Should Jeff Pearlman have apologized for this?

[Montezuma's Revenge]

I suppose an apology won't hurt anyone.

It's an excellent read, with gripping detail, but I'm sorry, the pro-football-player-ruins-his-life-with-drugs-and-wants-everyone-to-learn-from-it has been done time and again.

This is why part of me cringes every time I hear a rallying cry for some fund or foundation to help indigent players. (Not those who have crippling injuries and have been screwed by the pension system, mind you, but those who simply smoked/drank/f**ed away their millions. I just don't have a lot of sympathy for them.
 

Sounds like you're a little too jaded. Look, variations of just about every have been done before. If we just said, ``Screw it, that's been done before,'' we'd never put out a paper.

[Double Down]

We've talked about this before, but I'll mention it again: Really good long-form journalism isn't necessarily totally objective. It can be subjective, as long as that subjectivity is supported by facts. I don't know if Pearlman was just trying to describe Holmes' neighborhood and stumbled over the mechanics of that paragraph, or if he summed up the entire town that way, and then regretted it when his sweeping statement was thrown back in his face by those residents who do not have used condoms and broken Budweiser bottles in their yards.

jgmacg's point about the precision of a description being a writer's best defense made me think of the section of JR Moehringer's profile about Pete Carroll and his description for Los Angeles. Look at the way Moehringer framed his description of a rough neighborhood in LA:

Along the way Taylor tells me that he and Carroll do this often. They make late-night journeys through the dicey precincts of Los Angeles. Alone, unarmed, they cruise the desolate, impoverished, crime-ridden streets, meeting as many people (mostly young men) as possible. The mission: Let them know that someone busy, someone famous, someone well known for winning, is thinking about them, rooting for them. The young men have hard stories, grim stories, about their everyday lives, and at the very least Carroll’s visit gives them a different story to tell tomorrow. Carroll says: “Somebody they would never think would come to them and care about them and worry about them—did. I think it gives them hope.�

Few fans of USC, Carroll concedes, know that he spends his nights this way. He’s not sure he wants them to know. He’s not sure he wants anyone to know. I ask what his wife of 31 years, Glena, thinks of these excursions. He doesn’t answer. (Days later Glena tells me with a laugh that she doesn’t worry about Carroll driving around L.A., but she drew the line when he mentioned visiting Baghdad.)

We start in east South-Central, a block without streetlights, without stores. Broken glass in the gutters. Fog and gloom in the air. We hop out and approach a group of young men bunched on the sidewalk. Glassy-eyed, they’re either drunk, stoned, or else just dangerously bored. They recognize Carroll right away. Several look around for news trucks and politicians, and they can’t hide their shock when they realize that Carroll is here, relatively speaking, alone.

Carroll shakes hands, asks how everyone’s doing. He marches up and down the sidewalk, the same way he marches up and down a sideline—exhorting, pumping his fist. At first the young men are nervous, starstruck, shy. Gradually they relax. They talk about football, of course, but also about the police, about how difficult it is to find a job. They talk about their lives, and their heads snap back when Carroll listens.

A car pulls up. Someone’s mother, back from the store. She freezes when she sees who’s outside her house. Carroll waves, then helps her with the groceries. He makes several trips, multiple bags in each hand, and the woman yelps with laughter. No, this can’t be. This is too much. Pete Carroll? Coach of the roughest, toughest, slickest college football team in the nation, schlepping eggs and soda from her car to her kitchen?

Next we drive to the Jordan Downs housing projects , one of the most dangerous places in L.A. We find a craps game raging between the main buildings. Forty young men huddle in the dark, a different sort of huddle from the ones Carroll typically supervises. They are smoking, cursing, shoving, intent on the game, but most fall silent and come to attention as they realize who’s behind them. Pete Carroll, someone whispers. Pete Carroll? The most famous sports figure in the city, excluding Kobe Bryant? (Maybe including Bryant.) Pete Carroll, mentor to Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, LenDale White—here? A sweet-faced teen named Jerome steps away from the game. He stares at Carroll, shakes his head as if to clear it. He says the same thing over and over. Pete Carroll in the ghetto. Man, this is crazy. Pete Carroll—in the ghetto! Crazy.

