The Cardinals just concluded their annual Winter Warm-up. Everyone was in a jovial mood with anticipation of the upcoming season.
Everyone was jovial, that is, except Albert Pujols.
Pujols is still upset about the coverage involving him and the incorrect story that was circulated by a New York TV station reporting that his name was in the Mitchell Report, linking him to steroid use.
FOX 2, at the behest of the now departed news director, thought it was a good idea to not only go on the air and report the story, but also stationed a reporter at Pujols’ restaurant to get fan reaction.
Forty-five minutes later the official report was released and, within its 409 pages, the name Albert Pujols was nowhere to be found.
Thankfully, many other news outlets elected not to go on the air with that list until it was proven to be factual.
Pujols was not happy then and is not happy now.
During his press conference, Pujols instructed the Cardinals PR staff that he had nothing to say until the cameras from FOX 2 were out of the room. Good for him. He went on to say how often the media can be inaccurate and how hurtful this ordeal has been.
“If it was someone in New York, I would say, well … but it happened in St. Louis, my home,” Pujols said.
Whether it was New York or Cold Water, Miss., it was wrong.
Pujols had options. He could accept it and move on. He could sue. He could send a message and say that the local station that was responsible no longer has access to what he has to say.
Choice number three is the appropriate one. After all, to just turn the other cheek does not work here as well as giving some lawyers enough money to send four kids to Washington University. Twice over, this would be throwing away good money.
To freeze out FOX 2 was a good move, but there is one problem. The person who made the call that created this mess has moved on to a bigger job in Philadelphia. In essence, he was rewarded for being a moron.
The unfortunate item here is that the sports department of Martin Kilcoyne, Maurice Drummond, Rob Desir and Chris Pelikan might unjustly have to pay a price. These individuals were responsible. As a matter of fact they are all quality individuals. I have great respect for how they conduct business.
In short, do not take it out on them.
What is a concern is that some members of the media think Albert should just get over it.
The double standard is interesting. When it doesn’t happen to you, it’s easy to say, “forget about it,” or be part of the buck-passing chain.
The people who are judging individuals these days when they cover them should perhaps be held under the light of scrutiny themselves.
When an individual’s livelihood is called into question, one should consider the source and the motivation behind it. The accountability – or lack thereof – displayed in these cases has become shameful.
The response by some members of the media that business as usual should continue cannot be tolerated.
Pujols has decided enough is enough.
Hopefully, both sides can somehow find a way to forgive, but certainly not forget how we have arrived at this situation.
