By Dr. Keith Adams, Ed.D., CMAA President & Founder, CKA SAVE Project

I recently read a poignant piece on Bomani Jones, a veteran voice I’ve long respected in the sports media landscape. In it, Bomani confessed something that truly struck a chord with me: he doesn’t know what career advice to give anymore.

He spoke about a "heartbreaking" shift in the industry—an era where algorithms prioritize negativity, "yelling at the President," and "unhappiness." He lamented that he couldn't tell an aspiring journalist how to make it today because the path he took is effectively closed. He’s focused on "holding onto the people I've got," rather than trying to get bigger. 

As someone who has spent over 30 years bridging the "Resume Gap" for student-athletes, I recognize that heartbreak. But where legacy media sees a dead end, the CKA SAVE Project sees a new playbook. 

From "Holding On" to Leading the Way

Bomani’s struggle is the perfect example of what we call "Time Poverty" and the "Resume Gap" in the modern age. If the gatekeepers of the past don't know how to open the doors, we have to build our own doors.

While the traditional media landscape is "restructuring" and "retracting," the CKA SAVE Project is leaning in through our OCP Global Access Initiative. We aren't just trying to "hold onto what we’ve got"; we are evolving to provide the very roadmap that Bomani fears is lost. 

Why the OCP Global Access Initiative Wins

Bomani noted that "what catches on the internet is unhappiness." At the Odd Coaches Podcast (OCP), we’ve made a different choice. We choose Conversation over Confrontation. We don't yell; we use data. We don't chase clicks through outrage; we build community through credibility. 

Here is how we are solving the dilemma Bomani described:

• Solving the "How to Make It" Mystery: Bomani is right—the old path is gone. But our CKA Virtual Internship Program (VIP) is the new path. We are teaching our interns (our leadership cohort from UW, UNC, and beyond) how to navigate this exact ecosystem by focusing on Project-Based Learning. We don't just tell them to "be excellent"; we give them the structure, discipline, and support (SDS) to prove it.
• Credibility vs. The Algorithm: The algorithm might prioritize negativity, but the "Arena" prioritizes experience. Our "Cavalcade of Stars" consists of practitioners—coaches, ADs, and administrators—who have been in the trenches. We aren't influencers; we are experts. That is a commodity that no algorithm can devalue.
• The 100/100 Standard in Media: We apply our core philosophy to our content. We demand a 100% commitment to the craft of journalism and a 100% commitment to professional evolution. While others are confused by the industry’s direction, we are moving toward our 2026 National Coverage Map with credentialed access to the championships and symposia that matter. 

Finding the Balance in the Noise

In his interview, Bomani said he settled on one piece of advice: Focus on standing out for being excellent in your work.

I agree, but I would take it a step further. Excellence is the baseline; Balance is the breakthrough. In my book, Finding the Balance, I talk about the journey to academic and athletic success. That same balance applies to the media. You must balance the "flash" of modern platforms with the "substance" of traditional investigative rigor. 

The Washington Post sports desk may be gone, and veteran voices may be heartbroken, but the CKA SAVE Project is busy living. We are filling the investigative void. We are providing the "dirt-kicking" reporting that shrinking newsrooms can no longer afford. 

Join the Evolution

To the aspiring sports media professional who Bomani "can't tell anything to": Come talk to us.

We are not tourists in this space. We are the coaches, the educators, and the advocates who have spent decades preparing for this exact shift. We aren't waiting for the industry to "do something." We are doing it ourselves.

The game has changed, but the goal remains the same: One Goal: Balance. One Result: Success.

Welcome to the conversation. 

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