I miss the artists

In Thursday’s edition of The Daily Orange, Tony Olivero got it all wrong. And it opened my eyes.

After spending about 700 words explaining why the Syracuse defense was going to handle Washington quarterback Jake Locker, he wrote: “There it is, Jake. Now, here they come. Better brace.”

After the final sentence, readers can hear every die-hard Orange fan high-fiving in unison.

Now, before this gets too far, just know, times have changed. The line of professional objectivity in news organizations has thinned a piece of dental floss. Newspapers (student publications in particular) have begun acting like the writers are apart of the team. Probably because they ride the team bus.

Olivero, a fellow journalist whom I respect, wrote like he was leading the team out of the locker room, into the tunnel and onto the field. He was a one man pep-rally. The only things missing were his pom-poms and a sweater.

The point of professional objectivity is to tell the story based on all of the facts given. A column isn’t about making a point, it’s about telling the story that proves a point. Captivating an audience. Amusing the reader.  Being a columnist isn’t easy. Columns are special.

Writing a column is as much poetry as sports reporting. Jim Murray perfected it.

Spending 700 words Rah-Rah-Rah’ing does none of the above. If anything, it may turn the reader off. Except, perhaps the die-hards.

And, as expected after the last Syracuse Orange victory, the die-hard, disheveled, delirious, delusional, Syracuse Orange fans were destitute of vision.

The 29-3 win over Akron started the hype machine. Fans thought this team had a chance at a victory. They boasted about a defense that held a team out of the endzone for 60 minutes. They hailed the return of a quality quarterback. They pointed to the next opponent, and added a come-hither, to boot.

Including, as it turns out, Olivero.

Olivero chose to disregard his job description. Neglected to mention Akron only won three games last year. Or that the Zips quarterback Patrick Nicely only connected on six touchdown passes during the entirety of last season. And forgot the Akron defense allowed 133 points during the final four games of the season.

Olivero neglected his duties to divulge the entire story. Instead, stood tall with the die-hards in a domineering stance.

Then, Olivero warned the opposition of their arrival. Not an auspicious move.

Doing so, especially as a writer, looks foolish. As it did this week in The Daily Orange.

The outcome of the Syracuse-Washington game was no surprise. The 41-20 final score wasn’t an eye-opener, it was all but expected. It was supposed to happen. Vegas gave Washington 13 in the game. 13!

And by the time the final gun shot, Locker wasn’t contained and his teammates Chris Polk and Jermaine Kearse saw more open grass than Lewis and Clark.

Perhaps Rah-Rah-Rah’ing sells more ads. Perhaps it’s easier to write. Maybe it will get a free jersey from a football player or a burger and a beer from a few fans tailgating.

But I don’t want my writers to be fans. I want story-tellers. I want artists.