As a journalist, I often wonder when stories reach their best-before or saturation date.
Air France flight 447 for instance. When, sadly, does it become less than breaking news that another body or piece of the plane has been found? We're close if not already there. Or perhaps not quite yet, as traffic on our web site for this story remains high. People are intrigued by the mystery of why the plane went down; and there is a local angle - a Guelph, Ont. man having perished as a result.
Tori Stafford, so very sadly. It was news when she disappeared, remained so for a few weeks, then faded until it was confirmed she had been murdered. Then, naturally, coverage ramped up again as the sad search for her remains began and continues. On Saturday, a touching memorial service was held and that will be it until her remains are found, if ever that happens.
The world moves on, for better or worse.
In a different, and obviously less important world in the grand scheme than an innocent child being murdered, when does the NHL-Jim Balsille-Phoenix Coyotes soap opera cease becoming news?
I don't think it's at that point yet, far from it. But I do have the sense that people, particularly those who follow sports passionately, i.e. sport itself, not the business of sport, have long since had their eyes glaze over on this one in spite of the knowledge that what is on trial here could well be the future structure of professional sports leagues.
Aside from that rather important issue (in an unimportant pursuit in the grand scheme), I sense that people are beginning to seek relief from the dense legalese, to shrug their shoulders and simply wait for an outcome, whatever that may be, to this he-said, he-said scenario. Maintain the team in Phoenix. Put it in Hamilton. Both sides have seemingly valid arguments. Whatever. Just please, solve this and go away.
And bring on Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final tonight. (on the other hand, I just checked numbers and the Coyotes saga still resonates with readers).
Penguins win. On to Game 7. (on the ice and, perhaps, in court).
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