Shut Up, Hubbuch
What is New York Post Mets beat writer Bart Hubbuch’s problem? For the second time in less than a month he’s written a piece that seems aimed at causing trouble. On June 22 Hubbuch wrote a very negative piece on Mets Manager Jerry Manuel’s comments likening Mets fans to fertilizer. He took the fertilizer line out of context and interpreted it as Manuel calling the fans dung. He completely ignored the rest of the Manuel quote explaining what he meant. Granted it wasn’t one of Manuel’s most eloquent comment but it certainly wasn’t meant the way Hubbuch reported it.
In today’s Post Hubbuch takes his second shot. Hubbuch reports an exclusive story about Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and SNY commentator Keith Hernandez fighting on the plane to St. Louis. According to Hubbuch, Reyes confronted Hernandez over comments he made during Sunday’s game about Reyes’s maturity and how the team treated him with kid gloves. Despite Hernandez and Reyes denials Hubbuch reports that the two nearly came to blows and had to be separated.
I don’t doubt that the confrontation occurred. And frankly it wouldn’t surprise me if it came as close to blows as Hubbuch reported. But I fail to see the sense in reporting it. Commentators criticize players every game. Many times the criticisms gets back to the players. I’m sure that commentators are confronted by players over the criticisms several times a year. And considering how seriously a major league player must take his job I’m sure many of these confrontations become heated. It’s part of the game. Or at least part of big league business. So why exactly is this on the back cover of the Post? Why is it even in the Post? It’s a non-story. The only thing I can think of is that Hubbuch either has an axe to grind or reporting sensationalist stories to make a name for himself.
Here’s a little something to think about, Bart. You’re a beat writer. And a beat writer’s place is very similar to an umpire’s. An umpire is there to call the game and not be a part of it (despite the Brian Runge incident a couple of weeks ago). Similarly a beat writer is there to report the news and not create it. You’re not there to inject controversy where it doesn’t exist. Fall in line or get out of town because this long time Post subscriber is very close to canceling because of your antics.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.