Success is boring

Success is boring. That’s about the only explanation as to why athletes who have never actually won anything or been a champion receive 99.99% of the coverage in sports. Think about how many times the following names have appeared in TV, radio, online and newspaper stories recently and then realize that precisely none of them have ever won a championship series, race or match: Barry Bonds, Danica Patrick, Michelle Wie, Terrell Owens, Allen Iverson, Alex Rodriguez, etc.
Why? Winning is secondary, that’s why. At least to most of the world, sports are about endorsements, controversy, money and fame. So many factions exist - media, ownership, fans, players, agents, etc. - and so many of them benefit whether or not actual winning of championships is involved that the conclusion is essentially inevitable. The media doesn’t care who wins; the team they are covering wins, fine, they can report on that. If that team loses, they can criticize and lament and bemoan, to the extent that losing is almost better for them because it gives them more to talk about.
Owners, sadly, are about the bottom line as much as winning, many of them leaning heavily toward the financial side. How else can you explain that major league baseball has to enact rules to ensure that small-market teams who receive money redistributed by revenue sharing actually use the money to improve their teams? That’s right, if they aren't forced to, many of them would pocket the money rather than use it to put a better team on the field.
Players? You can debate their motives for playing for hours and not reach a conclusion. Sure, you’d like to believe that they’re all out there for one reason: to win. Fact is, if you believe that, you probably also believe that Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster and Jimmy Hoffa come over to my house for a friendly poker game every Thursday. Undoubtedly, there are athletes who play for personal accomplishment, fame, wealth and status. Ricky Davis, then of the Cleveland Cavaliers, shot a ball at his own team’s basket in an attempt to get the tenth rebound and secure a triple double. Dozens of football players hold out from training camp because they want more money, instead of coming to camp and getting ready for the season.
Agents are concerned with….umm, winning, right? Or maybe they’re concerned with making more money and getting more clients. I’ll go with the latter. Please don’t tell me Drew “Gloryhound” Rosenhaus gives a crap how bad a team his clients go to, as long as they get the juiciest possible contract, thus getting him the highest possible commission. Scott Boras is the baseball world’s Rosenhaus, to the point that team avoid drafting Boras-represented players even if they’re the most talented, just to avoid negotiating with Boras. Alex Rodriguez signed a deal with the Rangers that nearly crippled the team financially, and his agent (Boras) got the deal for him even though it meant Texas couldn’t afford to sign any other quality players and be competitive.
That brings us to the fans. Seems like a slam-dunk, right? Fans want their team to win, period. But even that’s not a stone cold lock now, because maybe you want your team to win, or maybe you just follow the guys on your fantasy team. Maybe you like to bet, and the only thing you care about is making your three-team teaser or parlay. Yes, the majority of fans root for their team to be successful, and the true die-hards are in there, looking at stats, analyzing trades and roster moves, passionately following their team. Not enough of those fans exist, though. They’re being phased out by the sensationalism, by those looking to make a name, make a buck or make themselves look good by talking up T.O., blasting Barry or drooling over Danica.