Bob Kravitz is supposedly a journalist

The idea behind the creation of this blog was to go after poor sports journalism. Although that may not be exclusively what this blog is about, it's a good place to start.

(btw, apologies to the good people at FireJoeMorgan, who have been doing this masterfully for a long time.)

So...

Bob Kravitz is supposedly a journalist

At least, he pretends to be:

Maybe Fisher needs a collection agency

These companies owe Sarah Fisher a significant amount of money.

Hmmm. I wonder how he knows this.

I hope you'll write down the names or commit them to memory:

I don't have to write them down or remember them; you're going to do that for me.

The first is Gravity Entertainment of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The second is ResQ, a sports-drink company whose Web site features Fisher extolling its product and its commitment to racing.

See? Told you.

I'm willing to give both companies the benefit of the doubt regarding their inexplicable failures to make good on contractual promises to Fisher's team.

Okay, I'm no expert, but the second part of the sentence ("their inexplicable failures to make good...") seems to indicate Kravitz is not willing to give the companies the "benefit of the doubt."

Maybe the check got lost in the mail -- although the money was supposed to be wired, which might explain the disconnect. Maybe the dog ate the check. Maybe it's all an innocent mistake, and the companies will make good and allow Fisher to not only make this week's payroll -- three days and counting -- but continue her quest to make a seventh Indianapolis 500.

I love how Bobby--can I call you Bobby? Yes, yes I can--starts off with the "check" idea, then admits that the money was supposed to be wired, then goes back to the check idea. It's as if he's ignoring his own writing, which may explain some things.

Look, maybe it is all "an innocent mistake." Or, maybe Glondor the Horrific broke into both offices and stole all of their check-making/wiring supplies.

But just in case, if anyone wants to issue them a gentle reminder, put a bug in their ear, feel free to do so. Tell them, "Um, until you hold up your end of the bargain with Sarah Fisher, it's going to be awfully difficult for you to do business with jammed phone lines.''

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems Bobby has just told his readers to call and bitch at these companies. Remember that.

She's not the only driver out there who has been chasing sponsorship money for years. It's a tough sell, especially in this struggling economy. This is life on the other side of the Danica Divide, although Fisher was having trouble raising money well before Patrick exploded onto the IndyCar scene.

Huh?? Again, Bobby is ignoring his own writing, nanoseconds after he's written it. What does the "Danica Divide" have to do with this? Oh, yeah--nothing--Bobby says so himself in the next sentence! Then why the fuck did you write that in the first place? Ever heard of editing?

A look into Bobby Kravitz's mind as he wrote this article:

Sarah Fisher. Yeah, she's a girl. Danica's a girl, too. So I'll mention Danica here...(pause)...what does Danica have to do with this story? Oh, that's right--nothing. I'll keep writing.

It's just that Fisher and her husband, Andy O'Gara, have risked almost everything to form a racing company and compete in this year's Indianapolis 500. They were counting on Gravity Entertainment and ResQ to hold up their end. Those companies were, after all, front and center at a recent introductory news conference at Fisher's shop in Indianapolis.

Now that the bill is due, they're nowhere to be found.

Can you find them? I bet you could, Bobby, if you tried...there's this really cool thing called the world-wide-web-Net.

Maybe a couple of hundred phone calls and faxes will tweak their memory. "They keep saying they're going to wire it tomorrow, soon, today, tomorrow -- it's a 'check is in the mail' kind of thing,'' she said, standing in her garage as rain washed out qualifying. "They're still saying they're going to pay us, but at this point, it's hard for me to believe it anymore.''

Bobby, why haven't you called them to get their side of this? Don't get me wrong--I like Sarah Fisher, and I've always been a fan of hers. There's no reason to believe that she would lie about this. However--and this is why I'm writing this article--a journalist knows you cannot just take for granted one person's side of a story. Never. Never-ever.

As a journalist, you listen to what Sarah says, then call the companies to get their sides of the story. Perhaps they'll deny it. Perhaps they'll confirm it (not likely). Perhaps they'll refuse to talk to you (likely). However, it's your job to try and get their side of it.

Bobby never mentions having called them or contacted them for comment. Yet, he wants all 4 of his readers (and all 7 of his listeners, for he's a talk radio host, too!) to call and flood the phone lines of these two companies, but he can't call them himself, even though it's his job!!!!

This is completely idiotic and irresponsible journalism (for lack of a better word). It's pretty clear to me that Bobby is doing this just for attention and not for any real concern. To incite (or attempt to incite) an audience to disrupt companies without first getting their sides of the story is completely inexcusable.

There is also another point here. Would Kravitz (I don't want to call him Bobby anymore) be writing this article if the driver in question was a man? Because Sarah has been "victimized," noble Bob Kravitz has to stand up for her. Would Enrique Bernoldi get the same article?

(I also understand that Fisher was/is a very popular driver, so that's also a reason for Kravitz to jump on this. But I think there's at least an underlying tone of sexism here, too.)

On the track this month, she has been limited by all the bad weather, a tough break for a new team that hasn't really worked together. But her early practice speeds have been solid, and she has no doubt she will qualify for the field next weekend. "Our focus will be on race trim completely now,'' she said.

That is, when her focus isn't on the bottom line.

And that's where you come in. If you get a moment, maybe two, ask Gravity Entertainment what the deal is. Ask ResQ why it hasn't come across with the money it promised.

I'm sure they'll appreciate the friendly reminders.

Perhaps we should all call Bobby Kravitz and ask him why he sucks at journalism, his chosen profession? I'm sure he'll appreciate that friendly reminder.