Veteran Indianapolis sportswriter Bob Kravitz was the first to break the story that the NFL was investigating the possibility that the Patriots had deflated footballs to gain an unfair advantage against the Colts. In response to that initial report, Kravitz outlined all sorts of death threats he received and accusations that he was making it up, being bitter about the Colts loss and biased against the Patriots, a crooked journalist, yada, yada, yada.
For a long time with the DeflateGate saga, nothing happened. Then suddenly on Wednesday Ted Wells released the findings of the NFL’s investigation, leading to the delightfully complex wording that it is “more probable than not” that Tom Brady and the Pats cheated. It was enough in the minds of many non-Patriot fans to conclude that Brady definitely probably was involved in the scandal.
The findings led Kravitz to pen a column entitled, “Wells Report leaves the Patriots feeling, well… deflated” that amounts to a victory lap. The Wells finding vindicates Kravitz’s early reporting and given all that Kravitz has been through, especially the abuse from Patriots fans and supporters, he was entitled to the moment. (And really, even if the Pats had been found completely innocent, Kravitz’s report was merely about the investigation into the possibility and was 100% correct).
And while there are some outdated slings at “fanboi bloggers” that sound like something from a Dan Shaughnessy column, Kravitz saved his harshest words for the New England media, calling out Patriots radio analyst Scott Zolak and the Boston Globe by name:
I have to say that while I completely understand and respect that fans support their team win, lose, tie or cheat, the social media rudeness and relentlessness was eye-opening. Kraft should thank his fans; when his team is threatened, they bring it. Boy, do they bring it. Even now, after the report, I’m still getting hate tweets, like my initial report on the existence of an investigation brought the franchise down. They reached out to my wife. They reached out to my two daughters. It was ugly and yes, at times, quite discomfiting.
I expect a lack of professionalism from fanboi bloggers who dubiously claimed knowledge of the identity of my source, who came after me in the most personal manner imaginable.
I expect that from sports-talk radio, which can often be designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. One sports talk clown, Scott Zolak, the former Patriots backup quarterback, trolled me constantly on Twitter, which made me wonder if he was still on the team’s payroll. (Maybe he is; I have no idea. All I know is, I haven’t heard word one from him in recent hours).
Here’s what disappoints me most, though: The media. Specifically the New England media, the mainstream media. While some of them were wholly professional – the Globe’s Ben Volin comes immediately to mind – I was amazed at the way many of these toadies refused to consider the remote possibility that there was something to my initial report, despite the fact the Patriots have run afoul of the rules once before. They dismissed it like a minor nuisance.
The people who disappointed me most were the folks at The Globe’s website, Boston.com. They are renowned pom-pom wearers, so it wasn’t a surprise. But I was struck at the enthusiasm they displayed while carrying the Patriots’ water. It shocks me that a great newspaper like the Boston Globe would employ such rank amateurs and cheerleaders. Sad.
When it comes to sports, there is a local tribalism that affects us all in different ways. And no matter where you go in the country, local media is going to behave differently when it comes to their coverage of the local sports team. Some media outlets are going to be very straight-laced in their coverage, some are going to be cheerleaders, some are going to be antagonistic. This DeflateGate saga certainly brought out those loyalties for the world to witness (see Dan Dakich vs WEEI).
And while Kravitz has every right to thump his chest today and claim a moral victory over his haters, doubters, and skeptics from Boston… I doubt it means this story will end anytime soon. There’s enough ambiguity in the Wells report for Patriots fans and Boston media to latch on to in trying to absolve Brady and the franchise of damning charges. And there’s enough implications of guilt for folks outside of New England to convict them.
So basically, after three months of resting in their respective corners, this New England v Indy feud is just getting started once again.
