Thoughts About the Real World

While I have no idea what it's like to be limited due to my race, sexual orientation, or gender, I know I will be having a fair amount of difficulty entering the world of sports writing. As a senior student at Oneonta State in upstate New York, my motivation for my major a few years ago was simple: I love sports. Throughout my life, both playing and viewing sports has assisted me in being a better family member, friend and overall person.These positive memories drove me to decide that I should utilize my passion and writing skills and attempt to enter the world of sports coverage. 

Well it turns out those may have been some naive thoughts and feelings. In a few short years I have learned about the true flaws of media surrounding advertising and the big businesses that completely control the market on all levels. At my school, I am the sports director for our universities athletics, and the one before me actually currently works for ESPN. The thought to try and follow that path naturally occurred to me, but separate studies in my other classes conflicted with that temptation. In fact about a year ago in my Media Activism class taught by Doctor Brian Dolber, I interviewed Dave Zirin about sports, politics, and their intertwining. Dave provided my first level of clarity on that subject. We discussed media activism in general and talked about the market of mainstream sports media. The truths of that oligopoly upset me and allowed me to start thinking outside the box and what I hope to do with my life. 

I recently did my study for my Senior Seminar in Communications class on media coverage surrounding Johnny Manziel and his alleged autograph scandal this past summer

(http://bigbluebeersblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/case-study-on-johnny-manziel.html). The business motivations for ESPN to portray Manziel as a childish incoherent moron when they had no evidence to suggest he broke NCAA rules truly upsets me. Their priority of collegiate athletes not being paid, despite the fact that Manziel's Heisman season alone increased Texas A&M's revenue of apparel sales by 20%, was clearly their motivation to make sure that the public opinion doesn't sway NCAA fans to thinking that athletes should be paid. Thus attempting to save ESPN a buck from their coverage deals with NCAA conferences. SportsCenter did not provide the full spectrum of issues surrounding what Manziel truly represents: change. What kind of world do we live in where potential change goes unnoticed by the media? This is the norm on far too many levels of the modern media world that I know all too well. 

I graduate from school in May of 2014. I have experience broadcasting local high school football on radio with my partner Harry Graves, (http://wcdoonline.com/wcdo-sports-on-demand.html), writing for my column on our school newspaper, (http://thestatetimes.com/2013/11/20/bullying-in-the-nfl/), and hosting our schools sports talk show "The Sideliners," (http://vimeo.com/81826292). My decision to simply try and find a job in the sports media world that's as pure and joyous as these experiences is ironically what may limit me. I am not limited in anyway by color, gender, or sexual orientation. But the bitterness of the fact that I may have to be a part of the modern news world to make a living is what hurts me. In other words, my desire for change and reform in the political sports world is a limitation among the mainstream business world.

I strongly desire to have a job one day where I can wake up and be proud of what I'm doing. This freedom to believe and do what I feel is right is what drives my love for media and sharing ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. Sports have defined who I am and I don't want a white collar job to change that. In media, the priority should be to show all spectrum's of any issue or story, not exemplify a one-sided take to reap in your businesses personal benefits. My hope is to one day live in a world where all people are well aware of these media flaws and don't stand for it. 

In sports, I have always been a fan of the underdog. The team that isn't favored, or the player that's limited due to adversity and unfair circumstances. In sports it all starts with believing in yourself, and doing whatever you can to prepare yourself to change that. This is a lesson I just so happened to learn through the beauty of competitive sports. The rise of Jeremy Lin, the New York Giants upsetting the New England Patriots in February 2008, and my loyalty to the New York Mets surrounded by Yankee success, is what's driven me to think and believe the way I do in all aspects of life. 

Perhaps my innocence in my initial dream for sports writing wasn't so naive after all. My faith in my sports heroes will personify the type of attitude I have in the job market. There is always another season, another game, another play that can change anything and everything, and I expect to be prepared for it. Believe in change. Because I'm part of the future, and I'm telling you, it's coming. 

Anthony Beers

beeraj00@suny.oneonta.edu