# Sports Journalists Don't Do Their Job Regarding God **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 6, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199 "2009-12-06T15:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/81 "2009-12-08T18:53:46Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Why is asking how God made him win unfair? Well, I’m not **Kimmy** , but a couple of things do occur to me. One, **Kimmy** isn’t really saying that it’s _unfair_ to ask the question; rather, he seems to be arguing that it’s _stupid_, which is something else entirely. And two, I think fairness is a bit more controversial than you’re allowing for. Go take a look in GD, or Washington DC, for examples of how people generally can not agree on what’s fair. Or read Machiavelli or Rawls or something. [QUOTE=Diogenes] It’s also false to say that the word “fair” is ethereal or undefinable. No it isn’t. [/QUOTE] Right, and I believe this is the point at which **Kimmy** requested that you go ahead and provide a clear definition. Without commenting on whether or not this is a reasonable argument to be having in the first place, I do think that you’re not giving the challenge enough credit on its merits. “Fair” is no different than “right,” really; you certainly hear people talking all the time about how “It’s only right” same as they say “It’s only fair,” but you wouldn’t claim that what’s right is obvious and everyone knows it, would you? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/82 "2009-12-08T19:00:42Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > And two, I think fairness is a bit more controversial than you’re allowing for. Go take a look in GD, or Washington DC, for examples of how people generally can not agree on what’s fair. Even folks who are in contention on whether something is fair can articulate \*why \*they think what they think. It’s not some rarified philosophical concept. Every negotiation more or less comes down to what is fair. If no one understood the concept no cars would ever get sold, no civil cases ever resolved, no divorces finalized, no salaries negotiated, no contracts signed, etc. It’s just not that hard to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/83 "2009-12-08T19:09:40Z")
Then why are there negotiations in the first place? Why does a dispute have to go in front of a court of equity? Why is there even a system of highly-paid jerkoffs in robes to tell us what is fair? Because the shit isn’t that simple. It is, in fact,an epitome of a “rarified philosophical concept.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/84 "2009-12-08T19:17:09Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Well, I’m not **Kimmy** , but a couple of things do occur to me. One, **Kimmy** isn’t really saying that it’s _unfair_ to ask the question; rather, he seems to be arguing that it’s _stupid_, which is something else entirely. He hasn’t said anything one way or the other about that, and I don’t believe he actually cares. > [@](#): > > And two, I think fairness is a bit more controversial than you’re allowing for. Go take a look in GD, or Washington DC, for examples of how people generally can not agree on what’s fair. Or read Machiavelli or Rawls or something. These are not disagreements over the definition of the word, but whether a given position _meets_ the definition. It’s also beyoind specious to pretend that there’s any meaningful confusion about such a general, common usage as the way I used it. Moreover, I didn’t say the athlete shhould be asked (much less “made”) to define anything, so **Kimmy’s** alleged “double-standard” doesn’t exist. > [@](#): > > Right, and I believe this is the point at which **Kimmy** requested that you go ahead and provide a clear definition. Which was a disingenuous, horseshit question not deserving of an answer. I’m not going to waste time defining ordinary words for him. Online dictionaries are freely available. > [@](#): > > Without commenting on whether or not this is a reasonable argument to be having in the first place, I do think that you’re not giving the challenge enough credit on its merits. “Fair” is no different than “right,” really; you certainly hear people talking all the time about how “It’s only right” same as they say “It’s only fair,” but you wouldn’t claim that what’s right is obvious and everyone knows it, would you? I gave his question all the credit it deserved. I even defined how I was using the word “fairness,” as disingenuous as that question was. Nothing I said was confusing, or ambiguous or unclear. The entire line of questioning is asinine and sophist. It’s too disingenuous to even rise to the level of pedantry. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/85 "2009-12-08T19:18:58Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Then why are there negotiations in the first place? Why does a dispute have to go in front of a court of equity? Why is there even a system of highly-paid jerkoffs in robes to tell us what is fair? Because the shit isn’t that simple. It is, in fact,an epitome of a “rarified philosophical concept.” One again, these are not disagreements over the definition of the word. Moreover, there was absolutely no ambiguity or confusion over how I used the word. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/86 "2009-12-08T20:01:03Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Well, it’s a touchy subject. > > I’d rather have someone ask “So, did you pick the wrong Bible verse, Mr. Tebow?” > > Of course, I’d also love to see a pitcher strike out a batter in a key situation and then point _downward_. That reminds me of this: “You know, just once I’d like to hear a player say, ‘Yeah, we were in the game–until _Jesus_ made me fumble. He _hates_ our team.’” – Comedian Jeff Stilson ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/87 "2009-12-08T20:05:17Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Maybe I can help everyone out here, just so nobody gets banned over the eleventh most ridiculous argument to ever grace these boards full of ridiculous arguments. I’m going to give it a bump up to 8th place and see where we can go from there. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/88 "2009-12-08T20:36:38Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I’m going to give it a bump up to 8th place and see where we can go from there. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/89 "2009-12-08T20:49:00Z")
