Michael Irvin shared the story of his near carjacking on his ESPN radio show Tuesday. He was then interviewed by Channel 5, the local NBC station for the nightly news. Michael tells how he was driving to the gym for a workout when a black pickup with tinted windows sped up beside him, rolled down the window, and pointed a gun at him.
The Hispanic individuals instantly recognized Michael as the former Cowboys wide receiver and put the gun away. Michael says he nervously talked with them buddy/buddy about the Cowboys until they drove off.
My question to Michael, ESPN, NBC, and you the reader is: why is this newsworthy?
It’s not that it wasn’t an interesting story. It was actually entertaining to hear Michael tell the story. But when I stopped to think about it, I’m irritated. Michael is using a near tragedy to build ratings and to promote his radio show. Telling it on his ESPN radio show is one thing. That’s his time slot and he can talk about what he wants. But to then go on NBC with a giant logo of his radio show and tell the story again… isn’t that a bit much for a story that has absolutely NO evidence? It’s Michael’s word (which historically hasn’t been that reliable) that this event took place, with no corroboration, and that’s why it isn’t newsworthy.
Kidd Kraddick, syndicated morning radio personality, added logical perspective this morning. Does this mean that tomorrow morning Kidd can show up to work and announce that he was surrounded by a gang of thugs with knives and chains who then recognized him as a celebrity and let him go, and expect that story to be aired on local television news? Where’s the story? Some guy says something bad almost happened to him. That’s all. It’s funny. But that’s it. It’s good enough to make it on his own radio segment, but clearly not newsworthy.
We don’t know whether NBC contacted Irvin or if Irvin or his people contacted NBC. If NBC initiated contact, shame on them for losing another speck of news reporting integrity. If Irvin’s camp initiated contact, shame on them for the mediawhoreness.
Then again, Michael Irvin is no professional media personality, so we shouldn’t be surprised. But I’ll save that rant for another time.
