AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > September > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTuesday Countdown: ESPN blind to LaRoche facts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: I liked ESPN a lot better when it revolutionized coverage of the NCAA tournament, gave us highlights of every game and didn’t mutate into 24 hours of screaming and mindless debates.
9: I’m now going to give you a little peak behind the scenes in the ESPN world, in light of Adam LaRoche’s irritation about the way the sports channel portrayed his use of medication for A.D.D. File it under, “Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
8: A week ago, I was contacted by ESPN, asking if I would appear on “Outside The Lines,” to comment on how I felt about players being allowed to use drugs that are on the baseball’s banned list, and how things like Ritalin fit into the category of performance-enhancing drugs. Initially, I balked.
7: I was told the story was linked to LaRoche’s admitted use of medication and the impact on his statistics. The first thing I did was contact our Braves writer, David O’Brien, to confirm the veracity of all I had been told by ESPN. In short, David relayed what LaRoche had said previously: That he couldn’t be certain how much his improvement at the plate could be attributed to medication or the simple fact that he was now playing every day. The two started at the same time.
6: Some background: LaRoche was diagnosed with A.D.D. in high school. He tried Ritalin one year in winter ball and hated it. It made him jittery. He only started using it during this season because he found his mind drifting to thoughts of hunting while he was playing first base. So he decided to try medication again, but this time in smaller doses.
5: So, back to ESPN. Before scheduling me to appear, a producer said he had to know what my opinion was. I told him that I thought throwing prescription medication like Ritalin into the same category as performance-enhancing drugs like steroids and HGH was lame, especially if an athlete has a medical condition - like A.D.D.
4: The next day, I received an e-mail saying my appearance wasn’t needed.
3: OK, full disclosure: I didn’t watch the special the other day so I can’t sit here and bash the entire production. But judging from media accounts and LaRoche’s reaction, it appeared to pin LaRoche’s statistical rise exclusively to Ritalin. It should be noted that the player had agreed to be interviewed with ESPN weeks ago only because he wanted to get out the message of kids living with attention deficit disorder.
2: None of this is to suggest that adults - including athletes - aren’t obtaining prescription medication on false pretenses. We’ve all heard the stories. It’s also probable that Ritalin and the like is helping baseball players who believe they’ve lost an edge since the league banned amphetamines. But to penalize an athlete who has been diagnosed with a condition and is taking prescription medication - which may or may not have anything to do with his batting average going up 20 points - borders on absurd.
1: A.D.D. is a medical condition. Medication corrects that condition, just as glasses correct blurry vision. I suppose a case could be made that glasses and contact lenses are performance-enhancing. Maybe we should ban them, too.
Permalink | Comments (47) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
Comments
By Brendan
September 19, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
Jeff, is brains were dynamite, ESPN couldn’t blow its nose.
Good for you for standing on principle, integrity, and honesty. ESPN demonstates “absurdity” every day … usually by “being absurd.”
They claim to be the “worldwide leader in sports,” but what they really are … is a “New York-centric” apologist network for athletes. So, it doesn’t shock me a bit to see Connecticut looking to rip a player with a legitimately diagnosed medical condition, who play in the “south.”
By batrol
September 19, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this
If the banned substance is prescribed by an MD then there is no story and should be no controversy. Adam LaRoche got a raw deal from ESPN. Big surprise.
By conyers
September 19, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
thanks for the ‘peak’ (sic) behind the scenes. they probably thought you were a ‘homer,’ jeff. they would only need to have read your work this season to be disabused of that notion. good on you!
By DB
September 19, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Hmmm…so I guess people who suffer from aethsma shouldn’t be allowed to take medication either. It could help them run faster and steal bases!
By fastfoodfreak
September 19, 2006 12:25 PM | Link to this
I guess it would be naive to think LaRoche is actually improving because of more playing time. I’m not saying the Ritalin isn’t probably helping him concentrate more, but to extrapolate that to “performance enhancing drug” status is quite foolish.