[Clerk Typist]

Geez, Jim Murray used to do this all the time, albeit more gently.
As in (paraphrasing), "There's nothing to do in Spokane, Wash., after 10 o'clock. In the morning. But the breakfast was good."
And, in ripping Cincinnati for an unfinished expressway, "It must have been Kentucky's turn to use the cement mixer."
Maybe the town should apologize to Pearlman and give him the key to the city. If it hasn't been stolen.

[Double Down]

Little different though with Murray, Clerk. There was a tongue-and-cheek aspect to it. Murray's brilliance was, in part, that he let you in on the joke. You'd laugh even if you were a Spokane resident or a Kentucky native. Unless you had no sense of humor.

[Boom_70]

Did anyone check to see if Florence has a Mcdonalds?

[21]

I suppose it's encouraging that the condoms were used.

Not in favor of the apology, if he went there and saw what he saw. Basically, it reframes the whole story as 'well, it's not as bad as I said it was, never mind.' 

Is it my imagination, but are a lot of our Pearlman threads geared around the same 'that's not what I/he/it meant...'?

[Moderator1]

Having been to Florence *** the man is being kind.

[Fenian_Bastard]

If Pearlman's description is accurate, and I have no idea if it is, no apology.
None. And certainly not under pressure.
But the "used condoms"? He noticed these? There were enough of them to notice?

[Chi City 81]

Thanks, Jeff, for coming here and clearing up all points.

EDIT: Jeff's post has reappeared below this one.

[jeff.pearlman]

Hmmm ... I sorta figured this might end up here.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, but here's exactly what happened: In response to the Clayton Holmes story I received, oh, 150 or so e-mails. Most were positive, some were negative and about 15 were from Florence natives who thought I was excessively rough on the city. So I went back and re-read the story. I actually don't think I was too hard, but I also can see it's a part of the story that I didn't write especially well. Hence, since it genuinely wasn't my intent to dog all of Florence, I felt comfortable responding with a "It wasn't my intent to rip your entire city—if it came off that way, I apologize." Is that sorta wimpy? I guess it could be seen that way. But I don't think anything's wrong with a writer admitting when he's off. It happens.

Now here's what truly bothers me: So I send that sort of e-mail to most of the angry Florence people (90% of whom respond with a "Thanks for writing back. No big deal—just wanted to express my displeasure), and the superentendent of schools forwards my e-mail to the local paper. I was friggin' blown away: I take the time to respond, I apologize if you took what I wrote to be a thrashing of your entire city ... and you forward it to the newspaper!? Are you kidding me? (Amazingly, I spoke to the superentendent earlier today. I said, "Why would you take a private e-mail and give it to the local paper?" He said, "Well, once you sent it to me it was no longer private and I could do whatever I wanted to with it." I said, "So, if a parent e-mails you about a student, you can forwatd that to the paper, too?")

Then, to make matters worse, the guy who writes the story for the Florence Morning News doesn't even call me to check the facts of his piece (some of which were off). It was insane: You write a story about someone ... and you don't even call him? To check facts? To make sure the e-mails were legit? Etc?

Anyhow, the writer later apologized to me, which was cool. I think he was young and learning and whatever. We all make mistakes ...

Anyhow, the experience wasn't a fun one. I try to write every person back when they send an e-mail. This time it didn't work out.

That's the story.

[playthrough]

Thanks for stopping by Jeff. I don't think your response was wimpy. I know I've sent similar emails; like you said most of the complainers simply appreciate your reply and apology.

