Nobody Puts Bloggers in a Korner
Dear Tony Kornheiser,
Your recent comments were clueless and hypocritical -- and some of the most ironic in all of sports media this year. That's quite an accomplishment considering the profession is full of overweight men criticizing the performance of professional athletes.
The comments I'm referring to, of course, are your proclamations about bloggers.
They have no sources. They make stuff up. They're toads. They're little toads. Actually, they're pimples on the behind of the greater body politic in this country and in this city.
Oh, c'mon. Tell us how you really feel. Never mind. You did.
If a huge dumpster landed on their mother's house, and got all the way into the basement and crushed them, nobody would care. Nobody would miss them. They provide nothing good, no service that's any good at all. They, they are, they are, they are sucking mole rats, and that's the nicest I can be to them.
The highly regarded DC Sports Bog was the one that exposed their own paper's star columnist as a Luddite.
You tried to offer a semi-apology, but in clarifying who the comments were directed to, you pulled out a backhanded complement:
I was not attacking all the blogs--although God knows I could if I wanted to.
Classy.
I would feel pity, but somebody of your stature in the sports industry should know better. Much, much better.
Main stream media personalities take cheap shots at blogs all the time, but the most outrageous part of these attack is that your closest colleague -- Michael Wilbon -- was apparently caught stealing material from bloggers!
Not only do you guys write for the Washington Post, but you co-host Pardon The Interruption on ESPN. Barring some amazing revelations and even more amazing acting ability, you're obviously very close friends.
Of course, Wilbon isn't the only one ripping off the blogosphere. Some of your other colleagues -- struggling to keep up with witty ideas and breaking news -- are caught red-handed all the time. Just look at Colin Cowherd, Jay Mariotti, and even the venerable Sports Illustrated.
See, Tony? We do provide a service. Bloggers are doing your colleagues' jobs for them!
But wait, there's more.
All the savvy people are already on board the blog bandwagon. Bill Simmons -- a reigning rockstar of sports media -- is a prolific blogger. Like you, he's paid by the four letter network. Leagues, players, radio stations -- they're all blogging. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is blogging for the LA Times about everything from sports to race and society to making the world a better place.
Then you have people who have easily parlayed blogging into a full-time career. Will Leitch from Deadspin is one of the most respected names in the industry. SportsByBrooks tends to break news well before MSM outlets get around to it.
But I didn't need to tell you that. The semi-apology included a tip of the hat to some of America's top sports blogs. Then you added, "I don't read these things."
Like any sports media personality, some people love you and some people hate you. I've always found you amusing and enjoyed your work (even when Monday Night Football gets iffy). These comments won't cost you cushy gigs at the Washington Post or ESPN, but it sure sounds like the clock is ticking on your relevance. This attitude towards blogs is unproductive for everybody -- including yourself.
The arrogance of your statements is especially frustrating. Reminiscent of a certain LA columnist, it indicates a complete ignorance to the earnest, hard work performed by many bloggers. Welcome to 2008, where you'll find bloggers on the field, at practice, in the press box, and asking questions at press conferences and in the locker room.
As much as this is an open letter to say "let's call out Kornheiser" -- it's also a call to table. Much like farm systems and colleges develop talent for the big leagues, blogs have created a big opportunity for burgeoning sports journalism players (again, look to Leitch). Unlike farm systems, blogs also have a habit of providing immediate results that can instantly make headlines. While old ballplayers might have to worry about getting passed up, you've got the unique option of embracing this new trend and using it to enhance your career. You know about Deadspin, With Leather, The Big Lead, and Kissing Suzy Kolber. Read them. Embrace the blogosphere and, of course, give credit where it's due.
Or strikeout (not) looking.
Sincerely,
Adam
Photo by Kevin Donahue via Flickr.