By p
September 19, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this
i know full well the entire argument having a child with ADD. thanks Jeff, for sticking up for them.
By Drummerdad
September 19, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this
ESPN was a unique thing when it began. Now it is just another cleverly marketed version of McDonalds or some other enormous retail enterprise. Sports coverage isn’t about character, thinking, or (perish the thought) sportsmanship. Just make money and give me vanity. If they talked about character and sportsmanship they wouldn’t generate as much hype and sell as many spots. Why not take the camera and run the other way when you see Barry Bonds or Terrell Owens? What good example has been put forth by their coverage of person who behaves like that? Why glorify that stuff? Their goal is to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Integrity gets to be a small price to pay for success.
By matt
September 19, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this
I agree with ya’ll! It was diagnosed by a doctor years ago and they gave him some medication for it. What’s the big deal? ESPN has to make a story out of everything! David Pollack is out for the season with what was originally thought to be a broken neck and all the announcers and analysts can talk about is T.O. breaking his finger and being out for 3 weeks!! WHY?!?! Because T.O. is a controversial player who makes headlines every time he farts!!
By braves fan
September 19, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this
ESPN was also the source of confusion about John Smoltz back with the whole trade to Detroit flap started. Much of what ESPN puts out is conjecture and heresay, no longer simply the facts. I’d also say that ESPN had just as much to do with the disentigration of the Philadelphia Eagles last season, as TO or Drew Rosenhaus. They sent Michael Irvin (a known diva supporter) to interview TO, and had him ask a loaded question (would the Eagles be better with a Brett Favre as QB?), knowing it would stir things up even more. They couldn’t stop talking about how Barry Bonds was on steroids, but yet would interrupt any game possible to show his meaningless at-bats so they could witness a HR. ESPN is a joke at this point as far as true sports reporting goes.
By Gregg
September 19, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this
ESPN has morphed into as self-righteous a media entity as one could ever imagine. Sportscenter is no longer about showing highlights and covering the games - it is a running soap opera that spends 80% of it’s time on controversy and special interest stories that should be relegated to another show - NOT a sports recap show for the games of that day. In large part, ESPN’s on-air personalities are hired more for their wit and sarcastic jokes more than their sports acumen and intelligent analysis. ESPN has become the god of sports - and they know it - as they do a great job of thinking for the masses of sports fans that choose not to think for themselves. This is not to lay the blame the ignorance of majority of sports fans, as ESPN has successfully branded itself as the “Worldwide Leader in Sports”, and because of this, people take what they say as gospel all too often. Just take a look at GameDay and how it affects the rankings of college teams (no matter who you root for). Shame on ESPN, and kudos to the few sportswriters like Jeff who call them out on the garbage they spew out as “news”. ESPN has been out of control for years now, and only the masses can strip that control from them by holding them accountable for seeing the network for what it truly is - entertainment, and not sports news.
By al hott
September 19, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this
if the drug helped Rochie hit better, why hasn’t it helped Biggio who also takes the drug???? Think this is building an ant hill into a pyramid….
By mark
September 19, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this
How bout last nights telecast where Tony Kornheiser (sp?) asked Dwayne Wade the following: “Lebron James and Carmello Anthony were drafted in front of you, after all that’s happened should you have/would you be drafted before them now?” WHAT KINDA QUESTION IS THAT?!?!? He’s got to know that if this guy has half a brain, he’s going to answer by saying “Oh I don’t know about that, they are definitely great players and I have a huge amount of respect for both of them.” Which he did!! The absolute correct answer while at the same time dodging the question! NICE QUESTION A**HOLE!!!
By matt
September 19, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this
Greg- It reminds of me of a station you may have heard of…..MTV!! Back in the day when “Music Television” actually used to play music. Now you are exposed to crap like Road Rules, and reality t.v. shows, or following some spoiled 16 bit** around on her birthday!! Maybe in a few years the history channel will show 80’s porn all day and still call themselves the “History Channel!”
