Checking nationalism at the door
Posted August 23rd, 2006 by Brian Windhorst
Sapporo, Japan — Journalists are trained to be coldly objective, a trait that sometimes can make it seem to fans like we actually are rooting against the teams we cover. But it is a bit of a different challenge, and a new challenge for me, at an event like the FIBA World Championships.
Above all else, I am American. It crosses regional, political and religious lines. When I watch the Olympics, I root for the Americans. When it comes to business, I’d prefer it if American companies do the best. And when they play the Star Spangled Banner before every game here it means something because the are only a few dozen Americans in the building.
Yet as I watch and break down the way Team USA plays, I feel a duty to stay in the middle. It can be a challenge, much more so than covering the Cavaliers. Especially when you know there is a pretty solid percentage of people in the building, much less the assembled media, who dislike you because of your nationality.
There are media members here who openly root for their team. There is one guy, a TV personality from La Sexta in Spain, who has been going around and telling the U.S. players about the greatness of Espana and Pau Gasol for the last week. The other night when the Slovenians lost to the Italians in a close game, it appeared as if the gathered Slovenian media had lost the game themselves. From a journalist perspective, it is a mockery. From a citizen’s perspective, it is probably honorable.
I can only imagine how it is to cover a war, where such loyalties are tested tenfold. But it is an interesting position to be in, nonetheless. Deep down I course I would prefer for the Americans to do well, but I have to be critical and brazenly honest in reporting on their play.
In other Japan news, I learned a new game today…Park Golf. It really a cross between putt-putt and croquet. You use a mallet and hit a plastic and rubber ball the size of a tennis ball over holes that range from 30-70 yards. It is smashing good fun and tricky because you really can’t get the ball in the air and you have to judge how it will roll. It is very popular in Sapporo, but is apparently more favored for senior citizens. I got in 36 holes today with ESPN’s Chris Sheridan and we were the only two under 65 years old on the course.
We got plenty of looks, especially after Chris actually made a hole-in-one on a 40-yard hole. It was quite a shot and he went bowing up the fairway as the always polite Japanese applauded. What a show off.
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Yes, “trained to be coldly objective.” Except when writing about members of the fraternity, such as the pledges in that Animal House, Alpha Beta Reghi.
Does anybody truly care about international basketball? I mean, other than the people that live outside of America. The best U.S. players aren’t even there. It used to be fun watching it when the U.S. was king and playing with collegiate players, and I remember the national revolt after that shaft in the 1972 Olympics. But now, who really cares? Seriously, among the other problems I have with this nonsense, what in the world is a guy like Shane Battier doing anywhere near the court, let alone a few other guys playing on the American team? Wasn’t Scot Pollard otherwise available? He loves that Japanese hairdo he sometimes wears, seems to me he would have been a natural.
Also, I have to agree with the guy that pointed out the fact they sent you to Japan totally on the BJ dime, while concurrently and coldly sending numerous BJ staffers straight to the unemployment line. Hope you’re having a blast, but speaking for those former employees and their families, that ain’t right.
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:25 pm
“…speaking for those former employees and their families, that ain’t right.”
I got to hand it to you Tucker. You got some balls thinking you qualify.
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:35 pm
I got some balls thinking I qualify? Qualify? For WHAT? One day, if you ever grow up and get yourself a job, you’ll be able to appreciate what I meant.
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Speaking on behalf of people you know not, about a situation you know little of. Yeah, you got some balls. Try doing what I do, jr. RUN a business.
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Sorry, don’t follow. As first pointed out by the poster with the name “anon,” it ain’t right. The BJ is spending many thousands on a sportswriter simply because of the strong Brooklyn Nets…uh, I mean LeBron connection.
What do you figure the total tab will be for the plane fare, hotel accomodations and expenses? A small fortune, that’s how much. In the meantime, many loyal former BJ staffers have been forced to hold up cardboard signs that say “WILL WORK FOR FOOD.”
