Read It And Weep (Anthony Rizzo)

Eighteen- Over It

Hannah

The social media aspect of sports is somewhat a mess. I learned that when the NHL had a lockout in 2012 and there were more rumors than facts flying around the Internet. I get that times are changing and if social media was a thing back in the days a lot of our beloved athletes would have been exposed. But we can't blame them for playing in the pre social media era. Just as we can't hold over these modern players that they do play in the social media era.

But we can't blame today's athletes for not wanting to be in the spotlight. Peoples careers are being ended by dug up tweets and videos of them smoking marijuana or saying things they shouldn't. And while people change it doesn't make something wrong they did years ago okay. It makes them human but these issues still need to be addressed. Then we can move on knowing that we're better now than we were then. 

And working from a primary source of news we should be all over reports like this, setting facts straight and getting all sides of the story. We can't just assume that one person is in the wrong when it takes two to tango. That's why I wanted to be a sports journalist. To remind people that athletes are human too. They make mistakes and theirs shouldn't be held higher or lower than the rest of us just because of the name on the back of their jersey.

"Mr. Brown this is just absurd" I argue as I pace my bosses office. Each time my foot meets the floor I get more and more upset. "Do you mean to tell me that I have to silence these student athletes right after they just got their voice to speak out" I ask him as I slam my hands on his desk. I stare into his eyes as he stares right back at me.

I bump head with my boss a lot. And it's not a power thing, I know my place and I know his is above me. That's not what bothers me. But what I don't understand is how someone who has such a large voice is so afraid to use it. How he has every chance in the world to do what's right, but in the end he always does what he thinks is best for him and making money. Not the lives of these people that we talk about.

"These are simply allegations Miss. Anderson, we can't run a article based off of allegations" he argues.

"People are convicted of attempted murder even though the job never got finished... this is the same concept. And maybe I can get some facts if I put this article out there and more people feel like if they speak out someone will heart them. I intend to bring light to this very serious situation in college sports even though we don't have every single detail" I argue.

"You have anonymous letters supposedly sent in by the players parents alleging the coach of very serious wrong doings. And if any part of this information is wrong it can ruin the entire story" he says.

"There's no story if you don't let me publish this anyway. These women's basketball players are being injured then forced to play, they're being mistreated and hurt and they don't even get paid to do it. Most of the people around that campus probably don't even know they're on the team. But they continue to play because this is their game and they don't want anyone to take it from them.

But if you shut this story down you take away their chance to be heard. You kill any hope they had to have some justice" I say.

He just shakes his head as he lets out a sigh. "I'm sorry, but I can't do it" he repeats.

I stand up from leaning on his desk and grab my laptop as I shake my head. "What a shame... if I was you I wouldn't sit there and look at the facts and the deny them. I wouldn't hide behind this desk and dry my tears with the clothes off the backs of the people who eat the shit you force us to put in the papers.

I would shine the light on the truth then help everyone get better. The victims, the perpetrators, the witnesses. Everyone. Because acting like theses things aren't happening, like right now, doesn't fix a damn thing. Covering up stories doesn't make them go away.

News is our life and you are ruining it" I spit.

With that I walk out and over to my cubicle. I toss my laptop to the side as I throw my hands in my face.

I was so over it.

All the lies and the cover ups. All the mixing the words so my stories make things sound better than they are.

But we live in reality. Cute words won't change the harsh reality. It doesn't change anything at all.

So I decided it was time for me to step out. It was time for me to start a revolution of people who care about sports and it's people and don't just want to believe that everything is going to be okay. We want to know.

So I start to pack my things up. I wasn't quitting just yet, I had a dream interview set up in a few days and I haven't put in my two weeks yet. But I'm no longer giving this place my all just so it can take 70% of me and tell the other 30% that it is too much. That's how people lose their credibility.

I know that starting up my own news organization isn't going to be any easier that what I'm doing now, but doing the right thing never is.

So I slip out of the office and I hop in my car. I drive on out to my grandparents house and park out front. I see a car I don't recognize and wonder who it is. I go up to the front door and let myself in. "Hello" I yell out.

"Who is it" my grandma yells.

"It's me Mamaw" I yell back.

She appears around the corner and she smiles when she sees me. She comes over before grabbing my face and giving me a big kiss on my cheek. "What a nice surprise" she admits.

"I actually have some news. Is Papaw and Manny around" I wonder.

"Yeah! They're in the living room with Manny's sweet new friend. You know, he's your age and he's really cute" she winks as I roll my eyes.

"Can we not do this today" I beg.

"Alright. We can do it tomorrow because he said he will be around a lot" she claims.

Yay... lucky me.

I follow her into the living room and stop when I see Anthony sitting there with my grandpa and brother. One one side she wasn't lying, he was cute. On the other hand she couldn't be more off about him and I getting together.

"Han" my brother asks when he sees me standing there. Everyone turns to me confused because I'm the last person they expected to have a surprise drop in. "I thought you were at work" he claims.

"I was. But I came here because I have... news" I say slowly.

"What kind of news" my grandpa wonders.

"I decided today that I'm going to quit working at the tribune" I announce. I get a few gasps as their eyes widen as they stare at me. "I feel like that place most times holds me down, holds me back. And I feel like we need a platform where athletes can tell their stories without being silenced. I feel like we need a platform that allows us writers to grow.

So I want to make my own platform. Let girls be able to talk and know people are listening. Let athletes express themselves and let the world know whatever they want them to know. Report on all sides of the story and give people the benefit of the doubt when they deserve it" I explain.

The room falls silent as they all look at me. My grandparents were very by the rules and liked the tribune a lot. I know they won't like what I'm doing, but I wasn't doing it for them. I was doing it for me and for all the sports people I love.

"I think you should do it" Anthony announces through the silence.

I turn to him as he stares right through me. "Really" I ask not needing his validation but greatly appreciating it.

"Of course. I always thought you were bigger than that place. I think you will have a lot of people wanting to work with you and a lot of athletes and teams wanting you to cover them. I think it's a great idea" he claims.

I just smile at him as I realized he was finally finding the right things to say. "Thank you Anthony. It means a lot that someone like you has faith in me" I admit.