Five Media Thoughts: The Game is the Game

I missed this column last week as I was traveling back from Shinnecock and the U.S. Open, and I missed writing it. It’s certainly not the most popular thing we do here at PFB, but I thoroughly enjoy sorting through my thoughts, ideas, and desires for the future.

Maybe it’s a little too open at times, maybe I share ideas or stuff I’m thinking about that I shouldn’t share, but that’s collateral damage that is worth the habit of writing this weekly post. Hopefully those of you who enjoy the inside baseball look at our organization have gleaned something enjoyable from it.

What I’m Excited About

The summer always (always!) sneaks up on me, and it always goes by so quickly. Big 12 Media Days are in less than a month, and they will be followed shortly thereafter by fall camp and then the real season. Whenever I think about the college football season, I always think about how quickly time (and life) passes all of us by.

A Media Thing I Think I Believe

The last few weeks have been … interesting. The Mike Gundy-Mike Holder comments have permeated the sports news cycle on a local and national level. But also in the world in which I’m living, Phil Mickelson’s gaffe at Shinnecock took over a tournament that is starting to become (continuing to be?) known more for its sideshows than its main event.

Part of the fun about sports news is that there are two sides to every take. Many people love Luke Doncic. Many people think he’s overrated and not athletic enough to succeed in the NBA. Two sides stacking up information and ammunition to use against one another makes for good, intriguing debate and fun (hopefully cordial) conversation about most topics within the world of sports.

However, there’s a third side that, maybe because of the way information is distributed in the current era, has become more pervasive. I noticed this a little with the Holder-Gundy situation and a lot with the Mickelson putt.

The third side of the conversation is the side that steps back to appreciate the absurdity of it all. The side that holds onto a raft named “perspective” for dear life and watches stuff like this with one hand clasped over his or her mouth to stifle the laughter.

Fake outrage? I think it's very real, and very warranted, my friend. pic.twitter.com/9Ur97Sb3As

— Ƒunhouse (@BackAftaThis) June 17, 2018

There is a spectacle to media coverage and sports media coverage. I suppose there always has been, and maybe I’ve just never appreciated it until now. It’s the being in the game but understanding that the game is outrageous and unreal (as in literally a show or a performance) at the same time. There’s a bit of irony to it. When everyone is in on this — media, players, coaches, etc. — it makes for great theater. Heck, it makes for great theater (maybe better theater) when everyone is in on it except for a handful of people or even one person.

It’s become an enjoyable part of coverage for me. I enjoy formulating takes because I think it’s fun and sometimes difficult to construct legitimate, smart opinions, even within sports. But I also enjoy the fallout that often follows ridiculous events. This is exacerbated in the sports world because all of this is, you know, entertainment and so when coverage or takes are completely off the rails, you don’t really feel bad about pulling up a seat and enjoying the carnage. And when the opposite of enjoying the carnage is getting worked up over it, the choice becomes easy.

The game is the game. I thought I understood that when I saw the aptly-titled The Game. Maybe I did. Regardless, I understand it a lot better now.

What I’m Reading

I finished Stephen King’s book On Writing (elite) as well as the novel Now That You Mention It (also very good!) on my U.S. Open trip.

Now I’m bouncing around between the following: Tim Ferriss’ 4-hour Body, Herding Tigers, Moonwalking With Einstein, Parenting, Sojourners and Strangers and Planet Funny but mostly just waiting until it’s my turn in line at the library for Beartown 2.

Contribution And Site Updates

We are at 317 contributors. That’s +0 from last week.

We are currently looking for a beat writer for the 2018-19 school year as well as an intern for this fall. Both of our guys in those capacities have moved on to bigger and better things after very successful stints with us. I will be posting applications for these slots in the near future (likely this week).

Site Growth

Pageviews through June 24, 2018: 6.05M
Pageviews through June 24, 2017: 6.45M
Most popular post of June 2018: Mike Holder offers perspective on Gundy’s recruiting
Most popular post of June 2017: Bob Stoops retires
Most popular post of 2018: Spencer out as DC

Website Refresh Update

No new updates on this front.