Monday, June 19, 2006

Mickelson Crumbles

Journalism earns its keep by dramatizing events as though prized neuroses of the culture were being daily vindicated. Thus: Hitler winning an election isn't Hitler winning an election; it's a Triumph of the Will. If you add up the number of strokes with the club over four rounds of championship golf, then Geoff Ogilvy is the new US Open champion. No. Ogilvy isn't the winner; Phil Mickelson crumbled. Just as Colin Montgomery crumbled. As though it were about Will and lack of will.
Skill has something to do with will. Luck has something to do with success.
Journalism doesn't just give facts; it uses famous names to fashion a morality soap opera in which our deepest prejudices are vindicated. The one group that always wins and never loses is the public.

Sorry public: with journalism you lose every time.

PS. I don't mean that Phil didn't crumble: once again Arnie-like he went for more than sense might dictate: and at a time when his driver wasn't working! The bold win some of those, and lose a lot more. Certainly skill counts: and will: and luck ... And don't forget math: probability, averages, statistics ... I doubt there will ever be a journalist who will get it all correctly balanced. We'd have to call him god if he did.