Dare to Cross the Fine Line?

Relationships in the media business are key in any field. Without them, there would be little interviews, little sources, and frankly, stories would be monotonous and low-key.

In the sports world, athletes and coaches alike have a fine line with media. Whatever is said can be leaked, and sometimes, it can create a world of havoc.

Granted, the link between sports and fans are the media. Without media, fans can't follow what is going on with their team. What would life be like without the resources of ESPN?

Take what happened in the summer of 2006. At-the-time Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti and Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't necessarily like each other. OK, scratch that, they hated the living hell out of one another, and neither were afraid to hide their emotions. Guillen went so far to throw a gay slur at Mariotti. Every media pundit reconsidered where the fine line was, and thanks to this situation, sportswriters now think twice about becoming the next blow-up between he/she and a coach/athlete.

Athletes have the ability, however, to bypass the media. Some athletes use Twitter to connect with fans. For example, Mississippi State basketball players say Twitter can be a great resource, but has its downfalls, too. Athletes want to say what they want, but the fine line can be crossed when dissing a teammate or a particular moment in the game. Ask Chad Ochocinco how that goes every time he loses.

Media has a major role. It also has a fine line. The tricky part is (depending how the relationship is) where to locate it and how not to cross it.

Photo Credit: Keith Allison via Creative Commons