[Boom_70]

Hmmm ... I sorta figured this might end up here.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, but here's exactly what happened: In response to the Clayton Holmes story I received, oh, 150 or so e-mails. Most were positive, some were negative and about 15 were from Florence natives who thought I was excessively rough on the city. So I went back and re-read the story. I actually don't think I was too hard, but I also can see it's a part of the story that I didn't write especially well. Hence, since it genuinely wasn't my intent to dog all of Florence, I felt comfortable responding with a "It wasn't my intent to rip your entire city—if it came off that way, I apologize." Is that sorta wimpy? I guess it could be seen that way. But I don't think anything's wrong with a writer admitting when he's off. It happens.

Now here's what truly bothers me: So I send that sort of e-mail to most of the angry Florence people (90% of whom respond with a "Thanks for writing back. No big deal—just wanted to express my displeasure), and the superentendent of schools forwards my e-mail to the local paper. I was friggin' blown away: I take the time to respond, I apologize if you took what I wrote to be a thrashing of your entire city ... and you forward it to the newspaper!? Are you kidding me? (Amazingly, I spoke to the superentendent earlier today. I said, "Why would you take a private e-mail and give it to the local paper?" He said, "Well, once you sent it to me it was no longer private and I could do whatever I wanted to with it." I said, "So, if a parent e-mails you about a student, you can forwatd that to the paper, too?")

Then, to make matters worse, the guy who writes the story for the Florence Morning News doesn't even call me to check the facts of his piece (some of which were off). It was insane: You write a story about someone ... and you don't even call him? To check facts? To make sure the e-mails were legit? Etc?

Anyhow, the writer later apologized to me, which was cool. I think he was young and learning and whatever. We all make mistakes ...

Anyhow, the experience wasn't a fun one. I try to write every person back when they send an e-mail. This time it didn't work out.

That's the story.

I know DD but the irony is just too rich to let go. Jeff I guess in a way you now know how John Rocker felt.

[jeff.pearlman]

Boom, I only came on here to explain what happened, not get in any sort of argument.

I'll be quiet now.

[Boom_70]

Boom, I only came on here to explain what happened, not get in any sort of argument.

I'll be quiet now.

Jeff I too appreciate that you came on to discuss your story which BTW I thought was excellent. I am already looking forward to reading the book.

I do hope that you will continue to particpate in this discussion. I think you do have to admit though that there is a touch of irony that surronds it.

[spnited]

The same thing is happening on the state level in North Dakota, where people are demanding a do-over from National Geographic because of a story that they say was unfairly negative.

I think the New York Times had something recently.

People actually live in North Dakota?

[Mahoney]

Having visited Florence a few times, the description seemed a little harsh. It's pretty crappy, but compared to neighborhoods I've seen in places like St. Louis it was paradise. On the other hand, the overreaction by thr ecity is silly as well. Jeff clarified his position, issue over.

[Bob Cook]

Now here's what truly bothers me: So I send that sort of e-mail to most of the angry Florence people (90% of whom respond with a "Thanks for writing back. No big deal—just wanted to express my displeasure), and the superentendent of schools forwards my e-mail to the local paper. I was friggin' blown away: I take the time to respond, I apologize if you took what I wrote to be a thrashing of your entire city ... and you forward it to the newspaper!? Are you kidding me? (Amazingly, I spoke to the superentendent earlier today. I said, "Why would you take a private e-mail and give it to the local paper?" He said, "Well, once you sent it to me it was no longer private and I could do whatever I wanted to with it." I said, "So, if a parent e-mails you about a student, you can forwatd that to the paper, too?")

At this point, I assume any email I send back to someone is going to be used, unless I say otherwise. It seems like every other email response I send to some fanboy pissed at me ends up on a message board. Especially the ones where I'm being gracious, because then it's used to make me look like I'm some sort of pussy.

Not that I'm picking on you -- I'm sure others have had the same experience. Even when you say, "this is private."

[Write-brained]

Having been to Florence *** the man is being kind.

