Not one word.

 

Not one syllable, not an idiota of info. Nada, nothing zilch, zero.

 

I wanted to write this yesterday but I held off, ever the optimist, hoping that Saturday would be the day but as the saying goes, "those who live in hope, die in despair". Once again the Herald imposed a virtual news black-out on the Marlins FanFest. It's an annual event, no not FanFest, the news blackout.

 

Sure there was an abbreviated paragraph or two yesterday, buried deep in sports section, almost as an afterthought, run in conjunction the mean-spiritedly edited interview with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. But today, not a word. Sure there were a few mentions here and there over the past week but in comparison to EVERY OTHER newspaper in a major league town accross America, there was nothing. Just like the Herald's support for the Marlins. Nothing.

 

Last night on TV 10 the Marlins got 6 seconds. That was it.

 

But not a word in the Herald? Unbelievable !

 

Since winning the World Series the Herald has been dedicated to destroying the Marlins chances of getting a stadium. First was their "state-wide poll" designed to produce the results the Herald wanted. I asked the Herald to publish the script and questions used to conduct their poll, there was no response. When Lee signed with the Cubs (a totally insignificant event since he had been traded months before), front page, color, above the fold. When the Marlins re-signed Pavano and Penny and most of the rest of the team, buried inside. Sign Oliver, Cordero, no big deal says the Herald, let's play it down. But Pudge is big, big news because it hurt the Marlins (in the eyes of readers) and the Herald made sure to play it up big.

 

Since November, the Herald's message has been very clear, "the Marlins don't care about you fans and you shouldn't care about them". The same old same old from the Miami Herald.

 

But today and FanFest, a total news blackout. Room for Shula and Bernie. Room for Willie Williams and Tom Kite and even room to report that Tim Raines joined the Expos' minor league coaching staff and that Boliva won in soccer, but when it comes to the Marlins, not a single #%$ word.

 

People wonder where the fan support is for the Fish. The national media has made much of it. Anyone who doesn't believe this was premeditated and designed to hurt the Marlins ought to have their head examined. The whole idea of the Herald is to damage ticket sales of the Fish and ultimately drive them out of town.

 

Richard Bush (rbush@herald.com), sports editor for the Herald, deserves to be fired. Not just for today but for his distorted and hateful coverage of the Marlins over the past three or more years. It must have been so painful for him to watch the Marlins win and win and win last season, forced to cover the team he so obviously loathes. He is an embarrassment to sports journalists everywhere. He gives the profession a bad name. He plays politics with sports.

 

The Herald would say "it's not our job to tout the Marlins" but for one day a year it's not so much to ask from the resident local paper is it?. Show a little local unity, get behind the team and help them sell a few tickets. Richard Bush has no trouble promoting the Dolphins' equivalent to FanFest until it's coming out our ears, in the days leading up to that annual event - you'd think Wayne Huizenga was the sports editor of the Miami Herald not the hack Richard Bush.

 

I was amazed in the Loria interview that sparked so much debate that the lease at PPS wasn't mentioned. I'm sure it came up in conversation, how could it not? But don't hold your breath waiting for the Herald to call on stadium management (read Huizenga) to offer the Fish a better deal or stop raising parking and concession fees at Marlins games and pocketing the money for himself, or to offer to do a deal with the county to dome PPS so both teams could play there after the tens of millions of dollars the county and the state have spent in support of the Dolphins and the stadium. The cost of the highway ramping system built to get people in and out of PPS, paid for with our tax dollars, ought to be reason enough for someone in government to lean on Mr. Huizenga to do the right thing.

 

But as long as no one asks he's not obliged to do anything and he won't. This is not an anti-Huizenga rant, I've said before I admire what he's done professionally and personally. But as long as our city fathers don't apply pressure (and this is where The Herald comes in) or try to craft a deal why should he do other than what he is doing? You could wait until hell freezes over before the Miami Herald would suggest Huizenga help save his prodigal son, The Florida Marlins, by working with the entities to at least make sure there is a way to keep them here in a way their ownership can at least break-even, or dare I say it, make a few bucks.

 

But let's get back to the subject at hand, the Herald and FanFest and ticket sales for our beloved Florida Marlins. Next time someone makes a comment about the Marlins lack of ticket sales, point them in the direction of Richard Bush's desk. Ask them to inquire of him why he hates the idea of the Marlins succeeding so much. And ask him why he chose to ignore the one event designed to help sell tickets. One stinkin' day, a little civic pride. Ask him why.

