The Media is Always Wrong

I am not an insider and I know no one on the team. I do have a very good friend who is extremely well connected and he rarely tells me anything. I don't believe those that are truly connected to the program rarely ever say anything of value because they don't want to lose that connection.



So regarding the Nelson-Heaps family "incident" I thought I would share some thoughts. My bro-in-law has been in HR for about 30 years. He has worked for some very small companies, some fortune 5 companies, and a few in between. He told me that every situation he has been involved with where the media has done a story on the company he works for, the media has gotten it wrong. Every time. Not just small details, but major parts of the story that change the story.



I work for a massive, multi-national company and we have been in the news recently. The media got it wrong. Not just small portions and minor details, but major portions of the story.



I don't believe Dick Harmon's version of the Nelson-Heaps story. He might have it right, but given my experience it would be the first time. I have no insider knowledge, but given my experience with the media they either have an agenda, are clueless, or are fed incorrect information by others. Sometimes a combination of all three.

Depends on who you ask.



The journalist will tell you he got it right.



The company/person the story is about will tell you the journalist got it wrong.



The truth lies somewhere in the middle.



Companies/people have a story they want to tell (their side). The journalist has a story he/she wants to tell (their interpretation mixed with their bias and editorial demands).



Whomever talked to Harmon probably embellished a bit. Harmon picked a side and embellished it a bit more to create controversy, which drives clicks, which makes his editors happy because more clicks equals more dollars.

Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

As they should.

Gunk wrote:

Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

As they should.

Agreed. The team needs to move on.

AND, would people say that there is a majority of positive, vindicating buzz out there about Jake or a majority negative, vilifying buzz about Jake? What about here in River City?

I would wager that there have been more negative, blaming posts about Jake in the last few days than there have been positive, supportive posts. Or has my bias skewed my informal count?

So, is this the media representing the "small guy", as they often do? Maybe in DH's case who is less likely to throw aspersions at BYU, compared to say, Gordon MOnson or PK.

Interesting that GWrubell is so silent. Or have I missed his stuff.

dmcougar wrote:
Interesting that GWrubell is so silent. Or have I missed his stuff.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=18368013&nid=498&title=cougar-tracks-snap-decision" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wrubbel had a very interesting take.

Nice article, thanks. Is this "media [guy] always wrong?"

SpiffCoug wrote:
Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

To be honest... that is ok... Jake hasn't done anything to paint Bronco or Brandon or the program in a bad light... he has said "the right things".. Even when he got benched.. Personally.. I think he handled it better than Riley did when asked.. Jake always had something good/nice to say about Riley... All Riley could ever say was "no comment"..



And the thing about the media.. They never let the truth get in the way of a good story... :lol:

dmcougar wrote:
Nice article, thanks. Is this "media [guy] always wrong?"

Nice article. I agree. Balanced. Fair. Not too speculative. But it didn't answer why Jake left, where he will go, and how that will be better.



That would probably require speculation on his part and those that know, aren't saying and may never say.



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po_pocoug wrote:

Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

To be honest... that is ok... Jake hasn't done anything to paint Bronco or Brandon or the program in a bad light... he has said "the right things".. Even when he got benched.. Personally.. I think he handled it better than Riley did when asked.. Jake always had something good/nice to say about Riley... All Riley could ever say was "no comment"..



And the thing about the media.. They never let the truth get in the way of a good story... :lol:

FINALLY. Oh my goodness. Hate to drag you under the bus with me po po, but these are the inconvenient truths that some folks just refuse to acknowledge or recall. Of all of Jake's faults, and they are not only numbered but magnified, this is one battle he didn't fall short on. And our current hero did--which I pointed out multiple times to the dislike and disdain of Riley-lovers.

Cougarbib2 wrote:
...aren't saying and may never say.

Not at least until Heaps proves his naysayers wrong and goes onto that NFL career he's sure to get. Then they may say.

dmcougar wrote:

SpiffCoug wrote:
Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

To be honest... that is ok... Jake hasn't done anything to paint Bronco or Brandon or the program in a bad light... he has said "the right things".. Even when he got benched.. Personally.. I think he handled it better than Riley did when asked.. Jake always had something good/nice to say about Riley... All Riley could ever say was "no comment"..



And the thing about the media.. They never let the truth get in the way of a good story... :lol:

FINALLY. Oh my goodness. Hate to drag you under the bus with me po po, but these are the inconvenient truths that some folks just refuse to acknowledge or recall. Of all of Jake's faults, and they are not only numbered but magnified, this is one battle he didn't fall short on. And our current hero did--which I pointed out multiple times to the dislike and disdain of Riley-lovers.

