Perhaps I'm naive, but Gantt can go to hell

[Nicbsbll2]

Oh please people. A journalist CANNOT show bias toward a team, that's bad journalism. By admitting that he is a fan of the team then that would open the door for speculation that he is biased in the way he reports news on the team.

Every time I've heard Gantt mention that he's not a fan it has been because someone asked him if he was or not. So what is he suppose to say to that? Of course he isn't going to admit to being a fan.

However, I would be willing to bet that once he retires that his opinion of whether or not he is a "fan" just might change.

[Mother Grabber]

First rule of journalism is objectivity.

Reed is a little more transparent.

This isn't journalism, it's writing about football. The audience doesn't want objectivity. They want inside scoops that no one else knows and they want you to tell them why their team kicks ass. That's it. Write a column that says those things, and you'll make your entire audience happy.

[mountainpantherfan]

Amazing how my opinion has changed over the years. I used to hate Yas and thought Gantt was the best beat out there. Slowly, Gantt has turned a lot of people off and since Yas went to ESPN he has turned into one of the better writers in the country IMO.

[GoApps70]

I believe Gantt is just saying that as a journalist that he is not a fan of the team so that he can stay objective. Hard to be objective if you are all rah-rah for a team. Would rather have a sports writer be that way than to spout out all the pablum that the Panthers put out for mass consumption.

If you want a fan, just ask Richardson about how everything is and follow whatever he says. That way you don't get the truth, but "SOME PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH !"

[rayzor]

First rule of journalism is objectivity.

Reed is a little more transparent.

this. he's not supposed to be a fan and he's not supposed to care if they win or lose. all he's supposed to do is tell us what's going on. just the facts (and rumors).

OP is making too big of a deal about it.

personally i don't like the idea of a beat reporter being a panther fan. i'd rather the person reporting on them not be biased.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Yeah I think our writers not being fans of the team is a steaming pile of bullshit.

Most fans aren't objective, but its not impossible for them to be.

[rayzor]

if you want panther news from the homer point of view...go to panthers.com. everyone else, unless they are on the panthers payroll, are supposed to be unbiased. it's hard for fans to be objective when it comes to their team. they will swing from one extreme to the other.

in fact, it's hard to get a job writing for a team if you are a fan. i wouldn't hire you, thats for sure. i couldn't be sure that i was getting the real news.

[coralreefer_1]

This has Howard Stern written all over it^^

Most of the people who listened to him back in the day didn't do so because they liked him, but rather because they hated him and just wanted to hear him each day so they would have something to talk (gripe) about.

Not sure whether the guy cares about the team or not..but the fact he made a comment and we are discussing it would imply that we would be even more eager than before to read his dribble just because we don't like what the guy has to say ( I cant wait to see what crazy things he says next mentality)

[carolinarolls]

I do not think DG is a fan and I don't care, but I also do not think he delivers the news. I don't think his being a fan or not being a fan has anything to do with it. In his case he is just a whiny bitch who things that being contrarian is a sign of intelligence and backing the program is more important than delivering the goods.

he's worthless. Kinda like you are gonna get a bad deal if you trade with Belichek, you know there is more to the story and its a company lean if you are reading a DG piece.

[bleys]

What he said.

If I want fandom, I come here. If I want an objective view, I like Gantt. If some people weren't so thin skinned, they'd realize he's actually kind of amusing. But this goes to the whole fan thing of "<insert announcers name here> is a HATER!! He doesn't like our team!!! He's BIASED!!!". Um, get a thicker skin. No writer, analyst, or announcer unless employed by the team should or will be a cheerleader for this organization.

Besides, imagine if the beat writer was a fan. We'd get overly positive takes after a win, and columns encouraging us to join them in jumping off a building after a loss. I don't want that personally.

the funny thing is only now is Gantt getting this "objective" view from everyone.. not saying everyone fell into this trap, but for yeeeeeeeeeears most people said Gantt was the FO's puppet.

I'm finding this interesting at the moment..

[GoApps70]

Don't see why anyone gives a dang. It's his feelings. No one has to be a fan.

[top dawg]

This is a stupid and ridiculous post. Any sports journalist knows that you are not supposed to be a fan of the team you cover because it puts bias into your articles.

I like Gantt's stuff, and frankly I don't care if he likes the team or not as long as he covers it and gives me news about them everyday like he's supposed too.

Is this sports, or politics? If Gantt doesn't want anyone to comment on his objectivity, love, apathy or hate for a team, then all of his comments should be neutral. Basically telling the fan base that you don't care whether their team wins or loses is stupid.

There are sports journalists all across this country who can cover other teams objectively, or at least support the appearance. Do you think that Bradshaw doesn't lean towards the Steelers, or that he didn't lean towards Delhomme? Do you believe that Howie Long isn't partial to the Raiders and Raider Nation, or that he doesn't support the Rams because of his son? Do you believe that Deion Sanders would say "I don't care whether the Cowboys win or lose"? Do you feel that these men don't provide good information about teams, players and match-ups, even if they have ties to an organization? Sometimes it takes the ones closest to an organization to give the most in-depth and analytical information about that organization.

Fans mostly want information, and you don't have to be objective to provide quality information. A local guy who covers the local team does not have to make it look like he is apathetic about the success of the team, and I see this as being counterproductive when you are writing for the fans. And, sorry, I may being a bit fanatical, but I hardly see my thoughts on the matter as "stupid and ridiculous."

Just throwing in my two cents.

[rayzor]

lol at you if you think that bradshaw and long are journalists.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

If he's not a fan of this team, he's a fan of some other team. Why the fug would anyone want to be a sports writer if they weren't a sports fan.

They need to stop jacking readers off with this bullshit and own up.