The wild, weird, unfulfilling ride of my mysterious 2016 "Sports By Brooks" Bleacher Report piece (that never ran), five questions with political journalist Aaron Rupar, and yet another career fuckup.
That story on Brooks really is incredible and was very much worth the read.
Investigative journalism will never die and while I still have questions, I think your right that some people just "don't want to be found".
It's a tragedy in that he was such an innovator, but so many have followed what he has done and made it big, by not copying, but "borrowing" his model.
In retrospect, the decision not to publish seems wise. I've run mental health programs for many years, including drug rehab and sober living centers in SoCal, and you'd be surprised at how many people with a lot going for them end up down this sort of path. He does not sound like someone for whom this type of agitation would have anything but a negative impact -- including the possibility it triggers him harming himself or some other innocent party.
Here's why I say that.... Folks who are highly (some might say irrationally) activated by circumstances like those at PSU are often themselves survivors of serious trauma, and lack the skills to get the sort of help they need (and/or often to acknowledge/accept what's happened to them). For some with a genetic predisposition for serious mental illness, this can even trigger an irreversible break. And the number of addicts who are self-medicating for the effects of trauma they'll never discuss is staggering.
So while I could point you to a few spots in Mexico where people with a bit of money and similar mental health/addiction journeys tend to pool, frankly to my eye there is no good reason to disrupt whatever modicum of peace he may have found for himself. I admire your work and persistence, but should he surface I hope you'll be content to wish him well unless he indicates otherwise.
My pleasure. I’m a former newspaper sports copy editor, and I’ve read enough of your stuff I figured that would be something you’d want to know. :-) Really interesting piece. Glad it’s finally seeing the light of day.
That story on Brooks really is incredible and was very much worth the read.
Investigative journalism will never die and while I still have questions, I think your right that some people just "don't want to be found".
It's a tragedy in that he was such an innovator, but so many have followed what he has done and made it big, by not copying, but "borrowing" his model.
thanks, Dan ...
In retrospect, the decision not to publish seems wise. I've run mental health programs for many years, including drug rehab and sober living centers in SoCal, and you'd be surprised at how many people with a lot going for them end up down this sort of path. He does not sound like someone for whom this type of agitation would have anything but a negative impact -- including the possibility it triggers him harming himself or some other innocent party.
Here's why I say that.... Folks who are highly (some might say irrationally) activated by circumstances like those at PSU are often themselves survivors of serious trauma, and lack the skills to get the sort of help they need (and/or often to acknowledge/accept what's happened to them). For some with a genetic predisposition for serious mental illness, this can even trigger an irreversible break. And the number of addicts who are self-medicating for the effects of trauma they'll never discuss is staggering.
So while I could point you to a few spots in Mexico where people with a bit of money and similar mental health/addiction journeys tend to pool, frankly to my eye there is no good reason to disrupt whatever modicum of peace he may have found for himself. I admire your work and persistence, but should he surface I hope you'll be content to wish him well unless he indicates otherwise.
FYI in the first graf you call the site Sports by Books.
thanks for the heads up. Fixed.
My pleasure. I’m a former newspaper sports copy editor, and I’ve read enough of your stuff I figured that would be something you’d want to know. :-) Really interesting piece. Glad it’s finally seeing the light of day.