Shouldn't you be railing against the scapegoating of Riley Nelson in this post? I mean, the completely inappropriate and detrimental accusations against RN lead to unjust connotations and implications. But I guess it's too much to ask of you to be as big of a defender of one BYU player as a former player. How predictably hypocritical.

How perfectly predictable of you Hawk. I have actually said a lot of positive about Riley. his play has improved. His throwing has improved. he's not just tuck, duck, and run. If you feel the need to point out scapegoating go ahead. I don't see it.

dmcougar wrote:

SpiffCoug wrote:
Unfortunately in this story, we're likely only to hear the Heaps side. I highly doubt Bronco or Doman will ever really fully disclose what happened. They'll continue to paint Jake in the best light possible when asked about him.



Then they'll simply move on and worry about the other 104 guys on the team and getting them ready for the next year.

To be honest... that is ok... Jake hasn't done anything to paint Bronco or Brandon or the program in a bad light... he has said "the right things".. Even when he got benched.. Personally.. I think he handled it better than Riley did when asked.. Jake always had something good/nice to say about Riley... All Riley could ever say was "no comment"..



And the thing about the media.. They never let the truth get in the way of a good story... :lol:

FINALLY. Oh my goodness. Hate to drag you under the bus with me po po, but these are the inconvenient truths that some folks just refuse to acknowledge or recall. Of all of Jake's faults, and they are not only numbered but magnified, this is one battle he didn't fall short on. And our current hero did--which I pointed out multiple times to the dislike and disdain of Riley-lovers.

Oh Crap.. I sided with DM (TIC).. to be honest.. I am neither team Jake or Team Riley.. I want to watch my Cougars play football.. and I support the team and the coaches... Are things perfectly run at BYU?? no... are the coaches and players humans and make mistakes? yes.. every relationship no matter how loving or how close people are.. there are arguments and disagreements... If there isn't... then there is really a problem with the relationship...



With that being said.. GO COUGARS!!! Beat TULSA!!!

All I know from someone who was there is that Mike Muelmann's (sp?) father was at the game and in that same section and said at TBS that didn't believe it happened. Someone further said that Riley's folks were at their son's game in Logan that night and not at the BYU game. Muelmann's dad said he has heard both the Nelson family (Riley's sibs) and Heats family (sibs again) stating that they felt their brother should be starting. I don't think the incident as written by Harmon happened.

What gets me is Heaps wife hasn't gone to a game since, not even to the ones where it was known Heaps would play.



Fine, you got your feelings hurt. Move seats. There are plenty of seats and in areas where no one would know you were Heaps wife. Why refuse to support your husband.



If it were my wife she'd dish it right back and would certainly be at every game regardless.



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Gunk wrote:
What gets me is Heaps wife hasn't gone to a game since, not even to the ones where it was known Heaps would play.



Fine, you got your feelings hurt. Move seats. There are plenty of seats and in areas where no one would know you were Heaps wife. Why refuse to support your husband.



If it were my wife she'd dish it right back and would certainly be at every game regardless.



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Because when you're looking for reasons to take offense and justify your reasons for leaving...

From what I know of the Nelson's that "could" have been there, the story is completely plausible. I am not saying it happened, nor does it matter. The players families generally sit together, I think something happened.



The only thing that does matter in this whole thing is that the divide on the team extended to families. Completely awful. Terrible representation of the team, school and the church which sponsors it.



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stuckinbig10country wrote:
From what I know of the Nelson's that "could" have been there, the story is completely plausible. I am not saying it happened, nor does it matter. The players families generally sit together, I think something happened.



The only thing that does matter in this whole thing is that the divide on the team extended to families. Completely awful. Terrible representation of the team, school and the church which sponsors it.



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People get heated when they are cheering their family members. I don't know ANYTHING about this feud between the Heapses and the Nelsons. Nor do I care. But I don't believe that either side showing some emotion during a game like USU is a "terrible representation of the team, school and church". The fact that Harmon printed that trash without backing it up with ANYTHING is the real shame here.

I have known a few players at byu. I have also sat next to the family section for 5+ years. Nobody takes more abuse than qb's form fans. Parents and wives hear more crap around them not just from fans, but also from fellow players families. It happens. A lot of emotion tied up in these situations. To judge a 19 year old, newly married, gal is pretty obtuse. How could she have anything but thin skin. I don't blame her. And yes, she probably is as one-sided as anybody. Its how family gets. But to also say, move seats. where was she going to move to escape fans embitterment? A few rows up and over? The family section isn't that large. I would think we could afford a little compassion for this gal. Jake, he needs to be a man and realize he created a lot of problems of his own doing. BUt lets take it easy on the girl.