By Michael A.
September 19, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
I very rarely blog, but that is the best column by Schultz that I have ever read.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
September 19, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
I agree and wonder how many of you caught Reece Davis’ column apologizeing for their “Game Dat Show” for this year? He called it a “love letter to the SEC.” It was quite an unusual column.
By Jim from Tenn
September 19, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this
They actually have talked about banning Lasik Surgery when the player has better than 20/30 Vision. They won’t admit to it though.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
September 19, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this
MY MISTAKE, MY MISTAKE!!!! It was Chris Fowler who wrote the article. I’ve just pulled it form the “TRASH” file, now if I could figure out howto put it out for people who missed it!
By AZBravoFan
September 19, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this
DB: Speaking of people with asthma. Remember they made Francisco Cordero stop taking his asthma meds because they were on the banned list for the WBC? I hate when people don’t use common sense!
By A Fan of Your Writing
September 19, 2006 02:55 PM | Link to this
Glad to see someone stand up to ESPN. I see more and more that too often they are blurring truths to manipulate viewership. I see the College Game Day Crew making some awfully crazy picks, and then you hear about Kirk Herbstreit wining that ‘management’ tells them how to pick and what to say.
I would differ with you on your point that Ritalin is the same as glasses. I have ADD, and deal with it on a continuous basis. I have taken Ritalin as well. For a while, I swore by it, and watched my grades skyrocket (deans list). But, I never liked the sideeffects. The jitters, the sleepless nights, the weightloss. When I stopped taking it, I made a decision that I would train my mind to focus on tasks at hand. That the Ritalin didn’t make me smarter, I made me smarter. I knew that as soon as I took the Ritalin, that I had to go study. So, now, later in life, I go through that same process putting myself into that focused situation, and I make myself concentrate.
Though I still have ADD, always will, I believe I’ve trained my mind to become more proactive, to stay organized, and most importantly, understand that having focus is about finding a state of mind and sticking to it. Having taken Ritalin, I can tell you, it was good to have been on it, b/c it helped me to realize that the old adage, ‘you can accomplish anything in life if you put your mind to it’, is real.
By Gary
September 19, 2006 02:55 PM | Link to this
Well stated. Perhaps we need a FoxSportsNewsChannel to provide a “Fair and Balanced” reporting of sports news, the way FoxNews did for the CNN sputum.
By Cliff
September 19, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this
As you mentioned in your last paragraph; the one about eye glass perscriptions. What about those athletes who have had the “laser eye” surgery. They appear on ads for doctors who perform the surgery saying how much better than 20/20 vision they have after the surgery. Isnt that “performance enhancing”??
By Kentavo
September 19, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
Wanna know how bad ESPN has become? Did you see the intro to last Sunday’s game between Boston and NY. They actually previewed what they were going to be talking about during the game. Whatever happened to covering the freaking game?
By EEJAY
September 19, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this
ESPN is 80% east coast sensationalism. Yankees, Redsox, Blah, Blah Blah. Wouldn’t it be interesting to go behind the scenes with a hidden camera and to see what is really going on to get ratings.
By Bob
September 19, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this
I’m not a Jeff Schultz booster but kuddos to you for a job well done!
By Jerrymeister
September 19, 2006 05:07 PM | Link to this
yeah jeff i dont really like you THAT much. DOB is the only one that lives/breathes the sport that hes suppose to cover but i must admit that i have a newfound respect for you for standing up for our boy LaRoache. ive never been a huge Roachie fan either but to say that hes only playing good because of the medicine he is prescribed for his condition is absolutely Ludacris. Congrats for taking a stand against ESPN. if this is all ESPN has to talk about then i dont have much reason to tune in anymore. Sincerely Jerry’s long last br0
By AtlantaFan
September 19, 2006 05:14 PM | Link to this
Don’t countdowns usually consist of ten different things going on in this week of sports, why didnt you just write an article. And everybody in this blog who post kudos, blah blah blah, like this really affected the demeanor or your day.