I know we don’t live in perfect world, but values and priorities are really screwed up. Former BJ staffers can’t even afford to play Putt-Putt, yet Japanese Park Golf will find its way onto an expense account.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:02 pm
How do you know what goes on his expense account? How do you know how much the trip costs? How do you know anything about this situation. The fact is, YOU DON’T. Your comment that suggests that the local beat writer for a major newspaper (we’re not talking about the Medina Gazette here) should not be following the exploits of the local star, who happens to be one of the most recognizable people in the entire world, as he plays in one of the largest international sporting events of the year, is simply asinine. Besides, you make it sound as if it’s Brian’s fault his boss sent him on this assignment. “Hope your having a blast”. Sorry. I guess he should hole himself up in his hotel room and lash himself as penance. That’s what you would have done, right Tucker? But we’ll never know, will we? And that’s your whole problem. Isn’t it, Tucker? You just can’t understand the fact Brian has the job he has, and you don’t. You’re so much better then him. Right? Do yourself a favor. Be gratefull for what blessings you do have, and stop holding a grudge for the blessings others have. You’ll be a happier, more well adjusted person for it. And, others will begin to be able to stand you.
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:00 pm
I’m not qualified to comment on BW’s expense account, layoffs at the ABJ or Alan’s psyche, but I must agree that international basketball is a real snooze. If the U.S. loses it’s an embarassment, and if they win who cares anyway?
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Tucker - you are the biggest idiot I have ever come across. If there weren’t someone writing for the Beacon journal on L.James (who, as dpl pointed out, is “the local star”) then there would be many fewer readers buying the ABJ and visiting their website…likely to the point of decreased circulation –> decreased advertisement sales –> decreased capital for the ABJ to pay for employees. I am no expert, but I believe many would blame the advent of the internet and internet news distribution for the decrease in print media and –> –> the layoffs of many print media employees because it takes less money and work power to produce “Ohio.com.”
Beyond that, I would wager major mullah that Brian is not the type of person who would enjoy spending an extended period of time away from American food, culture, and women. BF, Japan??? I wouldn’t go there.
I never put much thought into this idea, but I think dpl hits the nail on the head when he says “That’s what you would have done, right Tucker? But we’ll never know, will we? And that’s your whole problem. Isn’t it, Tucker? You just can’t understand the fact Brian has the job he has, and you don’t.” From your blathering, it should be obvious why you are not Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal.
So just SHUTUP, Tucker. You make reading this blog not enjoyable.
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Park Golf costs 300 yen in Hokkaido. That’s about $2.45. Don;t think it’ll show up on BW’s expense report.
August 23rd, 2006 at 4:52 pm
i think the games have been pretty fun to watch. lots of contrast of styles. teams like argentina and spain have been very fun to watch, and the u.s. has too, finally playing some good hoop on the int’l stage.
the quality of play beats the hell of college kids with no fundamentals running around clanking threes.
August 23rd, 2006 at 4:55 pm
I heard several ESPN shows this week spend time talking about a Brian Windhorst story from Japan and siting the ABJ as the source. How much is that free publicity and credibility worth? Maybe the PD knows. Haven’t heard them mentioned in the national media for a while, though. I know it’s got to be more than 300 yen.
To get a good story, a reporter has to have good rapport with the players. Isn’t traveling 10,000 miles to a foreign country a better way to build that then critiquing from the other side of the pond? The value for the trip extends beyond a couple of weeks.
August 23rd, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Well it’s clear at this point that ABJ should have Brian come home…b/c clearly LeBron never showed up in Japan. Melo is becoming a star right before our eyes, and is the indisputable star on this basketball team right now. He is the leader of Team USA, and w/o him, Team-USA would have a couple losses. What a waste LeBron…you’re just as bad on defense as you were all season. Coach K is really paying off.
