Leakers! Whistleblowers! Cowards! Have the courage to put your name on it!
That’s the reaction we are hearing from many players, coaches and even politicians about those who tell stories without attribution.
As a fan or just a citizen, we need to value those who come forward with the truth but fear the consequences.
Watch the great film, The Insider, about the man who came forward concerning the tobacco industry’s deceit. His life was ruined, his marriage torn apart. Endless legal problems and allegedly threats against his life.
Of course, regarding the Giants’ locker-room leakers, the issues are nowhere near as serious as people needlessly dying of cancer. And I understand that it’s frustrating for management when dirty laundry gets aired in public. But sometimes, trying to do the right thing gets you labeled as a troublemaker and you become a pariah, especially if you are not a star. Even when bosses tell you they have an open door policy, they often hold it against you when you raise issues, regarding you as NOT A TEAM PLAYER.
Many times the leaker does try to settle things internally, only to find that they’ve just gotten lip service from their boss. The woman who blew the whistle on Wells Fargo lost her job after she complained to management, starting locally and bumping it up higher when no action was taken.
There is a danger that an anonymous source may be lying to forward their own agenda. That’s where you have to trust the reporters to verify the information and not just publish scurrilous accusations.
Would it be more courageous for these dissenters to put their name on their gripes? Yes, but then they get slammed for disloyalty and ostracized by fans and peers. Witness Tiki Barber’s angst after he spoke honestly about his disagreements with his coach and his take on the QB.
No one likes to be a snitch, but the truth often hurts and it’s better to be exposed to sunlight than to be hidden behind closed doors where corruption is allowed to flourish out of the public eye.