By kevin
September 19, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this
DOWN WITH ESPN! DOWN WITH ESPN! DOWN WITH ESPN!
By td
September 19, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this
there are sooooooooo many angles to this story: the way the medical profession treats ADD, the struggles the individual has living with ADD, and of course the way ESPN chose to report it. At least Adam decided to give Ritalin a second shot with a lower dosage. Good for him and screw ESPN.
By Peter
September 19, 2006 06:28 PM | Link to this
You always have been good. I have a child with ADD. Turning that gig down and writing this blog you’ve probably cost yourself some money.
I owe you that steak bro. Took some big ones to do what you did.
By Robert(Justice Is The Best)
September 19, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this
I said it yesterday and I will say it again. What ESPN did was reckless and irresponsible journalism. As a fan of ESPN I am deeply disappointed in them. The ADD medicine has nothing to do with LaRoche’s improved batting. Playing everyday does. He started getting hot before he took the medicine. He has never had problems at the plate concentrating but only in the field. Comparing ADD to steroids is just stupid. How can any reasonable human being compare a medication that basically equals out a chemical imbalance to a medication that can cause you to add 40 pounds of muscle within months. I have a stepchild with ADD and he was on Ridalin and it didn’t make him stronger or smarter for that matter. It simply kept his attention span up and kept him from zoning out.
I mean what’s next, coffee. Maybe coffee shoud be banned because he helps a sleepy player stay alert. Ban chocolate too because it contains caffeine and has the same effect as coffee. Gimme a freaking break!
By Head Coach
September 19, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this
E.S.P.N. *Especially *Stupid *People *Naturally ! What more needs to be said ?
By T Robb
September 19, 2006 07:49 PM | Link to this
Mark Malone from ESPN came to Gainesville (FL) some years back with a story idea - that the Gators had some sort of NCAA violation. It was either bogus or trumped up, can’t remember. He interviewed everybody in town and couldn’t get any corroboration.
They spliced some stuff together and went with the story anyway. The NCAA ruled it no violation.
The punchline was, “Mark Malone was a mediocre quarterback with a habit of focusing in on one receiver without ever looking to another. That approach has carried over to his career at ESPN.”
Thought that was pretty representative of their standards and capabilities then, and they’ve gotten worse now.
I just can’t stand ‘em. They’re out of control.
By Carolina Lady
September 19, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this
ESPN wants to BE the story. Sports are just the excuse to put themselves before a camera and give everyone the wondrous opportunity to look at them and hear the jewels of wit and wisdom they speak. Puffed up, self-important. They are completely unaware of it, but I’ve been running my personal boycott of ESPN for several years. Haven’t watched one second of it. Other than that, everything is lovely. :-)
By Bob from Acworth
September 19, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this
Jeff,you are absolutely right. Why should ESPN let the facts get in the way of a “good story”? But then,they ARE owned by ABC. Think you get the truth from television news delivered by A-mericnas B-roadcasting for C-ommunisim?. I think not.
By Allen
September 19, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this
To claim that Ritalin would help someone without ADHD is crazy. Ritalin only helps ADHD people, the same drug given to a “normal” person has a detrimental effect.
To suggest that a non-ADHD person would used Ritalin to play better is as absurd as suggesting that a person with 20/20 vision would play better wearing prescription glasses designed for a near-sighted person.
Geez, what a bunch of maroons.
By Matt Yoder
September 20, 2006 08:23 AM | Link to this
Way to show a backbone to those LOSERS JEFF!!!
By Fonzie
September 20, 2006 08:47 AM | Link to this
ESPN is more interested in making the news than reporting the news. Witness that college football tournament to crown a “national champion” - all before the first football was kicked off.
Or those asenine baseball GM press-conferences.
Or Carolina winning the SB.
It’s all Phreakin’ Phooey!!
ESPN jumped the shark a long time ago.
