplished in the first two legs of the Triple Crown unfortunately.
Once again, this is a product of today's media which cannot just focus on the story at hand and feels the need to bring attention the other non-stories surrounding the event. It's disheartening in my opinion that such a big deal is made about little things like this. Unfortunately, that is what the public will remember about this year's Triple Crown and not the things done on the track.
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