It's a Two-Way Street

If you've ever been in a relationship, you know that it's built upon certain principles that primarily revolve around the issue of trust. With it, and a relationship can remain strong and intact. Without it, the two sides grow apart and the relationship usually ends in a bitter dispute and hurt feelings.

So it's not surprising to see the relationship between professional athletes and journalists who cover them deteriorating so quickly. Trust does not exist between the two factions of the sports world and both sides have valid grievances supporting their side of the feud.

From the athlete's perspective, the journalist of today is simply more interested in being able to break a story that could potentially garner national media attention. Whether it's a scathing quote about management, another player, coach, teammate, etc...being the first to report it may lead to exposure for a journalist on a national level.

Often times you'll hear a player claiming they were misquoted in a piece that may have done damage to their reputation. It's not uncommon for athletes to completely boycott media requests and Chicago is home to one of the most unique examples of this standoff.

All-world, all-everything Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher left local media in the dark throughout the 2007 season due to a myriad of published stories ranging from his child custody battles to injury inquiries he felt were inaccurate or out of line. Instead of clarifying himself and refuting the claims in stories that angered him so, Urlacher decided to only communicate through FOX Sports analyst Jay Glazer. Chicago media were only given one-word answers by Urlacher and he regularly displayed his disdain for the people in the room on or off camera.

But in this regard, Brian Urlacher is the ultimate hypocrite.

He's currently using the media as his personal mouthpiece to demand a reworked contract for the upcoming season. Despite the fact it's not set to expire until 2011. The very people he despises with every fiber of his being, are the very same people who will aid him in getting another huge payday.

So in his mind, using the media for his own personal gains is acceptable.

However, reporters using him for their own personal gain is unconscionable.

But Urlacher's use of the media is not uncommon. In fact, it's commonplace.

While athletes bemoan the lack of honesty and professionalism of journalists, they take advantage of them very often in order to serve their own agenda.

Unhappy with your contract?

Leak a story to a team reporter and watch it take off on ESPN and local media outlets.

Want to be traded?

Talk to the media, make your feelings known and proceed to land that new multi-multi-million dollar deal in a warm climate.

Both sides are using one another, yet both bemoan one another for it and fans suffer because of it.

The relationship between the two sides is frazzled to say the least. I keep imagining it as the Pit and the Pendulum, always one swing closer to becoming completely severed.

But in order for the two sides to have any chance of reconciliation, they need to come to the understanding their relationship will never be the way it was twenty, thirty years ago. Long gone are the days when reporters would turn a blind eye to the debauchery these athletes find themselves in.

Once they realize how their relationship actually benefits one another, things may go back to normal and fans will once again get the kind of coverage we had all become accustomed to.

If not, it's going to be one ugly breakup.