I think the role of sports journalists and sports journalism in genereal is to inform people what is going on in the world of sports. This includes the obvious things like games, stats, etc. This also includes off the field things as well, ranging anywhere from legal trouble to topics we discussed in class such as sexism in sport. The only thing that I don't think is fair game for sports journalists is the atheletes' personal lives.
I think its more than obvious that the media plays a big role in who is liked or disliked by giving the athletes publicity. Take LeBron James for instance. Obviously everyone would have found out how good he is sooner or later, but ESPN greatly enhanced his visibility by televising some of his high school games. On the flip side, the media can choose to not cover certain things to protect athletes. Ben Rothelisberger recently faced some legal trouble in connection to a woman in Nebraska (I believe it was for something like sexual assualt). I didn't see anything on that on ESPN; I don't know if that was a coincedence or not.
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I think you make a good point here about the media hyping up athletes. I think we as a society hype them up as well with things like youtube etc. We are basically doing the same thing... is it ok that we promote these players? I think the difference is that we are aloud to have our own opinions where as sports journalists should just present facts etc.. and i think they do get wrapped in their own thoughts, or the popular thought. Finally, is it possible that these journalists are paid off to protect some athletes liek you spoke about or is our positive image of them enough to want to protect there name alone?
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