Comments on: An Aside http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/ Debating the merits of Metcalf up the middle Fri, 29 May 2009 13:14:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: dslifton http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-49 dslifton Fri, 02 May 2008 03:30:52 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-49 I don't think it's the same thing, John. Costas, and many other of the old school, may be willing to talk to the average fan on any given day, and most likely enjoys it. But how often do they bring those conversations into their work? Does Wilbon begin a column with, "I had a great conversation with a guy in a bar last night who had a unique take on the NFL salary cap. Here's what it is." Of course not, and that why the Costases and Bassingers of the world equate the commenters with the bloggers. Then again, Leitch has repeatedly said (including my <a href="http://www.wingsforwheels.net/wordpress/?cat=9" rel="nofollow">interview with him</a> that a large part of the success of Deadspin is due to the quality of the comments. An old-school columnist is only interest in the numbers of readers, not what they're saying. I don’t think it’s the same thing, John. Costas, and many other of the old school, may be willing to talk to the average fan on any given day, and most likely enjoys it. But how often do they bring those conversations into their work? Does Wilbon begin a column with, “I had a great conversation with a guy in a bar last night who had a unique take on the NFL salary cap. Here’s what it is.”

Of course not, and that why the Costases and Bassingers of the world equate the commenters with the bloggers. Then again, Leitch has repeatedly said (including my interview with him that a large part of the success of Deadspin is due to the quality of the comments. An old-school columnist is only interest in the numbers of readers, not what they’re saying.

]]> By: John Kranick http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-46 John Kranick Thu, 01 May 2008 17:40:57 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-46 Brian, what disappoints me most is that Costas actually DOES "deign to be involved in a conversation with a sports fan." I only know this because he is a regular visitor to a resort I used to work at, and while he would wait for his baggage/car/etc. we would engage in the same sports talk you would hear around the water cooler. That's why I am so disappointed by this. Also, his lack of moderation of the " round table" makes him guilty of the same non-moderation of commenters that he accuses Will of. Brian, what disappoints me most is that Costas actually DOES “deign to be involved in a conversation with a sports fan.” I only know this because he is a regular visitor to a resort I used to work at, and while he would wait for his baggage/car/etc. we would engage in the same sports talk you would hear around the water cooler. That’s why I am so disappointed by this.

Also, his lack of moderation of the ” round table” makes him guilty of the same non-moderation of commenters that he accuses Will of.

]]> By: Regular Guy http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-45 Regular Guy Thu, 01 May 2008 13:59:43 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-45 [...] of other sites have said more eloquent things than I can on this topic. OK, the last one wasn’t [...] [...] of other sites have said more eloquent things than I can on this topic. OK, the last one wasn’t [...]

]]> By: notsomightysparrow http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-43 notsomightysparrow Thu, 01 May 2008 05:58:42 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-43 Braylon's a hottie, that's for damned sure! (Oops, sorry about the salty word, I'll go wash my mouth and crotch out because I don't want Buzzie Bissinger to get a conniption, damnit! Oops, there I f*cking go again, sh*t goddamnit f*ck. Braylon’s a hottie, that’s for damned sure! (Oops, sorry about the salty word, I’ll go wash my mouth and crotch out because I don’t want Buzzie Bissinger to get a conniption, damnit! Oops, there I f*cking go again, sh*t goddamnit f*ck.

]]> By: feigningenius http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-42 feigningenius Thu, 01 May 2008 03:52:19 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-42 Will held his own. It's hard to have a good discussion when some guy is yelling in your ear about why you suck. He had some good points, and so did Braylon. They were the most interesting part. Will held his own. It’s hard to have a good discussion when some guy is yelling in your ear about why you suck. He had some good points, and so did Braylon. They were the most interesting part.

]]> By: Z http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-37 Z Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:33:05 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-37 I've only watched the first part of the round table that Awful Announcing posted, but I actually found Braylon's piece to be the most insightful because it is rare that you hear what athlete's think about blogs, and it was interesting to hear it (nevermind that it was in white washed athlete-speak), this is mostly due to the fact that Buzz was screaming and Will had to be on the defensive the entire time and wasn't able to make full points. That said he was probably totally freaked out by the crazy screaming white dude next to him. I’ve only watched the first part of the round table that Awful Announcing posted, but I actually found Braylon’s piece to be the most insightful because it is rare that you hear what athlete’s think about blogs, and it was interesting to hear it (nevermind that it was in white washed athlete-speak), this is mostly due to the fact that Buzz was screaming and Will had to be on the defensive the entire time and wasn’t able to make full points.

That said he was probably totally freaked out by the crazy screaming white dude next to him.

]]> By: RowdyRoddyPiper http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-36 RowdyRoddyPiper Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:33:04 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-36 Fantastic post. Anyone think Costas thought about the fact that HBO recently finished airing one of the best expressions of human intelligence I have ever seen with a season long story arc about the decay in standards of professional journalism? Chances are if you can't spot the sucker at the table, it's you. Fantastic post.

Anyone think Costas thought about the fact that HBO recently finished airing one of the best expressions of human intelligence I have ever seen with a season long story arc about the decay in standards of professional journalism?
Chances are if you can’t spot the sucker at the table, it’s you.

]]> By: Brian http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/an-aside/#comment-35 Brian Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:19:39 +0000 http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-35 What absolutely kills me about the whole segment is that Buzz uses commenters as the reason why blogs suck and both he and Costas lambasted Will basically for allowing commenters. Well, dillweeds like Buzz and Bob are the reason there are blogs and commenters. They won't deign to be involved in a conversation with a sports fan. A newspaper wouldn't dare hire a young columnist because some old fart who is tired of going out on assignment gets the gig. Talk radio couldn't handle it if topics like horse racing, soccer, and anything else outside the Big Four came up. The people you blast are the people you refuse to acknowledge. You created this, as Will said, by trying to determine what is valid and what isn't. And we don't have to listen to you. What absolutely kills me about the whole segment is that Buzz uses commenters as the reason why blogs suck and both he and Costas lambasted Will basically for allowing commenters.

Well, dillweeds like Buzz and Bob are the reason there are blogs and commenters. They won’t deign to be involved in a conversation with a sports fan. A newspaper wouldn’t dare hire a young columnist because some old fart who is tired of going out on assignment gets the gig. Talk radio couldn’t handle it if topics like horse racing, soccer, and anything else outside the Big Four came up.

The people you blast are the people you refuse to acknowledge. You created this, as Will said, by trying to determine what is valid and what isn’t. And we don’t have to listen to you.

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