As I write this, ESPN is reporting that Joe Torre has turned down a $5 million, 1-year deal to remain with the Yankees. However, they keep saying “apparently,” so Andy Katz might be on the story.
Either way, thank God this Torre news nightmare is over. What is happening lately with non-news stories being completely over-covered?
First we have Kobe demanding a trade, then not demanding a trade. The next day, Kobe is cleaning out his locker!! Oh wait, sorry, he’s just cleaning up his locker.
Then this Joe Torre nonsense started.
Will he come back? Will he leave? Oh my God, I can’t sleep until someone hypothesizes!!!
Earlier this week, the SportsNation poll question on espn.com was, “Who should the Yankees keep, Joe Torre or Alex Rodriguez?”
What’s that? You didn’t know the rule that says a team can only keep either its manager or star player when both are up for contract renewal? You need to read more Baseball Prospectus.
Long ago, in journalism school, I was taught that stories are to be chosen based on how newsworthy they are. I couldn’t even tell you what criteria the above stories passed. But, either way, I thought I could always fall back on the sports section of the beacon of spectacular journalism that is the New York Times. Until I saw the following headline.
“The only Yankee News Is That There is Still No News”
Honestly NYT? You’ve violated Rule 1 of the profession and we haven’t even gotten to the lead.
If I’m a reader, who knows nothing about the Yankees, baseball or sports, why would I read this story? Because it contains no news? How do you even write a 16-graph story that contains no news? More rhetorical questions!!
Suddenly, Klosterman’s suggestions aren’t looking so drastic.
The FynalCut 