New York stories

As a lifelong resident of the world west and south of the Hudson River, I am regularly disgusted by the level of media coverage paid to what I call "New York stories."  These are stories - news, business, and sports - which dominate discussion for a period of time purely because they involve people or things closely tied to New York City.

Today's example:  a wide receiver for the New York Giants, Plaxico Burress, shot himself in the thigh while hanging out at some nightclub in New York.  The injury isn't life-threatening; it probably won't even end his career.  Another professional athlete, another gun incident, this is weekly "dog bites man" news. But it leads the Sunday morning sports conversation.  Why?  Because it happened in New York.

If it happened in Cincinnati or Denver, it would be reported on as "another professional athlete, another gun."  Which is unfortunate enough on its own, but just isn't news any more.  This is a classic New York story.  And it happens over and over. 

This isn't about New York City itself.  I love the place.   It's just the level of navel-gazing on national outlets that drives me nuts.  Hey, media types, we don't care as much as you think.