This is a topic that’s important to me, and I’ve had a hard time putting these words down. I don’t want to come off as preachy or whiney; I’m not trying to stand on my figurative pedestal and claim to have a sound moral compass.

I just need to speak the truth, and I hope you will bear with me.

I always believed a country is only as free as its press. That’s the real reason I was attracted to this profession. Were it not for journalists, this country would never have been formed. It is the media’s job to keep the people of its country informed, and it’s something we, as a whole, have been failing at.

Because sensationalism sells.

Right now it’s more important to sell papers, advertising or commercial spots then it is to report the news. For example, if I were to ask you, based on what you’ve seen, heard, or read in the news, how would you say the crime rate in America is right now? Your response would probably be “high,” or “very high,” or “all-time high.” The fact is, other than rape, all violent crimes have progressively been decreasing since the mid-90s.

But on TV, you see dead people.

And just like the 10 o’clock news, the 10 o’clock “Sports Center” isn’t going to show kittens and rainbows. DUIs, strip clubs, guns and drugs are going to dominate the headlines even though it only happens to a small portion of the coaches and athletes.

Because sensationalism sells.

I will admit, there is a higher level athletes committing crimes then I would like to see. But according to the average sports fan, baseball is full of ’roid heads, football employs a bunch of dopers, the NBA is nothing but thugs, and all athletes are overpaid and under worked.

When athletes don’t perform members of the media are so quick to point it out, to judge, to waive their finger in disapproval, yet who is there to police us?

We can forget that athletes are human beings; nothing more, nothing less. They make mistakes, they make bad choices, then we hang it over their heads for the rest of their lives. And we judge their co-workers based on their actions.

I figured we came further then this; as a society we preach judging a man based on his actions, not by his association. And it’s amazing to me that a country that is 90 percent Christian has such a hard time dishing out a little forgiveness.

I’m sick of hearing how the NBA is full of thugs. I know it’s partly because the NBA is made of mostly young black men, but the other part is poor media portrayal. Most NBA players have an excellent work ethic and avoided the temptations of drugs, gangs and violence, and give back to their communities. That’s WHY they are in the NBA; lazy gang bangers smoking crack don’t get this far in life, and NBA athletes should be praised as an example of what hard work can get you in this country.

When a man in business or technology works himself into being a millionaire, he represents everything right with this country. When an athlete does it, he represents everything that’s wrong. And when Adonal Foyle goes to Africa to teach kids to read, or when Carmelo Anthony goes to South America to teach kids to play basketball, you just don’t hear about it.

I hope every journalist who attacks players for caring more about money than the sport itself takes a long hard look in the mirror and asks themselves why they write the stories they do.

It’s because scandal is the only thing more popular then sex. Because sensationalism sells.