Irresponsible journalism hits too close to home…

I got my ass handed to me a few days back – verbally, not physically – though if I weren’t a few time zones away on the left coast, the latter might’ve been the case. Regardless, it wasn’t fun. A little life lesson on the power of words and the impact they have on real people.

It’s easy to stare at a screen and write. Words lose their value when they pour out of your fingertips a sentence per second. Opinions and statements are easier to make when not looking a man in the eye – thinking out, articulating and delivering those thoughts in your head.

I’m not at liberty to divulge my mark, but there are University of Miami ties and our guy disagreed with my assessment of both he and the job he did. (No, it wasn’t Larry Coker.) More frustrating, I look back at my dated words and know deep down what I wrote wasn’t what I felt. Emotions got the better of me and logic flew right out the window. Back and forth banter and winning the debate became more important than the actual subject itself. A vicious cycle when taking these types

I won’t go into the detail of the conversation, as it pales in comparison to the overall lesson.

I listen to the pundits criticize blogging and the open forum in which anyone and everyone has an opinion. To a point, I get it… but that’s not the case here. My work is hardly world class, but I read enough and come across a fair share of hacks getting paid handsomely to do this for a living.

A trait I’m thankful we don’t share – the fact I’m not afraid to take my medicine. I took the verbal beat down and I listened to reason. I apologized for my comments being out of line and I’m writing this rebuttal out of choice, not force.

I spend a fair share of time perusing UM-themed message board. CanesTime. CaneSport. Comment sections in the Herald’s UM-themed blogs. At times I get roped into some banter, but for the most part I’ve learned to spectate. I’ve been venomous at times. I dove headfirst into my share of debates, sometimes arguing for the sake of arguing, simply wanting to ‘win’.

What an utter waste.

There are things in life that can’t be duplicated. You don’t know the feeling of having a child until you have one. You can’t know the pain of losing a loved one until you lose one.

In no way am I lumping this in that same category, but for those who write so freely online, it’s humbling when the target of your aggression is on the other end of the line, quoting you verbatim and letting you know how your words crushed them. It then gets downright humiliating when they point out flaws in your argument; you unable to fight back being that they were actually there, while you built your case from archived articles or pointless stats. They lived through it and know the facts like the back of their hand, while you wrongly put something false out there for the world to read.

This situation knocked the wind out of me. Moving forward, I won’t second-guess every word I write… though I’ll always put myself in check regarding the intent. What’s the purpose of what I’m about to write? Could I rephrase it without malice or forced wit instead of following the trends of trashy tabloid sports journalism that have taken over?

He who yells loudest is heard and he who throws out the most insults or outlandish statements get the most viewers. That’s never been my intent with this blog. This was a hobby that turned into a passion and an online store enhancement. It’s not a career. It’s not a subscription-based site. It’s not about the traffic or money. It’s here for those who want to delve in, Miami fans and rivals alike.

We hit a new low here today and by we, I mean me. I went too far for no reason other than debating a point and winning. Hell, this piece was so old I had to Google it to remember when I wrote it. Upon rereading it, I felt like an utter heel.

To the party discussed here, again, I’m truly sorry. I never had the authority to question your efforts and wrongly assessed your accomplishments. I was wrong. I am man enough to admit that.

To the readers of this column, a commitment to no more low blows against the U Family. (Gators are still fair game, for obvious reasons.) The bush league digs are a thing of the past. I can’t rip ESPN for their tabloid trash in one article and then do the same the next day. It’s hypocritical.

A renewed sense of purpose with this blog moving forward. I’ve seen the light, though not in a way I ever expected.

I’ll take it, as the end result was obviously necessary.

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