How Tiger Woods, Octomom and Salahis Overshadowed the Story of Water on the Moon

The biggest story we overlooked in 2009 amid the hype of Octomom, Balloon Boy, Tiger Woods, and Salahis is the story of water on the moon. There were plenty of major stories in the last decade the media under-reported; however, it is the story of water on the moon that surprises the most.

Amid nonstop reporting we came to believe Octomom was important, Salahis as well, and the Balloon Boy too. They were everywhere, on cable and prime time, in tabloids and New York Times. We couldn't get enough of them.

When Armstrong first touched the surface of the moon, it was the story of the century. When the story of water on the moon broke, we bypassed it hardly recognizing the importance of the discovery. Times have changed. Tiger Woods, Octomom and Salahis were and still are all the rage. Sadly, water on the moon is just a footnote.

We followed Octomom relentlessly. We never missed Kate and Jon. Tiger Woods alleged affairs became instant news. Hungry for more, we were stretching the list of his mistresses. Never-ending supply of jokes assured our attention. So is it still surprise that when the story of water on the moon came, we did not notice?

Just when we thought we saw and heard it all and the wonderful images of universe appeared in New York Times and on the nytimes.com, here comes February issue of Vanity Fair with a photograph of shirtless Tiger Woods on its cover. The photograph taken in 2006 by Annie Leibovitz that would without the scandal present our sports idol in physical shape fitting the top athlete is turning now against him. Fame is fickle. Forgotten is the artistic intent of master photographer from three years ago when Tiger Woods fame was untouched; now sexual innuendo is in. And away again they go--the universe and the moon.

Though some might argue that the fact itself that alleged adulterous affair became bigger news than water on the moon is already the story of the day.

Sex and sports celebrities sell exceptionally well. Today, sports commentators gave us guns in the Wizards locker room. By pointing a gun on a teammate Gilbert Arenas immediately turned into another bonus for the struggling media. Sports fans, no doubt, also got their story. Google alone awarded them with over 92,000 results for "Gilbert Arenas gun charge." And all this was only today.

It may seem that when "Sex, Lies and Videotape" is being replaced by "Sex, Guns and Videotape," everybody looses. Yet this is hardly the case here.

Scandal is compensating media well. This has never been a secret. In the today's market of tough ratings competition, no TV channel, no paper, no magazine wants to give up the ratings prize.

And when it comes to the news, the question lingers, how much is lost amid 24-hour reporting? And what does it say for the media when round-the-clock news overlooks the biggest news? It is yet to be seen.