Scott Van Pelt Rips Entertainment Media for Labeling Lamar Odom a 'Reality Star'

Lamar Odom's hospitalization has left media outlets across the world in a frenzy.

The former Los Angeles Laker's struggle to survive after being found unresponsive at a Nevada brothel Tuesday afternoon has become a multiring circus involving both the sports and entertainment sectors.

These two groups exist in two large tents, and they are portraying the same human being in two very different ways.

In one tent, we see Lamar Odom, the former Los Angeles Laker. He is a troubled man and beloved teammate. An entire league has rallied around him.

In the other tent, we have a nameless "Kardashian reality star in a coma" driving page views through sheer writ of anonymity. He is not a basketball player or former NBA champion. He is a headline that exults in being both technically true and search-engine optimized.

I'll let you parse out which tent is which.

Scott Van Pelt certainly knows. The ESPN personality took a moment out of his show Wednesday night to go after entertainment outlets for portraying Odom as a reality television star as the former NBA forward lies in dire condition.

Van Pelt tore into these outlets for neglecting Odom's true occupation for a clickier Kardashian angle. He mentions a tweet from rapper Bun B, who sent a message to his followers about the "vultures" shoehorning Odom into their broadcasts and articles due to former appearances with his then-wife, Khloe Kardashian, on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. 

"

"Kardashian reality star?" No, no, no, no. Lamar Odom, unlike those for whom fame is oxygen, whose fame comes in the absence of accomplishment...his fame was earned as Sixth Man of the Year. As a multiple NBA champion. As the result of his significant role with the Los Angeles Lakers teams and being a beloved NBA teammate and peer.

"

This is a good and right take. 

No media sector is without its bottom feeders and dishonest headline crafters. But there is something singularly despicable about misleading your audience with the gross mischaracterization of a man ostensibly on his deathbed.

I'd like to think we're all better than that. But maybe we aren't.

Dan is on Twitter winging the carrion.