The trend in TV sports coverage to idolize star athletes is disturbing.

For example, sideline reporters seem to no longer ask questions of star athletes after the game but merely say something such as, &8220;Hey, great performance,&8221; and leave the athlete to say the obligatory comment.

Where&8217;s the journalism?

For example, ESPN&8217;s &8220;Sportscenter&8221; has become the worldwide cheerleader in sports, most notably with its &8220;Who&8217;s Now&8221; and other artificial, nothing-to-do-with-sports-news segments. (See this week&8217;s Newsweek.)

Where&8217;s the journalism?

For example, because ESPN, Fox Sports Net and others have lucrative broadcasting deals with the sports leagues and conferences, they find themselves with a conflict of interest. If the NFL doesn&8217;t like something ESPN airs, it complains and soon ESPN changes. The same conflict of interest is why so often the announcers during coverage of games seem to worship the stars. There is a lack of objective views, especially now that veteran Dan Patrick left the crew.

Where&8217;s the journalism?

For example, too many ex-jocks in the broadcasting booth &8212; jocks who don&8217;t have the trained skills and detached observance of the sports news &8212; results in buddy-buddy banter, inside jokes and &8220;insight&8221; that really never points out what is wrong, only what is obvious.

Where&8217;s the journalism?

The newspapers and magazines.

Newspaper journalists investigated and revealed each step of the way in the BALCO steroids scandal and the Barry Bonds stories. No star-worshiping TV broadcaster would &8212; or even could &8212; pursue that. Sure, they cover the issue now that the cat is out of the bag, but the clowns running TV

sports networks never would have funded the cost of the investigation to begin with.

If TV broadcasters have to work with a conflict of interest, they could at least give audiences the satisfaction of noting other players than just the stars. (Sometimes, you have to read Sports Illustrated to know there are more players on the Indianapolis Colts football team than Peyton Manning.) And broadcasters shouldn&8217;t forget Americans enjoy team sports, and no athlete on a team wins without teammates.

Furthermore, they could do away with &8220;Who&8217;s Now&8221; and similar MTV-like kiddie programming. Sports, yes, can be lighthearted because, hey, games are just games, but credibility matters, too.