Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media

And I'm not just saying that. Who in my position would just say that? But it's true. Not counting this fine website, which is my employer and my home page and my reason for reason, I now find myself reading blogs before I read the "real" media, whatever that is, and if I run out of time at the end of the day ... it was just blogs, baby.

Basically, I want to read a voice. I don't want to be told what happened last night or this morning, because like you, I already know. I saw it on TV or read about it on CBSSports.com. Ahem.

Point being, I know what happened. I want to know what to think about what happened. What are some possible analyses of what happened? I want to know the most original analyses of all. That's why I go to blogs. For the voices. I'm a guy who likes to hear several voices, clearly.

Which brings me to my point, and it's a damn silly point. I'm reading Deadspin just now, and there are items on two different "real" sports writers, both of AOL Fun Zone. Jay Mariotti apparently, allegedly, insanely, is going to the Chicago Tribune. Possibly. And that fellow named B. Kevin B. Blackistone B. made a basketball shot and then crowed about it and demanded that Deadspin or KSK post it and then for some reason he put it on YouTube. So Deadspin did post it. So I read about it.

That's not why I go to blogs, actually.

But I will say this: If Mariotti ends up back in print after the crap he's pulled -- bashing newspapers as a dying medium, basically acting like a spoiled wittle bratty-watty since being shown the door by the other paper in Chicago -- I'll be blogging again. And there will be a point. And when you are done reading it, you will know my point.

Unless it happens when I'm on vacation next week. I'm off.

On second thought, I'll come off vacation to write that blogg post. With two g's.

I think blogs have added a lot to sports for the fan. A lot of these writers who blog have real passion for sports and while this sometimes gets them to go off course I'd rather read someone who's writing about something he loves in a messy way then some jaded sportswriter who no longer cares about what he's covering.

If professional sports journalism is to survive the people practicing it can no longer write half-assed stories that don't either have a strong point of view or offer something that fans can't get anywhere else like behind the scenes information. The days of lazy,cliched writing are over in journalism and I think that's something to celebrate.

Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media

I disagree, I think it's a mixed blessing at best. While there are writers who do not do a good job and shouldn't do what they do any longer because they've lost their passion, there are far more who honestly do care about their jobs, but can't do them as well because of cuts, or because the public has no idea what it wants.

For that, I think blogs should be condemned, not celebrated. They're the beginning of a vicious cycle that might eventually lead to the demise of real journalism. Blogs are analogous to viruses, they depend on the real media to survive. But if they continue the way they have, they will eventually kill their host and become useless. Without the real media to give them stories, the blogosphere is irrelevant.

For the record, I rarely do read blogs that aren't done by a reputable journalist. I've read them in the past, and I just can't learn anything from most of them. I don't want or need to be told what to think, I form my own opinions.

Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media

Itr's not surprising from a guy who in the 1981-2 NBA season was seen giving stolen credential of Detroit News (his paper) columnists (the late) Joe Falls and Jerry Green to 2 friends and seating them in a press overflow section. Confronted by Pistons staff, he denied it while staring blankly ahead. When Pistons brass complained to Sports Ed. Herb Boldt the next day and Boldt got to the bottom of the story, Mariotti immediately began week 1 of his annual 2 weeks of vacation to avert having his paper barred from the Pontiac Silverdome Pistons games which Detroit's GM was all for doing. All that season, Mariotti was ignored in post-game and post-practice pressers by then coach, the late Scotty Robertson who famously explained, "I ain't talking to him because he's trying to get my ass fired." Check his trail to Cinci and Denver among other stops for other ethics episodes.

Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media

Makes sense to me. As a blog writer, you can talk out of your butt instead of researching facts and getting confirmation from players, managers, coaches, GMs etc.
As a blog writer, you can be lazy and some readers won't know the dif. You'll still come across looking like you know what you're talking about. You can write opinion as fact, and figure that most people won't know the dif. The sad thing is that most people actually won't know the dif.

sirbed Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 24, 2009	Posted on: July 1, 2009 8:44 pm Score: 122 Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media I think blogs have added a lot to sports for the fan. A lot of these writers who blog have real passion for sports and while this sometimes gets them to go off course I'd rather read someone who's writing about something he loves in a messy way then some jaded sportswriter who no longer cares about what he's covering. If professional sports journalism is to survive the people practicing it can no longer write half-assed stories that don't either have a strong point of view or offer something that fans can't get anywhere else like behind the scenes information. The days of lazy,cliched writing are over in journalism and I think that's something to celebrate. [ Reply to Comment ]
SkyHawk09 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 21, 2006	Posted on: July 1, 2009 9:44 pm Score: 125 Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media I disagree, I think it's a mixed blessing at best. While there are writers who do not do a good job and shouldn't do what they do any longer because they've lost their passion, there are far more who honestly do care about their jobs, but can't do them as well because of cuts, or because the public has no idea what it wants. For that, I think blogs should be condemned, not celebrated. They're the beginning of a vicious cycle that might eventually lead to the demise of real journalism. Blogs are analogous to viruses, they depend on the real media to survive. But if they continue the way they have, they will eventually kill their host and become useless. Without the real media to give them stories, the blogosphere is irrelevant. For the record, I rarely do read blogs that aren't done by a reputable journalist. I've read them in the past, and I just can't learn anything from most of them. I don't want or need to be told what to think, I form my own opinions. [ Reply to Comment ]
cardster Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Jan 14, 2009	Posted on: July 1, 2009 9:48 pm Score: 149 Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media Itr's not surprising from a guy who in the 1981-2 NBA season was seen giving stolen credential of Detroit News (his paper) columnists (the late) Joe Falls and Jerry Green to 2 friends and seating them in a press overflow section. Confronted by Pistons staff, he denied it while staring blankly ahead. When Pistons brass complained to Sports Ed. Herb Boldt the next day and Boldt got to the bottom of the story, Mariotti immediately began week 1 of his annual 2 weeks of vacation to avert having his paper barred from the Pontiac Silverdome Pistons games which Detroit's GM was all for doing. All that season, Mariotti was ignored in post-game and post-practice pressers by then coach, the late Scotty Robertson who famously explained, "I ain't talking to him because he's trying to get my ass fired." Check his trail to Cinci and Denver among other stops for other ethics episodes. [ Reply to Comment ]
ohsarah Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Jun 11, 2009	Posted on: July 1, 2009 11:07 pm Score: 66 Honestly? I like blogs more than the real media Makes sense to me. As a blog writer, you can talk out of your butt instead of researching facts and getting confirmation from players, managers, coaches, GMs etc. As a blog writer, you can be lazy and some readers won't know the dif. You'll still come across looking like you know what you're talking about. You can write opinion as fact, and figure that most people won't know the dif. The sad thing is that most people actually won't know the dif. [ Reply to Comment ]

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