Media: Turn it Up/Turn it Down for June 9-15

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

Teddy Greenstein (Chicago Tribune): On Tuesday, he wrote a very interesting column that revealed the ongoing internal dispute between Sun-Times columnists Jay Mariotti and Rick Telander.  Greenstein even reported that the newspaper removed one of Telander’s columns because of the heated situation becoming out of hand.

Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports.com): Of all the baseball writers, Rosenthal seems to do the most research.  On Wednesday he wrote about the potential of the Dodgers trading Matt Kemp, a trade no other baseball writer out there has even contemplated.  Due to his friendship with hundreds of baseball executives, Rosenthal gets the juiciest rumors and tells the fans about them as fast as he can.  His columns are always must-reads and he continues to be one of the most underrated in his field.

Peter King (Sports Illustrated): His “Monday Morning Quarterback” is my favorite part of every Monday morning.  The master of all things NFL is taking a month off for vacation after cranking out his sometimes five-page column every single week.  No one brings you better NFL coverage from all the angles than Mr. King.

Kerry Sayers (Comcast Sportsnet): On the “Mac, Jurko, and Harry Show” Thursday, Sayers filled in beautifully (literally and figuratively) for Jurko, giving the show some much needed logical perspective.  Sayers is used to working with sweaty, fat guys and never once during the show seemed out of her element.

Bill Simmons (ESPN.com): Three more columns (including a running diary), three new podcasts.  The Sports Guy is cranking out must-read and must-listen to material at an amazing rate!

The Bad

The Chicago Sun Times: Their weekly fan poll regarding who’s hotter between Cubs fans and Sox fans.  Who cares whose fans are hotter?  And why are you posting random photos of fans that had no idea their picture would be viewed in a lustful way?

Ryan Lefebvre (Kansas City Royals Announcer): Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Milton Bradley was the DH for Wednesday night’s game against the Royals and decided he would watch and listen to the game from the clubhouse when he wasn’t hitting.

During the broadcast, Lefebvre said live on the air that Bradley “clearly has no control over himself,” and he should try and be more like Josh Hamilton, his teammate.

After the game Bradley had to be intercepted by security and his own general manager when he attempted to reach the broadcast booth to have a little discussion with Lefebvre.  Yikes!

The Ugly

Mike North (WSCR The Score 670AM):  After numerous reports of North not having his contract renewed, as reported first by above mentioned Teddy Greenstein, North has decided to wage war against the Tribune columnist.  On Tuesday, North began the name calling and criticizing of Greenstein, mocking his alma mater Northwestern and claiming no one likes him in the sports industry.

Then on Friday, North continued the attack after Greenstein’s June 13 column, which reported the low ratings of North’s show and that North was seen job searching earlier in the week.  Mike North needs to relax.  Teddy Greenstein is doing his job as a reporter.  It’s time Mike North do the same.