East Coast Bias?

The topic of the Eastern media has been a hot one as of late. It most recently got on my nerves when I was listening to Stephen A. Smith on the radio. He was talking about NLCS Game 1, played in Arizona, when the home fans started throwing objects on the field in response to an interference call made on the home team. Smith started complaining about how the media was so soft in its treatment of the Arizona fans and went on to say that if the same thing happened in New York, Boston, Philly, or "even Baltimore," that the fans would be criticized all over CNN and would be front-page news.

Normally, I like Stephen A. And he brings up a valid point in the case of regional media bias. But he is ridiculously biased in his media criticism. So he is complaining about the bias toward regions of the country in the media. Well, Stephen, that's a wonderful cause, but where was your criticism of the bias when the Pac-10 conference is consistently underrated year in and year out? Where is your criticism of the overwhelmingly lopsided media coverage of the Yankees/Boston teams at the expense of teams west of Pennsylvania? Where was your criticism of the media lavishing MVP praise of East Coasters Ryan Howard in 2006 and Jimmy Rollins this year over athletes with better numbers on teams that advanced farther than the Phillies (see Pujols in 2006 and Matt Holliday this year)? Where was your criticism when the media blamed the Yankees' ALDS loss to Cleveland not on the players but on the annoying insects just attacked Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain in the 8th inning, when at the same time the media conveniently forgot the fact that Cleveland pitcher Fausto Carmona dealt with the very same bugs the next inning and actually managed to pitch well in spite of them? Or when you made a prediction just a few seconds after your complaints of bias in the media that Boston would beat Cleveland in the ALCS in "five, maybe six" games? (By the way, how's that prediction coming?) I could go on and on with examples. Stephen A, when you make an argument, PLEASE be balanced in your criticism of the media.

Speaking of East Coast media, how about this whole Tony La Russa to New York possible story? True, Tony works well with veteran players and has a history of winning, both qualities that the Yankees need. But how in the heck would Tony be able to handle the New York media when he can't even take the pressure from the "big, bad" media in St Louis? Imagine how surly La Russa would get in New York, especially when he starts playing favorites (such as when he pulled Brendan Ryan for swinging at a 3-0 pitch but giving Rick Ankiel a free pass when he did the same thing). You know what, Tony? Go to New York. I'll just have to keep my TV viewing area stocked with plenty of popcorn.