Week of June 23-29
Every week I write a media column, giving the good, the bad, and the ugly of the week in media. Print, radio, internet, and television are all considered. Enjoy and as always, feel free to comment and nominate your favorites too.
The Good
Bob Warja (Bleacher Report.com) – With all of the “Crosstown Classic” coverage and Derrick Rose columns, Bob wrote one of the best articles of the year. What’s better than remembering the freak injuries like the “Sosa Sneeze,” the Glenallen Hill “Bad Dream,” and the “Gramatica Celebration?”
Bill Simmons and Chad Ford (ESPN.com) – The annual Great Draft Debate 2008 took place on Tuesday, with Simmons and Ford taking turns drafting players in a mock NBA Draft. The best part was the back and forth bickering between each with Simmons typing his famous 300-word responses to many of Ford’s picks. Simmons also wrote another one of his running
Today's Must Reads
Chris Mannix (Sports Illustrated) – With the millions of NBA Mock Drafts being posted all across the web, Mannix wrote his own version involving every NBA player instead of the typical one with college prospects. LeBron James goes No. 1 overall to the Bulls, Kevin Garnett to the Knicks at No. 6, and Yao Ming is drafted before players like Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, and Greg Oden.
Dan Patrick (KLAC 570) – On Friday’s show, Patrick interviewed John Challis, the young sports fan battling cancer. Challis talked about meeting his idol, Derek Jeter, prior to Thursday’s Pirates vs. Yankees game. The Challis story is one for the ages, and kudos to Patrick for doing everything he could to shed a positive light on the young man.
The Bad
Joe Morgan (ESPN) – Last Sunday, during the Cubs vs. White Sox broadcast at Wrigley Field, the famous highlight of the Michael Barrett and A.J. Pierzynski punch was shown four times in succession. Morgan, after the replays finished, said White Sox fans would’ve stood and cheered during the scene if the punch occurred in U.S. Cellular Field. Uh, Joe, the punch did occur at The Cell. I guess four replays weren’t enough for you.
The Ugly
Marty Brennaman (Cincinnati Reds Broadcaster) – This is more of an ugly situation than an ugly media piece. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greeinstein, Brennaman has received multiple threatening letters due to the broadcasters remarks in April when he called Cubs fans “the most obnoxious fans in baseball.” Expect more details of this story when the Cubs host the Reds starting July 8.
*Notes*
- Mike North’s career with WSCR “The Score” in Chicago is over after more than 16 years. According to his website, North will be involved in some type of work in the near future.
- The popular Eastern sports radio show, Mike and the Mad Dog, is reportedly nearing an end after almost 20 years.
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2 months ago
Great stuff, Sam. For the record, Bob Warja already admitted that he copied my previous article when brainstorming for his.
Lol, just kidding.
Nice work.
from 2 months ago
Haha, yeah I saw you two going back and forth...
2 months ago
I was actually really disappointed with Bill Simmons' draft diary this year. It seemed like he was just going through the motions.
from 2 months ago
He seems to be going through the motions as he pumps out article after article. All due to Rick Reily's presence.
from 2 months ago
I thought he had some funny lines. He seems to have fallen in love with the Lopez twins. And he is still on cloud nine after the Celtics win. Now that the NBA is over I really want him to step up his baseball columns.
2 months ago
No mention of deadspin? Will Leitch left, new editors and writers were brought in, and Leitch-Bizzinger conversation was published.
It was one of the most important weeks for the biggest sports blog in its history.
I would have liked to see your take on the events that took place over there.
By the way, am I the only one who has been super, super disappointed with Rick Reilly so far at ESPN? The Mickelson-Woods article was great, but his last two about the high school ump getting beaned and the sailor giving his life for his friends were both very weak in my opinion. He basically just summed up the stories and told them in a decent voice. There were no memorable lines or ideas.
I think the new surroundings and the stupid Simmons-Reilly/New School-Old School/Blog-Newspaper fiasco is getting to him.
But when you're getting payed 3.4 million dollars to write 800 words a week, I shouldn't be more impressed by Gene Wojciechowski.
from 2 months ago
Sorry about deadspin. I actually have never visited the site or read their material. I know they are a huge outlet but I am devoted to these other sites and media outlets that I never branched out toward them. I do know who they are and a few stories involving them. I will do my best to become more familiar and thank you for your comments.
As for Reilly, I agree 100%. When he signed that huge contract with ESPN, they claimed he would be writing two or three times per week, not once per magazine distribution. Also, the material he has written has been below par for him. The sailor article was hard to understand the way it was written.
from 2 months ago
I don't know exactly what Bristol said about him, so I won't comment on that, but he has done an article a week. The mag is every other week. So he's been writing more than just once per magazine distribution.
But I just don't think his writing has been up to par. I think it's partly because he's struggling with trying to remain up date and relevant in the constantly evolving sports media world (i.e. the umpire article that linked to youtube, he would have never done something like that for SI) and staying true to himself and his writing style (i.e. the sailor story which goes with his self titled content "not about sports, but about people in sports.")
It's a shame to see.
2 months ago
I tried my best to get Chris to admit either way that they are splitting up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1PQTXGd9T8
bob
from 2 months ago
Bob, that is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! How did you get it on YouTube?
Chris is obviously angry about all the rumors and I commend you for not only asking the question that everyone wants to ask, but incorporating it into your opening. Awesome job!
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