I disagree. I've been through it on a couple of occassions. I can think of a lot worse places - even in South Carolina.

[markvid]

If he saw the trash and crap and described it, fine.

But I have a problem with describing any place as being deserted by hope.

No. 1, it's almost a cliche in stories of this type and doesn't add much to me.

No. 2, it's such a sweeping/subjective statement that it's almost guaranteed to be wrong for some folks at least and generate criticism.

You do realize you have Cleveland in your avatar?

[FreddiePatek]

The west side of Florence is similar to any suburban sprawl in any town (Wal-Mart, fast-food, etc.). The north side (heading toward Darlington) is the same. The side of town Pearlman speaks of ... dead-on description. So, he did use too broad a brush with his description, but not by much and he apologized. This sounds like what any of us would do if we offended anyone ...

Am I wrong?

[Write-brained]

The west side of Florence is similar to any suburban sprawl in any town (Wal-Mart, fast-food, etc.). The north side (heading toward Darlington) is the same. The side of town Pearlman speaks of ... dead-on description. So, he did use too broad a brush with his description, but not by much and he apologized. This sounds like what any of us would do if we offended anyone ...

Am I wrong?

No. There have been times when I wasn't as specific as I would have liked to be and I apologized for being unclear. I think the writer should be allowed some discretion in that area. Constantly apologizing would be a problem.

[friend of the friendless]

Sirs, Madames,

I'm with Mr macg on this. Section, fine. The whole town, ouch. Maybe somehow qualifying it ... hope left town and only rarely comes back to visit ... would have mitigated it.

Years back I insulted folks in Cornwall, a pretty awful mill town that was losing its hockey team on top of everything else (and please forgive the turgid prose):

Cornwall's despair isn't just felt in the heart. It fills the senses.

There are those universal manifestations. An argument escalating into a fight that spills out of a working-class bar and into the street. A downtrodden panhandler, his voice a whisper, looking for coffee money from pedestrians who gather speed as they pass him by.

And there are those signs of sadness unique to this town of 46,000 on the St. Lawrence River near the Quebec border. At night there will be the roar of smugglers' speedboats on the river and sometimes gunshots from police in pursuit echo across the water. Day and night, the pulp mills pump smoke into the air, a smoke so wretchedly strong it fouls not just the smell of the city's air but the very taste of it, too.

All of this was true. The fight was right at my feet on my walk over to the arena. The panhandler was right by the arena. The gunfights ... the detail later in the story describes bullets having chipped the brickwork on the lake side of the arena.

The mayor, the former chief of police, wrote a letter of complaint. I didn't apologize. His was a tough sell, because, as I noted in the story:

During the battles with native smugglers on the St. Lawrence, Martelle [the mayor] went into hiding because he feared for his life.  

YD&OHS, etc

[Sam Mills 51]

Hmmm ... I sorta figured this might end up here.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, but here's exactly what happened: In response to the Clayton Holmes story I received, oh, 150 or so e-mails. Most were positive, some were negative and about 15 were from Florence natives who thought I was excessively rough on the city. So I went back and re-read the story. I actually don't think I was too hard, but I also can see it's a part of the story that I didn't write especially well. Hence, since it genuinely wasn't my intent to dog all of Florence, I felt comfortable responding with a "It wasn't my intent to rip your entire city—if it came off that way, I apologize." Is that sorta wimpy? I guess it could be seen that way. But I don't think anything's wrong with a writer admitting when he's off. It happens.

Now here's what truly bothers me: So I send that sort of e-mail to most of the angry Florence people (90% of whom respond with a "Thanks for writing back. No big deal—just wanted to express my displeasure), and the superentendent of schools forwards my e-mail to the local paper. I was friggin' blown away: I take the time to respond, I apologize if you took what I wrote to be a thrashing of your entire city ... and you forward it to the newspaper!? Are you kidding me? (Amazingly, I spoke to the superentendent earlier today. I said, "Why would you take a private e-mail and give it to the local paper?" He said, "Well, once you sent it to me it was no longer private and I could do whatever I wanted to with it." I said, "So, if a parent e-mails you about a student, you can forwatd that to the paper, too?")

