In the world of sports journalism, there are certain stories that are difficult to cover. Sometimes, reporters are faced with the challenge of addressing the actions of individuals who have engaged in reprehensible behavior, and it becomes necessary to shine a light on their actions. However, there are also instances where individuals are not deserving of attention, and yet, they still manage to capture headlines.
One such individual is Trevor Bauer, a former Major League Baseball player who has been embroiled in controversy due to allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault. Despite the seriousness of these allegations, some individuals in the sports media world have chosen to overlook Bauer’s transgressions and instead focus on his athletic abilities.
One such individual is Bob Nightengale, a columnist who recently wrote an article praising Bauer for his performance in a minor league game. Nightengale seemed eager to downplay Bauer’s past actions and highlight his talent on the baseball field, as if his skill as a pitcher could somehow overshadow the serious allegations against him.
It is troubling to see individuals like Nightengale attempt to gloss over the disturbing actions of someone like Bauer, especially when there are multiple women who have come forward with allegations against him. Bauer’s suspension from MLB was not the result of a minor infraction, but rather a serious violation of the league’s policies on domestic violence and sexual assault.
Despite this, Nightengale chose to focus on trivial details such as Bauer’s pitching performance against minor league players, completely ignoring the gravity of the situation. By doing so, he perpetuates the harmful narrative that talent on the field excuses reprehensible behavior off the field.
It is important for journalists and media outlets to hold individuals accountable for their actions, especially when those actions involve harm to others. By choosing to highlight Bauer’s athletic abilities while disregarding the harm he has caused, Nightengale and others like him are sending a dangerous message that talent trumps morality.
As sports fans and consumers of media, we must demand better from those who cover the sports world. It is not enough to simply focus on the game and ignore the actions of the individuals who play it. We must hold athletes and those who cover them to a higher standard, and refuse to let talent overshadow integrity and decency.