 

All of South Florida deserves an answer. All of America deserves one too.

 

And by the way, ask him why there was room for paddleball in Hollywood today but none for the Marlins. I'd love to hear the answer to that one. All Marlins fans would.

Turn To Page 5D

 

It's better than nothing I guess...

Seems as though the HERALD thinks that the Marlins Fans either can not read, or at least do not buy newspapers.

Turn To Page 5D

 

It's better than nothing I guess...

Yeah, but the Marlins had to pay for that.

 

You'd think they could have a small paragraph story saying how today is the day where you can greet the Champs and all but nope . . .

Disgusting!

It is B***S*** but I like it like that...Theres not a sweeter feeling than proving doubters wrong.

 

We won the world series last year with no respect, and If we have to do it that way again, than so be it.

i rarely curse, but this deserves it:

 

Fu*k you Miami Herald.Fu*k you.

Great post Marlins2003. Unfortunately, it is a great post. I think it is safe to say that most of us here in the 'choir' know that the Herald is un pezzo di merda, but that is not to say the rest of S.Fl. feeble fan base understands this (another point of contention for those of you who rip this market). The constant gloomy picture protrayed is an outrage.

 

I think you hit it right on the head with suggesting Huizenga is the editor. There is something very underhanded about that man, about how his claims of $20million losses when he owned the franchise went virtually untested. They were unsubstantiated and made at a time when the % of his losses would have been more accute than now. Loria recently claimed a $18M loss...

 

We should all write to Richard Bush. Blast him. At the very least, make him know that we are calling him on his BS. When I take over the world someday, he surely will be fired and sent to the 9th ring of hell...

why contact the sports editor?

 

 

contact the editor in chief of hte herald and tell your views to him, much like in this thread.

 

 

the more people that complain about biased converage and simply ignoring the marlins, the higher the chances you can do anything about it.

why contact the sports editor?

 

 

contact the editor in chief of hte herald and tell your views to him, much like in this thread.

 

 

the more people that complain about biased converage and simply ignoring the marlins, the higher the chances you can do anything about it.

Tit for tat always, isnt it? I think you understand what is being said here...

what are you babbling about?

brooks babble, people ramble.

I propose a new idea.

 

"I go to MarlinsBaseball.com for the latest sports news, the Herald is yesterday's garbage."

That is what I do already, Cape :thumbup

I propose a new idea.

 

"I go to MarlinsBaseball.com for the latest sports news, the Herald is yesterday's garbage."

:mischief2 Now if we could only throw the website on everyones front porch every morning

excellent post, 2003.

 

i wish you'd send that to the newspaper's editor.

excellent post, 2003.

 

i wish you'd send that to the newspaper's editor.

 

I understand the motive behind your suggestion but let's face it Richard Bush is doing what is expected of him by the higherups in the editorial department and those who manage the publishing of the paper.

 

Bush is no maverick who's off the reservation, this is what the Herald has decided is in their exclusive best interest from a corporate point of view.

excellent post, 2003.

 

i wish you'd send that to the newspaper's editor.

 

I understand the motive behind your suggestion but let's face it Richard Bush is doing what is expected of him by the higherups in the editorial department and those who manage the publishing of the paper.

 

Bush is no maverick who's off the reservation, this is what the Herald has decided is in their exclusive best interest from a corporate point of view. Admittedly, I haven't followed the politics of the Herald that closely.......

 

So please explain why it would be in the Herald's best interest to dis the Marlins.

 

I see your point, and agree there is a strong negative bias....just don't understand what is behind it.

excellent post, 2003.

 

i wish you'd send that to the newspaper's editor.

 

I understand the motive behind your suggestion but let's face it Richard Bush is doing what is expected of him by the higherups in the editorial department and those who manage the publishing of the paper.

 

Bush is no maverick who's off the reservation, this is what the Herald has decided is in their exclusive best interest from a corporate point of view. Admittedly, I haven't followed the politics of the Herald that closely.......

 

So please explain why it would be in the Herald's best interest to dis the Marlins.

 

I see your point, and agree there is a strong negative bias....just don't understand what is behind it.

I have my own theory and without boring you with a history of newspaper publishing in eighties and nineties I believe that Knight-Ridder has come to the conclusion that it is in their own economic best interest for there to be no professional baseball team in South Florida. I believe it is purely a bottomline issue with them.

 

Either that or they are sadists. (j/k)