Michael Bamberger Doesn't Get It
Sports Illustrated runs this
Q & A with its own reporter, Michael Bamberger, after Bamberger complained to a WPGA official about a suspected rule violation by first-time pro Michelle Wie. Things must really be hot for Bamberger, who caused Wie to be disqualified from the tournament.
I earlier argued that Bamberger was wrong to interject himself into the conduct of a golf tournament, and this interview does nothing to convince me that I'm wrong.
Here's Bamberger's rationale for his action, which took place on Sunday, the tournament's last day:
Saturday night literally was sleepless for me. I didn't want to insert myself into the story. On the other hand, as someone who loves golf and thinks playing by the rules is a critical element to making tournament golf work, I was worried about how I would feel if I said nothing. I had this scenario in my head: How would I feel on Monday when I looked at the newspaper and saw where she had finished, knowing that, in my mind, her position was not legitimate.
Let me admit that I'm skeptical of anyone, particularly any writer, who says "Saturday night literally was sleepless for me." I'm trying to imagine a figuratively sleepness night. Is that even possible?
More important, Bamberger says he broke journalism's rules of being a reporter, not a participant because he was worried about
how he would feel.
Imagine if reporters in other sports used this rationale every time they saw a bad call. The phones of sports officials would be ringing off the hook.
You know, I just had to call up about Robinson Cano being called out at first—I feel really bad about that.....
Asked his reaction when he heard that Wie was disqualified, Bamberger responds, "I felt emotionally dead. I like being in the background -- that's one reason why I'm a reporter. I knew I had influenced the outcome. But I also knew I would've been sick to my stomach if I had not said anything.
"
Emotionally dead? Sick to his stomach?
This kind of reaction might be understandable in Anderson Cooper reporting from New Orleans, but Michael, it's just a golf tournament.
Sports Illustrated has a reporter who's clearly too close to his material, and Michelle Wie has paid an unfair price for that. The magazine should remove Bamberger from the golf beat.
