They Write Letters
Ever since I noted how the media had turned on the Chicago White Sox, I wondered how long it would take for White Sox Fan to start whining the letters to the editor columns.
Not long, as it turns out. From Saturday’s Chicago Tribune, a Mike Barnard of beautiful Lisle IL writes:
I am so tired of hearing sportswriters and talking heads around Chicago say the White Sox “choked.” If the Chicago newspapers and sports stations weren’t so slanted toward the “lovable loser” Cubs, they would see the Sox had a pretty good year. They were defending World Series champs and they contended again, which is more than can be said for Tribune Co.’s team.
I believe Jerry Reinsdorf, Ken Williams, and Ozzie Guillen have the desire to bring more World Series championships to Chicago. Do the Cubs and their management have that desire? Doubtful. Cubs management is all about selling Wrigley Field, “the experience.”
Before any Cub apologist talks about the White Sox choking, look at the 2005 World Series trophy and tell me when was the last time the Cubs owned one. When the Cubs actually make a true attempt to win, then and only then can their fans start taking shots at the White Sox.
Well played, sir! Mr. Barnard rehashes the same old scripts White Sox fan has been sending to the editor for years (with a brief hiatus from October 2004 through last week).
Like that favorite chestnut of the “slanted” media. I’m willing to believe the media has a certain slant…but when the media can’t be bothered to get basic facts of one team correct, or feels the need to openly ridicule that team’s players, or offers crap like this as journalism…well, it’s difficult to say that the slant is in that particular team’s favor.
If Mr. Barnard is truly the savvy media critic his letter implies he is, he should understand a simple reality of journamalism that I’ve noted on this blog: Journamalists like winners because winners are fun to write about how great they are. But they like losers (or heavily favored teams who don’t win) just as much, because it’s fun to write about how much those guys stink. Ask A-Rod if you don’t believe me.
And for a letter that is allegedly an impassioned defense of his heroes, Mr. Barnard spends an inordinate time talking about the Cubs. I count five slams against the Cubs in those one hundred fifty-six words. Mr. Barnard is bent that some people are saying mean things about his heroes – how exactly does criticizing the Cubs’ marketing strategy strengthen his case that the White Sox didn’t “choke?”
If I said that the Cubs didn’t really have a bad season because, boy, those Royals were worse, I’d be laughed off the blogosphere. But that’s the argument Mr. Barnard is using here – the White Sox had a better year than the Cubs this year and last, therefore the White Sox did not “choke.” It’s hard to argue with logic like that.
One more thing: don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Mr. Barnard. I’ll take shots at anyone I please. Perhaps I’ll stop taking shots at you if you make a true attempt to develop a coherent argument…
Not long, as it turns out. From Saturday’s Chicago Tribune, a Mike Barnard of beautiful Lisle IL writes:
I am so tired of hearing sportswriters and talking heads around Chicago say the White Sox “choked.” If the Chicago newspapers and sports stations weren’t so slanted toward the “lovable loser” Cubs, they would see the Sox had a pretty good year. They were defending World Series champs and they contended again, which is more than can be said for Tribune Co.’s team.
I believe Jerry Reinsdorf, Ken Williams, and Ozzie Guillen have the desire to bring more World Series championships to Chicago. Do the Cubs and their management have that desire? Doubtful. Cubs management is all about selling Wrigley Field, “the experience.”
Before any Cub apologist talks about the White Sox choking, look at the 2005 World Series trophy and tell me when was the last time the Cubs owned one. When the Cubs actually make a true attempt to win, then and only then can their fans start taking shots at the White Sox.
Well played, sir! Mr. Barnard rehashes the same old scripts White Sox fan has been sending to the editor for years (with a brief hiatus from October 2004 through last week).
Like that favorite chestnut of the “slanted” media. I’m willing to believe the media has a certain slant…but when the media can’t be bothered to get basic facts of one team correct, or feels the need to openly ridicule that team’s players, or offers crap like this as journalism…well, it’s difficult to say that the slant is in that particular team’s favor.
If Mr. Barnard is truly the savvy media critic his letter implies he is, he should understand a simple reality of journamalism that I’ve noted on this blog: Journamalists like winners because winners are fun to write about how great they are. But they like losers (or heavily favored teams who don’t win) just as much, because it’s fun to write about how much those guys stink. Ask A-Rod if you don’t believe me.
And for a letter that is allegedly an impassioned defense of his heroes, Mr. Barnard spends an inordinate time talking about the Cubs. I count five slams against the Cubs in those one hundred fifty-six words. Mr. Barnard is bent that some people are saying mean things about his heroes – how exactly does criticizing the Cubs’ marketing strategy strengthen his case that the White Sox didn’t “choke?”
If I said that the Cubs didn’t really have a bad season because, boy, those Royals were worse, I’d be laughed off the blogosphere. But that’s the argument Mr. Barnard is using here – the White Sox had a better year than the Cubs this year and last, therefore the White Sox did not “choke.” It’s hard to argue with logic like that.
One more thing: don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Mr. Barnard. I’ll take shots at anyone I please. Perhaps I’ll stop taking shots at you if you make a true attempt to develop a coherent argument…
posted by Bob at
10:16 PM
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