Are stories like this really helpful to journalism?

Here's an entire story on how frustrated LeBron James is with the Cavs right now, with what I counted to be four anonymous sources, none of whom were authorized to speak on the record.

LeBron James frustrated, concerned with Cavs' offseason efforts

Is this story really necessary? If James can't express his own frustration, shouldn't journalism - especially celebrity sports journalism! - have a higher bar than quoting an anonymous mouthpiece?

This is part of the erosion of sports journalism that started, well, years ago, but accelerated by well-paid agent organs like Schefter and Woj.

How do stories like these ennoble the craft? A bunch of anonymous sources on how a basketball player feels?

 

All 4 sources are probably LeBron.

 

Oh, I doubt it. I really do. He has enough people more than willing to say this shit for him and, obviously, journalists willing to quote it.

 

You forgot "part 1,256,972" in the title.

 

Maverick Carter and Rich Paul, just to name two...

Like it or not, we'll probably have to get used to such breathless reporting for as long as LeBron's contract status beyond the 2017-18 season is unresolved -- which means it could go on for another 350 days or so.

 

Waiting for LeBron's official spokesman Brian Windhorst to come out with some statement that these rumors are overblown and LeBron is committed to the team.

 

I don't think the point of such a story is to ennoble the craft but rather to inform a basketball obsessed fandom about some behind the scenes wranglings that would interest them

 

Drama King has minions leak what he's feeling or, more accurately, what he wants the public to think he's feeling.
Helpful to journalism? Wrong question. Harmful? Just more evidence of the slide where a) anonymity is given too freely to further agendas and b) readers think that makes stories sexier than actual attributed quotes. At the very least, more traditional reporting would have sought a comment from James directly and response from specific individuals in Cavaliers management. Maybe not have run the story without both.

 

They're stupid, weak and unprofessional. About as unprofessional as ESPN was a number of years back when they all but pleaded for Lebron to sign with the Heat.

Just like the "stories" on the various pro sports rumors sites. Some fanboi wants so-and-so on his team, so he writes how his team "would welcome so-and-so into the fold." Of course, the player nor team can comment, because it would be interfering with another team's player. But it makes those fans think, "Geez, we're getting so-and-so!"

Just stupid. Blatantly stupid.

#soapbox/thingsthatannoyme crossthread

 

And while we're talking about useless, I'd like to offer this kind of pablum which is sprinkled through sports rivers nationwide.

Should domestic violence offenders be banned from professional sports?

 

Agree. This story and all like it should have maybe one anonymous source that would make it better...if they don't want to say it on the record...f ya. Anonymity is given far too freely and it used to be if they didn't say it on the record it's not a story. Make them put their name on it.