Remember, There's No Crying in Baseball

I never thought I'd have to write this again, but apparently some people didn't get the message the first time. So here goes ...

On behalf of the media, I would like to apologize for the baseball team's 10-22 record. Clearly, we are responsible.

Our use of phrases like "eighth-best hitting team in the Ivy League" or "gave up 23 runs" have caused irrevocable harm and were the sole cause of the Lions being swept at home last weekend in a pivotal four-game series against Princeton.

Obviously, we were not sensitive to the feelings of the players, who were so demoralized by our game recaps that they fell into a debilitating late-season slump.

Funny, I always thought there's no crying in baseball.

The baseball team recently announced a boycott of the Spectator, refusing to speak to our oppressive beat writers. The decision was made, at least in part, to filter out distractions they believed Spectator coverage caused. Since the boycott, the Lions are 1-7 in Ivy games.

I guess that worked.

If they can't handle us, then I'm worried how any of them would deal with professional newspapers should any of them play at the next level. I personally believe that most newspapers are far more unfair and critical than the Spectator.

In truth, the baseball team had a point. We made some mistakes, as 19-year old college kids trying to get a newspaper right will do from time to time. There were several issues with our baseball coverage, ranging from mischaracterizations to incorrect facts.

I'm proud, however, of our sports editor and beat writers who had the humility to acknowledge, apologize, and take responsibility for the Spectator's errors, and then take unprecedented steps to address the problems and prevent them from occurring again.

Yet, not only has the baseball team continued its misguided boycott, they will not even come to the table, despite our efforts. I was on the outside of this issue initially, but after being asked to step in, my numerous attempts to contact team captains Brian Doveala and Jorge Livermore went unanswered. They also refused to speak with our sports editor when he attempted to reconcile.

I have spoken to several players who oppose their own boycott, and disagree with the "leadership," but at the same time will not budge from team solidarity and thus would not be quoted in this or any other story. So much for leadership.

I find the behavior of these "team leaders" reprehensible. We extended our hand in good faith, and hoped to work out our differences, but they repeatedly turned away. That's called representing your team poorly.

It is as if the baseball team is attempting to imitate the attitude of Barry Bonds--without the 667 home runs to back it up.

The real problem is a fundamental lack of comprehension of just how journalism works, a symptom that is prevalent among many people across campus.

Contrary to popular belief, Spectator is not a PR publication. It is our duty to cover Columbia's teams, not necessarily to promote them. As students, we may want the Lions to win, but as journalists, we really don't care who's victorious.

Look at the front page, and notice that we've been an independent publication since 1962.

Being the most widely-read publication that covers Columbia sports regularly gives us a tremendous amount of responsibility. It is a responsibility we understand and embrace. Given that we are college students, we have been known to make mistakes, just like how a baseball team will commit errors in the field, or how any student gets an incorrect answer on a homework assignment.

Imagine if every single one of your homework assignments--including that one you finished at three a.m.--were posted up on a bulletin board for everyone to look at. That's roughly what Spectator is like.

But I'm really proud of the work Spectator does every single night. Even as a senior, I find it absolutely incredible that we manage to put out a solid newspaper every day. There are editors in our offices from every night until dawn. They work 40-60 hours a week, on top of being full-time students, and basically don't sleep.

I'm not apologizing for them, or complaining; rather, I'm simply impressed. They deserve far more praise than the regular insults and criticism often floated their way, but everyone understands and accepts that it's all part of the job.

I'm proud of the work I've done for Spectator and feel confident that I have represented it well over the past four years. I have always stood up for athletes, who I could not stand to see put in situations where they could not win. My articles have generated controversy over the years, but I feel as though they have shed light on problems and solutions with Columbia athletics which would only lead to real and meaningful improvements.

I have criticized when I felt criticism was in order, but just as importantly, I have given credit and praise it was due. At this moment, however, I am no longer proud of our baseball team, whose image and legacy has been tarnished on their own volition. It is the first time I have ever felt this way about a Columbia team.

What the baseball team also seems to fail to understand is that it's in their best interest to speak with Spectator. If there is ever a point they want to stress, we have been known to quote them. They can help shape stories. They can add to the balance and perspective which we always seek in articles.

Also, how they represent themselves to the press reflects on how they are perceived by the Columbia community. That is a point not lost on coaches like men's basketball coach Joe Jones, who has fostered a team of solid citizens that are now widely admired and respected on campus. Baseball Head Coach Paul Fernandes has always been a class act, but he ascribes to a different philosophy, allowing his players to make such decisions for themselves.

Unfortunately, some of the players have been so rude that they have effectively created an environment where our two beat reporters go to Andy Coakley Field every week with a chip on their shoulder, as they put up with snide comments and ugly stares rather than taking in a ballgame.

The baseball players should quit whining about Spectator coverage, the PA system, their warm-up music, and everything else they have made way too big a deal of this year.

Rather, the baseball team should sack up and act like men. It's time they take responsibility for their own shortcomings on the field. It's time they put their self-described "Spectator distractions" behind them by sitting down and talking to us with civility, rather than running away and letting the issues fester in the back of their minds.

It's time for the baseball team to play ball and represent themselves in the school community with dignity.