August 23rd, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Becaue no one likes reading Alan’s comments…. I say that we make a bet about wins this year. If the Cavs win X amount of games or advance to X rounds of the playoffs… then Alan is suspended from this message board for a year. If the Cavs don’t win 55 games… then we can let Alan run his his mouth for another year (without arguing back).
I say the Cavs will win 55 games this year… even though LeBron is going to Brookyln…. even though Danny Ferry and Mike Brown don’t know anything… and even though Brian doesn’t know anything (although Alan seems to keep reading him).
If everyone was as incompetent as Alan believes… there is no way the Cavs could win 55 games. So what say you Alan? Do you accept this challenge?
Cheers.
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:14 pm
We should thank the Beacon Journal for sending BW to Japan to file these reports. If their accounting staff was smart, they would have booked the plane tickets long in advance, and tagging along on the James express (whereever it goes) makes great business sense. I can’t get the Beacon Journal where I live, so I look at the sports columns on the Web. I wouldn’t be doing that so often if BW didn’t post his articles there (interesting piece on James and his international aspirations the other day) and the Beacon’s advertising revenue would drop further. The Beacon Journal is the Cleveland sports paper of choice in part because of BW’s columns, and bits and pieces of interest show up in this blog, too. I’m not sure how any readers of the paper or the blog can complain. BW does not regurgitate the same stuff we already knew about weeks earlier, like some other Cleveland papers… We’ll see if the Beacon can figure out how to survive in long run, but blaming their top basketball columnist for the paper’s recent layoffs in a city now known best for one basketball player is entirely idiotic.
I have learned one extra thing from this blog that I wish I didn’t have to waste my time finding out: Alan Tucker is a buffoon who has nothing to contribute — he is the Roger Brown of blogdom who can only figure out how to say 1 thing: “BW is wrong but I can’t explain why.” And then repeat it whenever it strikes his dull and moronic fancy.
Brian: please ask Ohio.com to give us an ignore feature on this blog. If I could ignore Tucker’s posts, I would check in more often. Whenever I see multiple comments on a blog, I know what trash and argument lies in store, and try to turn the other way.
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:18 pm
hear hear - tucker = freakin’ moron.
has anyone actually watched any of these games? can lebron play defense yet? was av’s elbow shot as nasty it sounded? glad he’s on the cavs, and that brazil won’t face the u.s.
August 24th, 2006 at 8:07 am
I’ve watch 3 of the 5 games thus far (I will watch the US v. Senegal game when I get home today). For the most part, the US has stayed in man to man coverage and LeBron has been guarding the opponent’s first or second offensive option. For much of yesterday’s game against Italy, he guarded #4, Belinelli. Nelinelli put up 20-something points, mostly off jumpers. Yesterday and for the whole tourney, LeBron has done a nice job of shutting off scoring guards from the lane and cutting off passing lanes. He still is having trouble defending the jump shot, but that will come with time.
Coach K isn’t going to turn LeBron into deefnsive player of the year in 4 weeks. Keep in mind that for the first 18 years of LeBron’s life, he didn’t have to play defense. He’s had one year under Mike Brown and four weeks under Coach K learning to be a defensive presence. If anything, i’m impressed with his defensive performance in Japan. Either he’s asking for the tough defensive assignments or Coach K is giving them to LeBron. Either way, he’s learning.
I also want to say that I can’t believe that ESPN sent Chris Sheridan to Japan to cover the worlds. Just last week, the fired one of their 7 PGA beat writers and I have a sneaking suspicion that it was a direct result of the $2.50 Park Golf bill that Sheridan charged to his ESPN expense account. When will journalists learn to stay holed up in their cubicles where they belong?
August 24th, 2006 at 10:00 am
Any experience LeBron gets with defensive-minded coaches can’t hurt. In the end, it will probably be pride that determines if he’ll be a great defensive player. How long will he be satisfied with letting Paul Pierce or Wade or Melo torch him without just trying to outscore them? It’s good to see him taking on (or being assigned) the tougher defensive tasks.