Then, to make matters worse, the guy who writes the story for the Florence Morning News doesn't even call me to check the facts of his piece (some of which were off). It was insane: You write a story about someone ... and you don't even call him? To check facts? To make sure the e-mails were legit? Etc?

Anyhow, the writer later apologized to me, which was cool. I think he was young and learning and whatever. We all make mistakes ...

Anyhow, the experience wasn't a fun one. I try to write every person back when they send an e-mail. This time it didn't work out.

That's the story.

Thanks for coming here, Jeff. I tried to stay away from this, but as someone who worked in Florence for a significant stint, I can't any longer.

And if this outs me, I'll deal with it ... I'm nothing close to a somebody.

I did think Jeff's assessement of Florence was a little harsh. Sure, it's not a thriving metropolis, but I felt the setting was a bit generalized. Making matters worse is Clayton Holmes' high school district, Wilson High, contains more than its share of the not-so-nice portions of the city and tends to come under siege in times like these. That's a shame because some of the people there are among the most genuine and decent people I've come across in my career. They can be touchy about those sort of things, and considering the way that people tend to pounce, I can certainly understand why Jeff's e-mail box filled up in a hurry.

That the Morning News got hold of it doesn't surprise me in the least. I feel like I know the people there, many of them quality types that I would give anything to hang around again, and it would have shocked me if something hadn't been said. The newsroom isn't the least bit afraid to go after people, but will defend the community under these types of circumstances.

I'm a little confused Jeff ... were you talking about Doug Reese or Charles Tomlinson when you were referring to not getting a call back about checking facts? Regardless, neither Chuck nor Doug are rookies. Chuck will double- and triple-check everything given enough time, and it's not at all like Doug to shoot from the lip when it comes to these sort of stories. It also doesn't surprise that either - or both - would apologize for not being more thorough. I don't know the circumstances or time frame in which the piece was written and perhaps the editors wanted a story in the next edition ASAP.

Mistakes were made, people have apologized and hopefully everyone can move on wiser for the experience.

[In Exile]

Seems to me the real issue is not only one of precision but stems from the use of the phrase "deserted by hope . . ." coupled with a few stereotyped markers of poverty.  I live in a community, albeit a more rural and remote one, with similar issues -  a lot of double-wides (which here is a sign of affluence because most of the trailers are not double-wides) and other obvious signs of, if not abject poverty, hard times.  A McDonald's would be a big step up here, as would a supermarket or a drug store, not to mention both a newspaper that covered the community and people who could afford to buy and them.  I'd take a street full of newspapers in exchange for that.

The place has been deserted, certainly, but mainly by the government, the global economy, and the affluent.  The only thing people have left is hope, as futile a dream as it may be.  Whether the residents of Florence realize it or not, I think they were actually reacting to the characterization that the situation was hopeless - they know, better than anyone who does a flyover, what their issues are.  But they don't like the spotlight being put on it and they don't like being told they have no chance.  In communties like this, kids survive and some even thrive because they don't realize how bad things are and because they are not quite beaten down past hope.   Take hope away and you just give up, and even in the worst place imaginable, most people haven't given up, are doing the best they can, and, even if given the opportunity, wouldn't leave, because it is home and the place where the people they care about live as well. 

[Boom_70]

Reread again and have come to the conclusion that both the residents of Florence and Jeff Pearlman are too sensitive.

Pearlman paints for the reader a vivid picture of the city of Florence where Holmes grew up. Having this picture is an important part of the overall story.

Pearlman created a real life version of "The Eighty Yard Run".

Jeff we have seen this before. You have to stop being so insecure about your work. Stop apologizing. It was a great story. Stand by it.  Give us more.