Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Is the media on a Ryan Mallett witch hunt?

The short answer to that question is no. But the explanation of that answer is complex and very much indicative of how too many in this business operate.

Journalism in today’s society is dead. Peter Jennings, Edward R. Murrow - even in sports, the days of Paul Eells, Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell are long gone - take your pick. You could throw a dart at a board of legendary broadcasters and chances are, someone would agree the retirement or death of that individual marked the end of objective journalism in politics, sports and everything else.

The biggest names in “journalism” are most often not journalists at all, especially not in sports. This is entertainment. The ability to make sure people listen to what you say and read what you write is something of a science now.

Which brings me to Ryan Mallett and the topics of alleged drug use, big arm quarterback failure at the next level and immobility criticisms.

Drug use, true or untrue, is a big story any time it becomes associated with a premier athlete, especially a quarterback. Members of the media talk about two things primarily: stories they think are important and stories they know people will gravitate toward because someone else in the media already made it into a big story.

Media members want to evoke a response from their viewers, readers and listeners. And since drug use is such a big story everyone is going to talk about it regardless of whether or not there is any substantiated evidence to support it. But, one public intox (which I am not justifying) and a not-so-shiny smile like Cam Newton might have and Mallett’s character concerns become mythological.

It’s not a witch hunt, it’s a story the media can sink their teeth into in between fawning sessions over Newton.

John F. Kennedy once said the greatest enemy of truth is not the lie but the myth. The myth of Ryan Mallett is that he is an arrogant drug user with a big arm and bad feet.

Somehow, Newton leading his team to a national title and winning a Heisman trophy while under enormous public scrutiny makes his maturity and leadership qualities a huge asset to NFL teams.

But don’t let the truth get in the way of your great draft day story lines.

The truth is that there is more fact to support allegations that Newton got paid to go to Auburn than there are to support Mallett’s alleged drug addiction.