There was an awkward radio moment the other day out West when guest Mike Klis, who covers pro football’s Broncos for the Denver Post, was asked how he thought that week’s game would go and Klis said he couldn’t say. Really. He couldn’t.
Klis told the hosts, according to Denver’s Westword, that the Post had decided that allowing its news and sports beat writers to prognosticate might lead readers to question their objectivity, so the paper was banning their predictions.
“The weather page is exempted, but then there are no contestants involved,” Post Editor Greg Moore explained by e-mail Friday, when asked by the Tribune.
Now, one can argue whether a prediction of who will win a football game is analysis, which is allowed, or opinion, which is verboten. The distinction Moore makes is: “Analysis is an informed and reported explanation of an event or development. A prediction is almost like placing a bet on the outcome. It’s having a dog in the race, and you have to cover the race.”
What I find hilarious about this column is that it went to print the same day five Tribune sports columnists — David Haugh, Vaughn McClure, Fred Mitchell, Rick Morrissey and Dan Pompei — all predicted the Bears to beat the Arizona Cardinals today and they went out and got absolutely smoked, losing 41-21.
Pompei’s prediction: “These are two really evenly matched teams and the game should be decided in the final seconds.”
Reality: The game was decided in the first half when on their first four possessions the Cardinals scored three touchdowns and kicked a field goal, the latter of which happened only by necessity, with the ball splitting the uprights as time ran out in the second quarter.
Haugh’s prediction: “The Bears’ defense will make [Kurt] Warner look old Sunday and turnovers will be the difference in an entertaining shootout.”
Reality: Warner went 22 of 31 for 261 yards and five touchdown passes. The only turnover from Arizona came on a pick by Matt Leinart in the fourth quarter once the Cardinals decided Warner deserved a rest.
Maybe it’s time the Chicago Tribune follows in the Denver Post’s footsteps.
