Journalism is a tough business these days, especially for those who are trying to merge traditional media, like a newspaper, and new media, like Twitter. And sometimes when the two intersect, accuracy is lost.
The latest controversy, if it can be called such, started when loudmouth commentator Alexi Lalas, a man not associated with the US men's national team staff, blurted out on television that the US must wind up Wayne Rooney. The precise number of loudmouth British commentators that have been making pointless suggestions to the English team is not a stat I want to look for, but it is probably in the millions.
Somehow, the quote by Lalas was fed to Jay Demerit, whose response then became the centerpiece of multiple articles suggesting that the Yanks will try dirty tactics in order to cause Wayne Rooney to become all red with anger and stomp on somebody's groin.
Yesterday, Jay Demerit said the following about Wayne Rooney, and I'm going to put the whole quote in for the sake of accuracy:
"We all understand the type of player he is and his world-class ability. The preparations for him in particular, of course, are going to be high. The team know that you try to wind Rooney up, that's been out there already. But I think he's learned over the years, with people telling him, that's an easy way to get at him. I don't think it's as easy to wind Rooney up as people think it is."
My reading of the quote: Rooney is an outstanding player. Teams used to be able to get to him because of his temper, but that has changed. Could anybody possibly argue with that statement?
Plenty of fodder there for the headline makers at the Guardian, however, who came up with this: "USA plan to wind up Rooney"
Moments later, hundreds of Tweets repeated the headline, followed by thousands of re-Tweets proclaiming that Rooney will not be fooled by such tricks.
The article even sparked a reaction from Frank Lampard, who suggested that trying to wind up Rooney would be pointless.
I think we all know what is really pointless here, and the English press had better do some real journalism and stop trying to paint the Yanks as conniving hooligans.
Here is the Guardian article, peruse at your leisure: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/7807037/World-Cup-2010-USA-admit-to-special-plans-for-England-forward-Wayne-Rooney.html
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