Turn It Up, Turn It Down: A Weekly Review of the Media

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 diaries during draft night.

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.