Prediction: TMZ Sports Will Be Bad News

Today while browsing Deadspin, I found this nugget where J.J. Redick said he doesn't care about TMZ Sports.

Yes, TMZ Sports.

The gossip hounds that bring you everything sleazy in Hollywood are expected to be stepping into the sports arena.  (See what I did there?)

I noticed, though, that TMZ's advertisements were all over the place.  Allow me to be the first to say TMZSports is going to be bad for the journalism community.

As someone who works with newspapers and has for a few years now, a TMZ site dedicated to sports is somewhat of a nightmare.

Sure, they will break all the stories of Becky-chasing athletes, scandals and all the other stories they are used to breaking.  But rather it be some Hollywood floozy, it's a bulky athlete.  TMZSports could end quickly with someone being at the wrong place at the wrong time trying to get a scoop on the wrong athlete.

Remember when then-Bulls star Jalen Rose was the victim of a car-jacking attempt in Los Angeles?  I do.  Now imagine had a TMZ reporter been there.  I doubt Bloods & Crips in Compton would spare the life of the paparazzi trying to get a shot of Jalen in his slick ride.

Furthermore, TMZSports would not have much competition when it came to that kind of storytelling.  They could go out and drop any rumor and pick up any tall tale they want.  Why?  Because they don't have to cover games.  They don't have to be in the locker rooms and in the practice facilities on a daily basis.  They don't have to necessarily name sources, let alone maintain the kind of relationship that allows someone to give you a story.

TMZSports would be the kid who stole your journal and made copies of it for everyone in the school.

So, how does the journalism community stop this from going too far?  Maybe it's time for the battle against blogs to take a back seat.