We talked about a principled stand that Hub Arkush took when he voted for Rodgers for the Most Valuable Player award. You may not agree with the principles, but at least they were his, and they were probably on the self-righteous side. Even if you didn't agree, you could understand.
I guess it was no surprise that Hub walked them all back as soon as anyone called Arkush a bum. Arkush ripped the hood off what sportswriters are after today after posting a groveling apology to anyone who would accept it yesterday.
It hit the notes. Arkush claimed to have made a terrible mistake. He said that it is an honor to be one of the few who can vote for the awards in the playoffs. One of the codes of having that vote is not to reveal any of your preferences until after the awards are announced. He worried that his opinions would cause other voters to also make their votes public and reveal the reasons behind their decisions. He sucked up more to Rodgers than a pilot fish.
Here are a few words.
I made a terrible mistake. It was my fault. I am here to apologize for the fact that there is no one else to blame.
>
I own this and I am so sorry.
Arkush was simply honest.
Arkush wrote in his apology that everything he wrote was about farmland. That is their precious access, their privileges, and to remain in the secret club without ever having to justify it. They don't have anything to do with covering their chosen sport. It is a big club and you are not in it.
Arkush made a mistake. Is it possible to give an honest opinion? He has allowed that. Rodgers is a jackass who held his team hostage over the summer because he felt like it, and then lied to them and the league when it came to testing and vaccination, and amplified the horseshit that keeps all of us in this morass longer than we are. That is enough to call him a jerk.
Arkush and the other 49 voters should not feel like the end-all be-all. It is not the end. It should be the kind of thing that a writer would be willing to exchange for their honesty and principles, especially when they are on the right side of the debate. Why should we care about your opinion if you are willing to hold your award-voter status as sacred as possible? You can be bought and influenced.
Writers don't want to have to answer for their reasoning and votes, so we have dealt with that. It is not an integrity thing. All of his girlfriends who are also voting should have his support. I think the AP would go along with that.
Arkush is just protecting his access, fearing that no one would give him the scoops he has had for years. We used to think reporters breaking news was the result of hard work, but now they just read the script. Arkush is afraid of losing those scripts.
Ken Rosenthal lost his MLB Network gig for being honest. You didn't hear him apologize or grovel. He got on with his job.
I am sure Rodgers will grant you an interview next time so you can ask him softball questions, and you can vote for him for most Valuable Player next year when he is a Broncos. You will be happy.