MY POST IS MY CITE! Edit: The automatic decapitalization of all caps posts makes me a sad panda. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/90 "2009-12-08T21:18:15Z")
I don’t know, man. Even to be in the top 100 is pretty glorious considering the competition. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/91 "2009-12-08T21:31:48Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Well, another way to put it more relevant to sports would be “So, you claim God helped you cheat? Why are you admitting it now? And do you have any proof that God was involved in your cheating?” Because really, isn’t that exactly what they are saying? If God magically helps them win, that’s just as much cheating as if someone somehow strung a wire on the field and tripped an opposing player. Or those jerk fans who shine a laser pointer at the face of players on the team they aren’t a fan of. > > The funny thing is, while they may mean it as a way to praise God, what they are actually doing is making an accusation against him of fixing the game. If a sovereign God exists, it is impossible for Him, Her, or It to help someone cheat, as He, She, or It has ultimate authority over all events and is subject to no other authority. It’s like me arranging the events in a story so that the protagonist wins a baseball game. I’m arranging things so that that happens, but, being god of this universe, I have ever right to. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/92 "2009-12-08T22:19:10Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > but only that he should be asked how he thinks God affected the game. And why, exactly, should our sports journalist do something that will most likely: 1. Offend the viewing audience 2. Offend the athlete he’s interviewing 3. Offend network advertisers 4. Jeopardize the reporter’s job Satisfying the whims of some guy on the internet is not an acceptable answer. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/93 "2009-12-08T23:45:20Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > And why, exactly, should our sports journalist do something that will most likely: > > 1. Offend the viewing audience > 2. Offend the athlete he’s interviewing > 3. Offend network advertisers > 4. Jeopardize the reporter’s job > > Satisfying the whims of some guy on the internet is not an acceptable answer. I didn’t say the reporter _should_ do anything. I just said it would be a fair question. The fact that it would upset the offenderati does not mean it would not be a fair question. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/94 "2009-12-09T00:40:15Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I didn’t say the reporter _should_ do anything. Oh really? > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > he should be asked how he thinks God affected the game. You said the athlete _ **should** _ be asked. If the reporter doesn’t ask, who _ **should** _? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/95 "2009-12-09T00:49:49Z")
Ok, I was thinking of my first post. I’ll stand by “he should be asked.” ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/96 "2009-12-09T01:05:15Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Ok, I was thinking of my first post. I’ll stand by “he should be asked.” Why don’t you become a Sports Journalist and ask one of these guys? It’s not hard to get your own blog and start calling yourself a journalist nowadays, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/97 "2009-12-09T01:13:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Ok, I was thinking of my first post. I’ll stand by “he should be asked.” That brings us back to: > [@Oakminster](#): > > And why, exactly, should our sports journalist do something that will most likely: > > 1. Offend the viewing audience > 2. Offend the athlete he’s interviewing > 3. Offend network advertisers > 4. Jeopardize the reporter’s job > > Satisfying the whims of some guy on the internet is not an acceptable answer. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/98 "2009-12-09T01:38:14Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Why don’t you become a Sports Journalist and ask one of these guys? It’s not hard to get your own blog and start calling yourself a journalist nowadays, after all. Because I don’t actually give a fuck. Opining, in reply to a direct question, that it would be fair to ask an athelete exactly HOW he thinks magic external forces affected a ball game does not equate to a burning, activist passion. It’s not keeping me up nights. Sufffice it to say, it’s dumber than dirt when athletes claim that invisible magic spirits help them win ball games, it would be reasonable and FAIR to ask them to extrapolate (regardless of whether the religionist offenderati would cry about it), and it would be amusing to watch one of those numbskulls try to actually some follow up questions if they were couched specifically in terms of how the magic spirits affected the physics of the game. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/99 "2009-12-09T02:01:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Sufffice it to say, it’s dumber than dirt when athletes claim that invisible magic spirits help them win ball games, it would be reasonable and FAIR to ask them to extrapolate (regardless of whether the religionist offenderati would cry about it), and it would be amusing to watch one of those numbskulls try to actually some follow up questions if they were couched specifically in terms of how the magic spirits affected the physics of the game. How would it be reasonable to ask a question like that, knowing the consequences I’ve outlined above? Is it fair to say a reporter should sacrifice his job on the alter of Atheist Angst? How would asking that question improve his life or his employer’s interest in any meaningful way? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199/100 "2009-12-09T02:13:24Z")
The reasonability of a question has nothing to do with the consequences of asking it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-journalists-dont-do-their-job-regarding-god/520199.md?page=6)