I know, I know. I said this would be optimistic, but I’ve got to get this out of the way. This was a letter I sent on August 27 to the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa Sun, CBC Radio and the A-Channel. As far as I know, the Sun was the only member of the media to “publish” it (they edited it pretty heavily), although the Citizen called to say they were considering it.
Here it is:
I am both saddened and disappointed by the news media’s handling of the recent events involving the Ottawa Lynx. For the better part of the last week, print, television and radio have been reporting about the imminent demise of the Triple A ball club. According to these various news outlets and their “sources”, an announcement was to come on August 24. After meeting with the mayor, the public was to have been informed that the Lynx were leaving after the 2007 season.
Unfortunately for the media, the Lynx refused to follow the script. There was no news, no departure date, no folding of the tent as we’d been promised. Rather than reporting what was, ostensibly, “good news”, the majority of the members of the media covering this story opted to parse Mr. Pecor’s and Mr. Bostwick’s words for any grey cloud they could find in the silver lining. Editorials declared that the Lynx had died a long time ago, that Ottawa had passed baseball by. Some even went so far as to imply that Mr. Pecor’s sanity was in question for electing not to move or sell the franchise. In so doing, they have once again missed the story of the Ottawa Lynx. I would like to see, hear or read a story about the absolute wonder expressed in the face of a kid after a player points to them and tosses them a ball. A story about the father and son who can relax at the park, spending time together while they enjoy the beauty of the game, not bound to their seats until a “stoppage in play”, not shouting at each other over deafening music. A story about the impact this team has on the community; the charities it supports, the reading program it developed, the fans it attracts. And if the media opts instead for stories about the cold hard “facts” of the franchise, why not a piece on the contribution this team makes to the bottom line? The number of local employees it pays, the money spent by visiting teams, the rent and taxes it hands over – year upon year?
Were I as cynical and as pessimistic as members of the media I might suggest that the media, having irresponsibly reported (or, misreported) this story for so long, have to save face – they’re not really wrong about the story, you see. They’re just not right - yet. Google “Ottawa” “Lynx” “rumour” and “sold” and see how many hits you get. This is all part of the damage they perpetuate – why would fans come to see a team the media keeps writing off as dead? The prophecy becomes self-fulfilling, albeit with a huge assist going to the reporters.
My nine year old son’s heroes are primarily on the field - the gifted players who can throw, hit and catch a baseball in ways few can imagine. My heroes are those who won’t quit, even when everyone is telling them to. The people who look at 100-1 odds against them, and answer the bell anyway. Mr. Pecor is one of those people. Mr. Bostwick is one of those special individuals, as are the members of the Lynx staff. No matter how many times they’re told “it’s over”, they keep coming back. The irony here, which the media has largely missed, is that Ottawa has had more than its fair share of irresponsible owners; gentlemen who have deceived and/or threatened, usually demanding concessions from the city and their fans before quitting on this town. Mr. Pecor has done none of these things and he certainly hasn’t quit on Ottawa. It’s an embarrassment that Ottawa appears to have done exactly that to him.
I have no solutions for the team and I know that one day the media may be proven correct. However, given the media’s deplorable track record on the subject, I will put my faith in what Mr. Pecor and Mr. Bostwick have to say on the subject of the team’s future. I’ll buy season tickets, show up with my family and enjoy all that this team and its organization have to offer. I hope that they continue to ignore the script.
As a post script, I note that this post bears a resemblance to a post in Steve Warne’s blog over on the Team’s website. Should anyone care to check, I sent a copy of my letter to the Lynx by email, an hour and a half before Steve’s post showed up. “Great” minds think alike.
