Cuckoos, hoopoes, and comedians…

The article opens with a reflection on the nature of journalistic envy, describing it not as a jealousy of lifestyles or earnings, but as a competitive drive to break news first. This "news race" fuels the morning ritual of checking rival headlines, a sentiment the author admits to feeling even when admiring a colleague's work.

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Journalists are envious… This is inherent in the profession. Real journalists envy each other.

This competitive spirit is then linked to a piece by Yılmaz Özdil about cuckoos, which the author "read with pleasure but also envy." Özdil's analogy, which the author felt he should have conceived himself, posits that cuckoos, who lay their eggs in others' nests, are prevalent not just in nature but also in politics, parties, sports, and even the state.

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This envy is the envy of the 'news race' that begins every morning.

The author then pivots to contemporary Turkish football, lamenting perceived injustices, manipulated referee decisions, and the behavior of players and officials. He notes the arrival of a new coach at Beşiktaş, who is working with enthusiasm, seemingly unaware of the "Turkish referee" phenomenon where penalties are awarded for fouls on the aggressor. The piece contrasts this with the hoopoe bird, which builds its own nest and is known for its fidelity and family values, though it has a distinct, unpleasant odor. The author implies that while some entities, like cuckoos, exploit others, the hoopoe, despite its flaws, is more grounded in its own existence.

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I congratulated Yılmaz… But I was envious! I thought to myself, 'If only I had thought of this and written it.'