I also agree with much of what Zemek writes. I also disagree.
In the case of ESPiN's attack on Ohio State, the facts are very clear.
- Clarett allegations reported (fair journalistic practice).
- Heavy coverage citing other ESPiN sources as if these were external and credible third-party sources of information that supported the allegations (unfair journalistic practice).
- Continual reciting of allegations, even after the NCAA investigated and dismissed the allegations, without disclosing that ESPiN knew this was the case (unfair journalistic practice).
- Use of internet, print and electronic media to advance personal attacks on Ohio State sports administrators and coaches, knowing that the adminstrators could not respond, even to indicate that they could not respond, because that might be construed to indicate that Ohio State was saying that it had negative information about Clarett.
- The unmitigated attack on Ohio State administrators and coaches during the Alamo Bowl, on the basis of the above allegations, ending in the retirement of Andy Geiger (unfair journalistic practice).
So, let's be very careful to not group this disgusting campaign against Ohio State in with the other fanbase resentment of media criticism. What ESPiN did can be seen in no other light than a premeditated attack designed to increase their ratings and profits.
Having said that, I will accept that fan resentment of the media is more visible now, because people are sharing information over the Internet.
However, I suspect that what really irritates Zemek and his peers is that football fans now have information at hand. Whereas in the past these guys looked like really knowledgeable figures, simply because they had staff who could calculate the leading passer and etc and we had no idea, now we have equal information at hand.
I don't think that Zemek is one of the "bad guys" but the result is that we know most of these guys are hacks who don't do their homework and don't know as much about football as many of the members of BP. And these guys now actually have to work for a living.
Viral marketing is the corporate response to the new environment of computer mediated communication and Zemek and his peers are trying very hard to use this.
I think it is rather funny that the "sports entertainment" industry wants to use viral marketing techniques, on one hand, and then complain about it when fans resent what they are doing and let them know about it.