There’s a saying in journalism: if it bleeds, it leads.
It is an unfortunate saying, but it is often the basis of decision-making in newsrooms. Compelling storytelling always includes an emotional element, and the easiest emotions to manipulate are the negative ones: grief, fear, anger and the rest.
Of course, we should face the world’s demons, from tragic deaths to economic turmoil to environmental disaster, because to avoid them would be to deny reality.
But one unintended consequence of the culture that creates in the media, especially in today’s voracious 24-hour news cycle, is grim stories are everywhere.
So, here’s the opposite. Enjoy with me the story of David Ayres.
David is 42 and drives the zamboni – that’s the little truck-thing that smooths the ice – for lower-league ice hockey team the Toronto Marlies.
His dream, like so many Canadians, has been to make it big as a player in the NHL, but he never really had the breaks.
He’s also had health problems: he had a kidney transplant 15 years ago and it almost ended his career.
But, last weekend, something incredible happened. The Toronto Maple Leafs were playing the Carolina Hurricanes at home. It’s required for NHL teams to designate an emergency goalie in case their visitors’ two goalies have to drop out, and last Saturday Toronto’s choice was David Ayres.
The emergency goalie is almost never needed… but, this time, the Canes’ first and second choices were both injured during the game.
The call came. David Ayres took the ice. And the Hurricanes won.
He is now the oldest goalie in NHL history to win his debut game. He’s the first emergency goalie in history to record a victory.
He was the hero of the game because he stopped every shot in the third period. And all the millionaires on the ice understood what it meant to him as they congratulated him at the end.
Since then, David Ayres has been giving interviews to media across the world. His story is worthy of Hollywood. He’s a star, and he deserves it.
I hope you enjoyed this story. Never quit. Don’t lose hope. Hold on to your dream.
And don’t let the headlines get you down. People are great.
