Maybe it’s habit or some industry formula. When late July/early August rolls around, the Buccaneers become the lead story on local TV affiliates’ sports’ segments. The stations assign reporters to training camp, and they file away twice daily. So, you don’t bury their efforts – but lead with them. After all, it is that time of the year again, and this is what you budget for.
But this, of course, is still training-camp fluff – with all the Jon Gruden grimaces and self-serving sound bites, as well as predictable story lines about rookies, veterans and Joey Galloway groin pulls.
Most years it’s appropriate. But not this one.
This year the Rays are in first place and a compelling national story. One of the more memorable in years. And yet when the Rays play an actual GAME, it’s odds-on that one or more of the affiliates will still run with the practice-sessions twaddle from DisneyWorld before getting around to the Rays’ result.
Sure, football rules around here, and it is that time, and the Rays usually stink. But, come on, how about being flexible — and professionally discerning — enough to cover significant sports NEWS first — and then the scheduled seasonal features?