What am I? Am I a journalist, a blogger…or just a guy sitting in his underwear? Jibblescribbits raised that question yesterday. It’s not a new issue, nor is it an easy one to solve.
I’m rather new to the blogging scene. Two years ago, I started writing the occasional article for a now-defunct sports blog. At the time, I didn’t have the foggiest idea what a blog was; all the talk about pings and trackbacks and the like was completely foreign to me (still is, to an extent). Even though I didn’t know what I was doing, I enjoyed it enough to start my own blog last summer. At the time, I thought I would be doing funny generic commentary - you know, Pronger jokes - and that would be about it. Then I started tracking Avalanche stats and adding recaps (that became more and more detailed as the season went on) and now, I guess, I’m “officially” an Avalanche blogger. I’ve even started reading other blogs - something I almost never did up until a couple of months ago. Today, DSL, J&HL and jibblecribbits are part of my daily reading.
Are we journalists? No, I don’t think so. I do take what I do seriously…even if the subject matter is often presented with tongue firmly in cheek. Heck, sometimes I even use spellcheck. And, I put a lot of hard work into it. But, I’m not there in the locker rooms, interviewing players, working my phone for leads, meeting daily deadlines or following standards set by my employer. I write about what I want, when I want. If I want to get crazy and go off on a rant, I don’t have to worry about the Denver Post taking down my article. I’m reasonably certain the Denver Post doesn’t even know I exist.
Bloggers do have a place, though. I think they provide a tremendous service to the teams they cover. The team’s official message board and the Hockey’s Future board are both hopping with fans looking to discuss the team on a daily basis - 24/7, 365 days a year. While I don’t want (or expect) a press credential, it sure would be nice for the Avalanche to recognize some of the better Colorado fan sites. At least they let a blogger link to their site there - something HF boards don’t allow us “non-credentialed” bloggers to do. In my opinion, they are missing the boat. Bloggers - even those who might be critical of the team - only help increase the fanbase for clubs. Okay, I’m sure my meager site traffic does little to increase the fanbase, but that’s kind of my point. Help us help you, Avalanche. Hell, give us some recognition and I might just start wearing pants.
I am not sure I want a link on the Avs site. Have you visited their message boards? I don’t want some of those people visiting and posting on my blog. I am reminded of Plato “Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something.” Too many fools on the Avs main boards, which is why i stopped going there.
But you are right, the team could do a lot to cultivate this culture more, and having links to Avs blogs is a way for people to stay connected and talking about the team. It would be a symbiotic relationship in my opinion.
there are certainly some contradictions to darwin’s evolutionary theory over there. maybe you’re right - I should enjoy the quiet.
There was an excellent tirade written by Bill Simmons Here
Here is part of his tirade:
On the other hand, my opinion doesn’t really matter. As Bob Ryan mentioned on local Boston TV a few months ago, I’m just some yahoo who lives 3,000 miles away and can’t possibly understand what’s happening with this team. I haven’t ventured into the clubhouse. I’m not sitting at a press table typing deadline game stories and ignoring the game that’s happening right in front of me. I haven’t had the distinct pleasure of spending time with Doc after a tough loss and being wowed by his winning charm and humor. I haven’t been spun the same BS excuses that everyone else back home has been spun, and my lips aren’t covered with green Kool-Aid stains.
Should it matter if Doc happens to be a good person and a swell dinner companion? Sure, if he’s a friend or family member. But what if he’s coaching your favorite team and you don’t know him from a hole in the wall? What then? Should it bother you that the team won half as many games as it did two seasons ago? Or that we haven’t been able to defend a high screen since Eric Williams was still alive? Or that we’re consistently sloppy on both ends of the court? Or that opponents routinely shoot 50 percent or better no matter who’s out there?
Basically he makes the point that beat writers and media tend to be way too friendly and non-confrontational with the athletes they cover. Hell, Irv and Joe have press passes and get interviews with Brad May and it’s a love fest on the radio. Never mind that neither of them know a lick about hockey but they kiss so much ass that the interviews are worthless.
