Edmonton Oilers Media Turf War

I don’t observe the recent war of words between bloggers and writers from more traditional media covering the Edmonton Oilers as some sort of gleeful sport.

From what I can see from my vantage point, the flames are primarily being fanned by a few particularly passionate participants on both sides. And even a couple efforts by some to calm the waters have been foiled by their own inability to come at it from a neutral corner. They just can’t help but to get their digs in along the way. And, quite frankly, that’s not very becoming of either side.

Why can’t all the Edmonton Oilers media just get along?

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I am in what is perhaps a unique position, in that I have been on both sides of this melee. I have been blessed to work alongside some truly marvellous examples of what today you may classify as “main stream media”. Probably my favorite example is from the days when I covered the Blue Jays, for the two seasons following their last World Series win. The man I sat beside for about 160 home games at Skydome was the legendary Milt Dunnell.

Mr. Dunnell had forgotten more about Sports Journalism that I knew, certainly at the time, and likely even today. But generous of spirit and kind with his time, Milt offered up common-sense advice on how we could best serve our public: He, his Toronto Star readers, and I, my radio listeners. And of all the precious lessons I retained from that experience, the one I valued the most was:

“Trust your powers of observation, but color them with the facts”.

As an example, I don’t need analytics to tell me that Justin Schultz is playing better hockey, these days, I can see it with my own eyes, using my experience of having both watched the game from a professional, critical standpoint, as well as having played the game (at the same position) a little. But I DO use analytics, as a tool to check my work, to either support or refute what my eyes tell me.

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This is where I find analytics the most useful. Similar to a scientific control in an experiment, stats keep a writer honest. They are a valuable check that keeps the fan or the critic in you contained, at least long enough to help you see a result for what it is, instead of what you wish it to be. Analytics are not always an accurate tell, mind you, but then again…neither are your eyes.

Generally, I wish more “mainstream” reporters used analytics in this way, and I wish that some analytics enthusiasts leaned a little more heavily on their powers of observation. I wish reporters would stick to reporting, and commentators to commentating. These lines have become increasingly blurred. We would be so much better, collectively, together.

To be transparent, I could easily still be a member of the “MSM” covering the Oilers today, except for one, simple fact: I now value sitting in the stands with my 13 year old more than I do being in a press box without him. Both are great, but tell me you would not make the same choice, given the opportunity.

I still desperately love the game, and quite frankly: After 25+ years of remaining neutral, I yearned to cheer for my team, something I very staunchly refused to do while being paid to report on Sports.

Blogging allows me both. I’m humbled if you find my observations compelling, even entertaining, but I don’t attempt to hide it: I’m an Edmonton Oilers fan.

As such, my eyes tell me that the Oilers should beat the Leafs tonight.

Hopefully, the analytics will back me up on that.