ODDS ’N’ ENDS :

Sports writer Jerry Izenberg unabashedly old-school

Veteran sports writer has harsh words for some on TV and the Internet, says newspapers are still the best way to stay informed

Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Sam Morris

Jerry Izenberg recently moved to Henderson after a long and distinguished career as a columnist for the Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. He still writes occasionally for his old paper, and he is working on a series of book projects.

Legend’s ﬁnal chapters to have Vegas viewpoint (10-26-2009)

Upon Further Review

Amazon.com: Through My Eyes: A Sports Writer's 58-Year Journey

Our profile of author and longtime sports writer Jerry Izenberg that appeared in the Sun last month was designed to be just that: a look at an engaging local personality, a nationally recognized figure who recently took up residence in Henderson.

Known to several generations of readers as a columnist with the Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., Izenberg retired in 2007. He is working on a series of book projects and files an occasional column for his old newspaper. His latest book, “Through My Eyes: A Sports Writer’s 58-Year Journey,” was published this year.

The subject of the original story, of course, was Izenberg himself.

It was not meant to be a column on media criticism, nor a dissertation on the divisive nature of the social and political discourse in modern America.

Yet Izenberg, a sort of man for all seasons, raised enough compelling points on those topics — and his comments drew enough of a response — that they’re worth revisiting in greater depth.

Think of this follow-up column, then, as Izenberg’s outtakes.

Izenberg, an unapologetic old-schooler who once worked at a desk next to Red Smith’s, challenged today’s readers who respond to news articles online to do so with their real names and hometowns rather than with goofy pseudonyms. His take earned plaudits from a number of readers of the piece. Alas, some of them offered their support ... anonymously. Oh, well. Maybe it’s the thought that counts.

As Izenberg sees it, newspapers are still the best bet for sports enthusiasts looking to slake their intellectual curiosity.

He has little tolerance, for example, for TV talking heads.

“Are you going to get the truth,” Izenberg said, “from the hair spray people, who sit there and say, ‘I think you’re great, Charlie’ ‘No, I think you’re better, Tom.’ ‘Oh, by the way, I think the manager should be fired.’?

“Are you going to get the truth from them? Good luck. And they’re not going to be in that job anyway but another month before some consultant’s going to come through and say, ‘No, I think the hair spray should be going the other way, not that way.’ ”

Likewise, Izenberg has great respect for talk radio shows — when they are presented in the form of a thoughtful dialogue.

“But they very seldom are,” Izenberg said. “Too often it’s a guy shouting and screaming about a football team. Or, it’s Big John from Queens calling in. I don’t care what Big John from Queens thinks. It means nothing.”

Don’t get him started on so-called “citizen journalism.”

“Send us your pictures of your dog (going to the bathroom) and we’ll probably run it,” Izenberg said. “That has nothing to do with journalism, except for the fact that’s your alternative if newspapers go away.

“Where are you going to get the truth from? If newspapers fail, we’re not going to get it. It’s that simple.”

Izenberg also spoke in depth of the hate mail he received — and even the physical violence he encountered — during the controversy regarding Muhammad Ali’s refusal to join the military.

I asked Izenberg if he believes society has advanced in the four decades or so since then, especially given the rancor and distrust that so often accompany the public debate on all things political.

We certainly have progressed since the 1960s, Izenberg said. In the most basic sense, to deny that would be akin to denying the achievements of the civil rights movement.

“Look, who’s the president of the United States?” he said. “You might love him, you might like him, you might hate him. It doesn’t matter. He was elected president. We definitely have come a long way.

“You hear talk about the country divided. There’s some good in that, because it means people are saying what they think. If I don’t agree with them, I have three choices. I can walk away. Or, I can say, ‘(Expletive) you.’

“Or, I can say, ‘Let’s talk about it.’ I want to hear what you have to say, now hear what I have to say.”

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

By dodgerchuck

Nov. 23, 2009

7:51 a.m.

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if he came out here to retire why is he still working
By fosimmons

Nov. 23, 2009

9:12 a.m.

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Fellow Idiots - A good intellectual moving to Nevada in order to survive with dignity from the invasive, crooked and back breaking taxation of New Jersey, I surmise. Must I also mention the turnpikes or tolls or lack of police? What about that crazy Govenor who came out gay to the people of New Jersey and even his wife? Is it a place to flee from? Yes, with the exception of the casinos in Atlantic City and the restoration of some of the beach towns southward. Perhaps this wise man has friends or relatives in Henderson. Whatever, I like his philosophy and his honest approach to facts as assorted from fiction and his point on who gives a hoot what James from Queens thinks. Personally, I really enjoy standing in the lines at local suprermarkets and eyeing any young people near me and begin an easy and casual conversaion about his, that and the other with one of them and then pop an innocent question to them like .... "hey, do you know where Canada or Mexico is?" If you listen to what their answers are you'll grasp for breath - most don't have any idea and fumble around .... but if you ask about Michael Jackson or Hot Chili Peppers you can get a day's worth of gossip and misinformation and all that including the latest songs. Not all, of course, but most, and then it becomes pretty clear no newspapers are being read by the younger generation. Thank You.
By DMCVegas

Nov. 23, 2009

6:15 p.m.

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He is certainly right about "Talking Heads", and "Citizen Journalism" not being a viable alternative. After all, people are hired for their looks, and not their intellectual thought capacity when it comes to television news shows. And having random bloggers attempt to report their ignorant opinions about various subjects doesn't actually report on any news, but rather further muddies the subject and forces all of us into ignorance.

However after decades, if not centuries of biased journalism from newspapers, people are finally fed up. How many times have we seen only one side of an important story reported because the newspaper, or owner of a newspaper has a vested interest in keeping the alternate or opposing viewpoint from public view? Most of the public doesn't see this very often no, because they're lazy and it requires the effort of independent research to try and learn the other sides of the story.

I mean for instance can Jerry Izenberg himself tell us with a clear conscience that he has absolutely never, ever once been biased in a news story he himself reported? He never painted a rosy picture of a team or an athlete that maybe wasn't doing so well, but yet told his readers to have hope in them simply because he himself wanted them to succeed? Just like the comment that he says that Newspapers are the best source for information for the public. He being a newspaper writer himself seems to present one huge conflict of interest, especially when he presents no actual argument to back that claim up...

Don't get me wrong, I understand wholeheartedly where this guy is coming from though. But the sad truth is the general public is impulsive and stupid. When it comes to sports, even trying to figure out stats is too hard for most people, so it's easier to just latch on to tabloid stories and use those to root against your rival teams. But then again your average sports fan is in fact a total moron. Most don't even care for the games they watch, but rather they just want to be apart of the fan base that supports the team in question. Of course, why would anyone involved in the sport want that to change when each and every single team gets to cash in on memorabilia sales that exploit that very that need people have?
By Harley

Nov. 24, 2009

2:06 a.m.

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"All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi for my ignorance." -- Will Rogers

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