Sidney Crosby is arguably the best hockey player in the world, so after suffering two devastating concussions last season it is no wonder why his injury is garnering so much attention. Having missed the entire second half of last season, and the beginning of the current Penguins campaign, there is worry across the league.
Now that we have the obvious out-of-the-way, I must agree with Jeremy Roenick, who recently spoke out against news and sports reporters’ constant round-the-clock updates. Okay, you may be thinking I’m a hypocrite as I am in fact updating you on Sidney Crosby. Stay with me, just another minute.
In fact, unless there is news, BIG news to report on Sidney Crosby I will make no further updates on the matter.
There is a growing problem in sports, and particularly amongst its fans, and I include myself as part of the problem, by the way. The constant need for updates as fast as they happen is infectious and ridiculous. I find myself tweeting every story I deem important, but that makes me part of the problem. I can’t wait to get updates from some of the Twitter accounts I follow – it’s like catnip. The downside, though, is that it is entirely invasive for the athletes. Again, stay with me.
A little over a month ago when we started this little website we reported on the untimely death (as if any death is timely) of a hockey player, Wade Belak. Sadly, some of his own family members learned of his death via Twitter. There, my friends, is the black mark on the progression of social media. It can show its ugly head when we least expect it.
Now, in no way am I saying that there shouldn’t be updates on Sidney Crosby, or any other news story. Far from it, in fact. What I propose is that journalists, and amateurs like those here are LastWordOnSports, should report on Sidney Crosby only when there is something intelligent to offer! There needs to be a line drawn between what is responsible and what is not. I can’t tell you how many tweets I have had over the past day telling my that Sidney Crosby is still improving. Great, so what?
In the end I hope you can see that I am not arguing against social media, rather, I am suggesting that there be purpose and meaning behind status updates and tweets, otherwise it is intrusive to the players, and a waste of time for us fans.
And that is the last word.
