As we all know, the word “fan” comes from “fanatic”. The definition for fanatic is “Marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.”
It used to be frowned upon in the sports industry to show your rooting interest when covering the team. The social media age has allowed a new age of coverage where open-fandom from reporters is not only allowed, but celebrated from the local markets and hated by 31 others.
We’ve seen the new-age coverage bleed over into trained professionals. The open rooting for their favorite team on live broadcasts. When Rich Eisen and Mike Greenberg talk about the Jets for the 1,000,000 time on a national broadcast, don’t pretend that 31 fanbases and the majority of the audience aren’t rolling eyes or turning channels.
Is that what you want to hear as an audience? Eisen and Greenberg may be great men and extremely talented, but their open fandom at the level they’ve raised to in the industry is off-putting to most media. Although, most media wouldn’t call out some of the biggest names for fear of backlash. The truth is the truth.
The acceptance at the top-level has led to trickle down effects to every local market. Media wearing team-logos in broadcasts and jerseys of players they cover while not being employed by the team.
What’s my issue with it? It makes it extremely difficult to provide actual coverage of the good, the bad, the strength and the weaknesses. Fans now only want the “muffin top”. Negative stories and issues get brushed over or go uncovered.
Give them only the sweet, ignore the sour…until it becomes a national storyline, then you can cover it. I prefer the old-school method of covering the team with no bias and reporting the concerns along with the celebratory storylines. It won’t be popular and the team could get crossed with me for not following the “New England rules” for the media.
A lot of the NFL reporters moved up the ranks from the Patriots beat. They were smart enough and lucky enough to be around a dynasty that would send multiple assistant coaches and personnel men to the top jobs of head coach and general manager in their profession.
They also knew the rules of covering the Patriots. Don’t be too critical or your path will be cut short. As the team’s coaches and personnel men moved on and would get promoted, the guys on the Patriots beat would be rewarded for being “friendly” with them and would get the inside information.
Nick Caserio to this day still gives those guys formerly of the Patriots beat inside information, all the while scaring anyone in the organization to speak to the media and labeling them as issues for doing what he’s done for decades.
They can get upset with me, I’m not looking to make friends with the talent or the staff. It’s a game, I’m going to cover it honestly. If you get in your feelings over the truth, the issue lies in you.
Texans’ Franchise
In Houston, the Texans front office wants to run the organization the same as it was in New England. “Get in line, don’t report inside info unless Caserio gives it to you and if you speak on the negative, you’ll be labeled.”
The organization doesn’t want coverage, they want New England style propaganda. The problem is, you don’t have rings in Houston. Instead you have one winning season out of three. The franchise has never made it to an AFC Championship game since coming into existence in 2002.
Feeling themselves
The pro-team coverage and the national praise this offseason really has left general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans and yes, even second-year, stud quarterback C.J. Stroud, “feeling themselves.”
This isn’t going to be popular as none of the group can do any wrong this offseason and speaking ill of Ryans and Stroud in Houston can only be seen as a “hater.”
But, if we moved on from the juvenile social media labels on takes and actually separated ourselves from the insanity that is fandom, then you could actually see a reason for concern.
Texans world media tour
If I could give the Texans organization a bit of professional, stern advice that is meant in their best interest it would be – “Kindly, STFU!”
Yes, the Texans had a great turnaround, rookie class, playoff run and everything else that has been reported this offseason. Texans fans love Stroud being in Tokyo, doing videos with Micah Parsons, talking about the Colts’ linebackers, Aaron Rodgers, giving his top-5 quarterback rankings and everything else he’s done.
Texans world media tour
Now, it’s not only Stroud, the general manager Nick Caserio is getting shots off at something as trivial as how teams respond after making draft selections? The fanbase in Houston is eating it up. “Way to go, Nick!” Why? What’s the benefit of saying it? Why talk down other teams, GMs for something so meaningless just to prop up your style of calling draft picks?
Lmaooo Nick Caserio is strictly business unlike other GMs 🤣 @SportsRadio610 pic.twitter.com/MeviZZ20jp
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 11, 2024
But for fans, any content that makes the team look good in their eyes is good. Meanwhile, tell me what other franchise has a 22-year old kid talking down on everyone and a general manager doing the same.
What has Houston accomplished again? Another AFC South championship! Another one-win in the playoff followed by a loss!
“Oh, Jayson, it’s about this year and the future!” Even after all of the offseason additions, Houston is considered the 4th or 5th best team…in the AFC. Honestly, getting past what they did in 2023 is going to be a challenge. They’ll have up to six new starters on defense.
Ryans was a great hire and seems like a stellar leader but even he seems to have his chest a little further out.
I hate to be the one to say this but someone has to. STFU and do something that has never been done in Houston. This false bravado from an organization that is talking before ever winning anything is a turnoff to those not blinded by fandom and to everyone outside the city of Houston.
The 11 games Houston won last year, including the playoffs matched the 11 they won in the three years prior in totality. Now, you win one playoff game at home against an almost 40-year old Joe Flacco and you run your mouth to the world like you’ve accomplished something.
It’s a turnoff to everyone who is not a Texans fan. Now, this is the part where you ignore everything I wrote and reply back, “Who cares about non-Texans fans!”…and don’t forget to add a laughing emoji to drive home your point.
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