For an accurate assesment of ESPN’s boob-heads go here. You won’t be disappointed - http://tinyurl.com/jobmb
Skippy Sucks A$$
Heyyyyy!
By wave walton
September 20, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this
Does anyone actually still watch ESPN? It has been so long since I’ve paid any attention to such second/third rung sports channels that I don’t even know who hosts them. I’ll keep to FSN. I can drop by there now and then between games and just get the info I’m looking for. Go Braves!
By Moore Cowbell
September 20, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this
It was pretty obvious to me from that special that ESPN is going to try and frame the debate that if players are allowed illegal medications that are prescribed by a doctor to help them compete, then it only stands to reason that HGH and Steroids should be allowed if prescribed by a doctor to help heal and athlete and get him back on the field. ESPN can’t stand that nobody cares about Bar-roids chase of Hank Aaron’s record, other than to curse him. This represents millions in dollars of advertising to them if they can legitimize this chase for the HR crown, as they will break in to programming on ABC and all the ESPN channels for his at bats when he nears the record. Fortunately for everyone, I think their posterchild for hypocrisy showed up too late.
By Moore Cowbell
September 20, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this
It was pretty obvious to me from that special that ESPN is going to try and frame the debate that if players are allowed illegal medications that are prescribed by a doctor to help them compete, then it only stands to reason that HGH and Steroids should be allowed if prescribed by a doctor to help heal and athlete and get him back on the field. ESPN can’t stand that nobody cares about Bar-roids chase of Hank Aaron’s record, other than to curse him. This represents millions in dollars of advertising to them if they can legitimize this chase for the HR crown, as they will break in to programming on ABC and all the ESPN channels for his at bats when he nears the record. Fortunately for everyone, I think their posterchild for hypocrisy showed up too late.
By Fonzie
September 20, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this
ESPN has jumped the shark.
By Jame Williams
September 20, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this
Earlier in the season we would watch the braves on ESPN and the commentators would talk about it being the opposing teams managers 1000th game {or someplace else} and keep the camera focused on him most of the time while not showing or commenting on the game they were supposed to be covering{some great shots of him picking his nose and scratching his crotch}I dont think they realized that the veiwers might have tuned in to watch the game!! Anyway someone must have listened to our complaints because later in the season when I watched it there they actually covered the game.Maybe they realize now that people in the south deserve the same coverage that new york gets!!!
By THL
September 20, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this
It’s disgusting the way media conglomerates mislead and misrepresent people the way they do. LaRoche is doing the same this year as he did his first two years when he started slowly and then heated up in the second half. The only difference is that he has been ridiculously hot this year.
You have to take what ESPN says with a grain of salt anyway. This is the same network who’s “experts” have picked the Braves to lose the division for the last 8 or more years.
By THL
September 20, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this
Plus, LaRoche is a young player who will get better with added experience. His improvement should be expected.
By Patrick
September 20, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
Great article Jeff.
I too agree that ESPN has become a shell of its former self.
I know you said you didn’t see the show but to make matters worse, they acutally committed a portion of the show to only negative responses about LaRoche from the blogs on here.
By leo Schultz
September 20, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this
Hey Jeff, Most Dads love their son as I do you. After reading this story I must say that this story was right up there with the best if not the best. I am proud of you for interpreting the medical facts of what Ridalin is about,and I am equally proud of your telling the story regarding the unprofessional behavior of ESPN. Obviously they wanted a controlled report as opposed to an objective truthful one whch is what newsworthy reporters do. ESPN was not intersted in an objective view; rather,they wanted the story to be told the way they wanted it to be told, which was an unfavorable one. Keep the good work. I won’t embarrass you any more with Dad’s notes on the board but will write to your personal email. Love, Dad
By Floyd
September 20, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this
ESPN should bring back the aerobics exercise girls they started out with to get people to watch. Sports coverage as a whole has come down to a bunch of “Talking Heads” who by and large don’t know their a$$ from a hole in the ground, and totally detract from the pleasure of watching the games. (And that’s the truth!)