What can Kizla write in commentary that a blogger can’t? Sure, he might have some special insight from the lockeroom but it’s common knowledge that anything sacred in the lockeroom can’t be written about. Read Dater’s Blood on the Ice and you’ll see a good example of what kind of information he had to keep quiet or he would be black balled. The other thing with beat writers is that they are a relic of past technologies. I don’t need the newspaper the next day to read what happened. I already know what happened instantly because of the web, ESPN etc… The future of sports reporting is in the punditry of what happened. Blogs succeed because fans want fresh ideas, unbiased criticism and news that reporters are shy to report. You couldn’t sniff a report about rookies at an Avalanche training camp if it weren’t for the HF faithful that go to the rink and take pictures, write commentary and fill people in. It’s a black hole of wanted knowledge and blogs are naturally filling the gap.
Blogs are here to stay and will only become more popular, not less. The increased complaints from main stream media only serves as a signal that they are succeeding.
I’m just in it for the chicks.
I have heard that chicks dig the long blog
Hey, I love that people get involved with blogs and are writing. I’ll take that over you guys watching American Idol or playing video games all night or something. I love the fact that blogs are, in a way, the purest form of democracy we can have. It used to be that you just had me to read about the Avs. Now, you’ve got a lot of dedicated people writing their most serious thoughts about them, and other things.
That’s a good thing, and I don’t mind them at all.
I’ve got my own blog now, and I plan on it being the best one possible when it comes to Avs coverage, etc. I don’t take offense to bloggers “competing” against me, but now the flip side is starting to happen: newspaper beat writers like myself are starting their own blogs. I’ll tell people what Joe Sakic was like in the locker room that day, or tell stories about players from the past, inside stories (nothing that would get me in trouble though, lol).
If people find mine more interesting and I get the most “clicks”, then yay for me. If somebody else gets more and people like them more, then I’ll be the first to tip my cap to them.
But I’m a tough competitor, and we newspaper guys are fighting for our rice bowls now, a lot harder than we used to anyway.
It’s a brave new world, and I won’t be a Luddite.
I’m in it so I have an excuse to find pictures of chicks to link to
Jibblewife: “Why are you looking at a picture of Elisha Cuthbert nearly nude”
Jibble: “No baby you see… uhhh…it’s for my blog. I’m talking about Shawn Avery and that’s his girl. It’s totally legitimate”
Whatever you guys are, I love reading your blogs. While I don’t consider myself a contradiction to darwin’s theory, I do frequent the Avs message board. I’ll take whatever I can get as far as the Avs go. Good job, all of you, and keep it up!
AD,
I think that’s the right attitude and it’s the way beat writers like yourself can not only stay relevant but get ahead of the curve. Perhaps one day you newspapers will even print blogs the next day in a pseudo-sports opinion page. I know Sam Adams almost does a hybrid of this in the RMN. Good luck with the blog. I know you walk a fine line with the lockeroom and what you can write. At the same time, I think you’ve earned your stripes in there and have the gravitas to not blow sunshine all over the paper. With Altitude broadcasts there’s a bigger void than ever for critical commentary when it’s warranted.
P.S. Loved the book. A must read for the die hard Avalanche fan.
ITCS is one of the websites I visit every morning during the weekdays. I often see something in a game or hear something on the radio that is significant, yet doesn’t receive comment from the typical media types. I know I can visit this blog or others to hear all about it.
I too visit the Avs boards, but I keep a safe distance. I just visit to know what the latest buzz is, but not put too much value on the details of the conversation.
thanks Eaglecop - that sort of positive feedback is why I enjoy doing this so much
It’s not that everyone on the Avs boards are mind-dead, but those opinions seem to stand out a lot more than anything intelligent.
And DD your analysis is a must-read after the games. You seem to have a pretty keen hockey eye and always pick up subtle things that I miss watching the game.
I especially liked the catch when the Avs played “Hold On” by Wilson Philips during a game or two - what the heck is that?!
I especially liked the catch when the Avs played “Hold On” by Wilson Philips during a game or two - what the heck is that?!
Yeah, that killed me too. I love the commentary on Arnason as well, that always floors me. It’s a great way to recap a game.
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