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Myth or Reality: Eastern Media Bias
Published: 12/10/2007 6:22 PM
Last Modified: 12/10/2007 6:22 PM

Florida's Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and a person standing over my shoulder who saw the Heisman results on the Internet said "Eastern media bias."
Is there such a thing? And, if so, was there such a thing before the birth of ESPN (located in Bristol, Conn.)?
There shouldn't be an eastern bias in regard to Heisman voting because ballots are spread all across the country, sort of like a presidential election, minus the electoral college. And, yes, there was such a thing as an Eastern slant before ESPN simply because there are so many big media markets in the east.
The folks at ESPN and Sports Illustrated can certainly influence Heisman voting by getting on a candidate's bandwagon, but, with me, it almost worked in reverse.
I felt like the big media machines were pulling so hard for Tebow that I contracted anti-Tebow disease.
I considered being extremely ornery and leaving Tebow off my Heisman ballot (that'll show 'em for trying to tell me who to vote for), but didn't because that wouldn't have been fair to Tebow, whom I picked second. His stats -- more than 3,100 passing yards and more than 800 rushing yards -- were too impressive to ignore.
I voted for Arkansas' Darren McFadden first because I thought, plain and simple, he is the best player in college football. If you were starting a college team tomorrow and could "draft" any available player, McFadden should be the No. 1 pick.
You can always accuse me of having an Ozark media bias. It's the same thing as eastern media bias, except with a drawl.



Reader Comments 9 Total
Nit picker (5 years ago)
Re: Eastern Media Bias

I do not think there is an Eastern Media Bias (EMB) as much as there is a Big Market Bias (BMB).
Let's face it, the East Coast Corridor (ECC), from Boston to Miami and the Left Coast (LC), from Seattle to LA, control the US.
Even Chicago has become part of the silent majority. Just ask Notre Dame if you don't agree.
Yes, Tebow was, is, will be, the ECC darling. And McFadden was just as worthy. McDaniel was close.
But, bottom line, the heisman, small 'h' intended, is so over done, it is actually just over.
When Reggie Bush is stripped of the heisman, as he should be, it will be exposed as nothing more than college football's answer to Al Gore's Nobel. Much ado about nothing.
richard (5 years ago)
i agree, mcfadden was the best player in college football this year but in amny instances the best player does not alwyas get the award, i.e. heupel in 2000.
Max (5 years ago)
NIT, who is McDaniel?
Frank B. (5 years ago)
Obviously an Eastern bias. Jerry Rhome and Howard Twilley got screwed by the Eastern bias when they were each more deserving than the winners from Notre Dame and Wake Forest! Paul Smith should have gotten votes too from the Southwest!
Nit wit (5 years ago)
To Max;

Mcdaniel(sp) =Chase of MU.
John (5 years ago)
If you put McFadden on Florida, you would have the first back-to-back Heisman winner since Archie. If you put Tebow on Arkansas, you would have the next Matt Jones.
john (5 years ago)
McNitpicker, McChase McDaniel Mcplays Mcfor McMizzou, Mcright?
nit picker (5 years ago)
John: you are McRight! Er...I mean
right, Daniel.
J R (5 years ago)
Media bias? Heck, just read the Daily Oklahoman.
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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