Deadspin
All right, as you might have heard, we'll be appearing live on Costas Now tonight on HBO, at 10 p.m. ET. Theoretically, this will be a roundtable discussion between ourselves, Costas, the outstanding writer (if not necessariliy sabermetrically inclined) Buzz Bissinger and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards. But we have a sneaking suspicion that we are going to be there as The Spokesperson For The Internet.
This is fine, of course. That time we knocked our head on the toilet back in 1993 lead us to come up with the concept of the flux capacitor, which inspired our invention of the Interwebs; so, you know, we're not just whistlin' Dixie here. We do know that Costas has mixed feelings (at best) about the series of tubes, Braylon Edwards is an outstanding wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns and Buzz ... well, Buzz has some thoughts about blogs.
Blogs especially, Bissinger says, "disgrace the written word. No one sweats over a sentence anymore, no one really cares if a sentence has good grammar or bad grammar. No one really cares if it has the right or wrong word. Blogs are all about opinion, all about getting in your face, and the fact that people love them says they're really not interested in facts, not interested in beautiful writing; they're just interested in having our own opinions certified.
"With the Internet, there's too much information out there, and we've become a very mindless country. I don't know how else to say it: We really revel in ignorance and disinformation."
So, yeah: This'll be fun. (For the record, we own — and love — every one of Bissinger's books and agree that David Eckstein is scrappy.)
We have no idea how this is gonna go down, but we will do our best to talk slow, make eye contact and try really hard not to embarrass everybody. Godspeed.
Comments
They're broadcasting from your mom's basement?
From my experience, bloggers sweat a lot, actually.
I saw the ad for this the other night and heard your line about how only people over 50 wait for the newspaper to find out the score and I was all "oh snap!"
I am excited to see Costas wrestle Mose Schrute.
What, no love for Mose Schrute?
@Secret Identity:
Or would be, if we got HBO in Canada.
So if Costas Now covers the NBA is that where if it's happening in sports, it's happening here happens?
So, is it 10 or 11 pm?
Anywhere for us non-HBO subscribers to catch this? Or will it be live-blogged? (Heh.)
Don't bring up Josh Hancock. It makes you wussy.
"With the Internet, there's too much information out there, and we've become a very mindless country. I don't know how else to say it: We really revel in ignorance and disinformation."
So the ample amount of information has caused us to become mindless? Sorry Bissinger, you'll have to try a little better than that.
Everybody knows the flux capacitor was invented on November 5th, 1955. Duuuuh.
I forgot this was on. Now I will have something to watch after turning down tickets to tonight's Mets-Pirates game. I was going to spend my entire evening playing GTA IV, but I suppose I can make an exception for our Fearless Leader.
Are we sure Buzz isn't talking about Poochie and not blogs?
Replace "blogs" in that quote with "tWWL" and it provides the exact reason why I read blogs.
How does appearing on Costas Now affect your connectedness index?
Be a dick. Because anyone afraid of anything new is by definition a dick as well.
try really hard not to embarrass everybody
Who is "everybody?" Does he mean us ?
@ClueHeywood: A-fucking-men.
Will, you must get a picture of the booster seat Costas uses. Go Internet.
Represent ! Bissinger does have a point about the internets generally screwing up the sentence, grammar, and good diction. I did however notice upon arrival in this abyss known as Deadspin that the sentence DOES matter. I see people getting roasted daily for using crappy grammar. I'd say the majority of commenters here do give a shit. Aside from that, Bissinger is largely an asshole. No, I'm not a faceless chickenshit interwebs poster. I'd be happy to tell him to his face
For us cretins without HBO, will somebody here YouTube this? We should be able to go an hour or two before that corporate demon known as Time Warner takes it down...
I expect dick jokes, don't turn into a pussy like Simmons
/picture of huge gaping pussy
@Greek McPapadopoulos: Indeed.
No one sweats over a sentence anymore, no one really cares if a sentence has good grammar or bad grammar. No one really cares if it has the right or wrong word ... No one really cares if advertising his huge media appearance contradicts itself as to when it airs ...
/Shamelessly amended.
@Peter Cavan: Wait, you turned down tickets for a Pirates game? Wow...just wow. I can't even get my mind around that.
/shits pants
@AkAggie: +1
Make sure there are no stains on your Coors Light T-Shirt.
There are white people named Tyrone?
@Fawn Liebowitz: I am hoping someone blogs it
But - in seriousness, Will - give 'em hell.
Aww crap. I was supposed to go. Stupid work.
@Fawn Liebowitz: Ditto on the request. Some of us might only have the ol' rabbit ears to work with.
I have a feeling an Ankiel reference will be "squeezed" in at any opportunity
I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.
/Dr. Rumack
Off-topic: Anyone have a WordPress blog and know how to embed ESPN Video?
Go get 'em, Will.
Dear Buzz,
What?
Sincerely,
Coherency.
Will, please please, please remember, Braylon did no real harm to your Illini (in three games he had 10 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown, all Michigan wins).
So I ask, please be nice.
(Wait, you're both from the Midwest. This will be fine.)
Segment Five: A Discussion on Race. Video interviews: Washington Post columnist and "PTI" host Michael Wilbon, former NFL star Kellen Winslow, Sr., and espn.com editor-in-chief Rob King. Live panel: former NFL star and current ESPN commentator Cris Carter and Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock.
...............................wow.
Will you will be appearing in your pajamas and having your mom call in right?
Speak only in iambic pentameter. Let's see who disgraces the English language then...
@CubsDynasty: @Carlton_Whitfield: We need Will live--I'm still pissed I missed the Boston Book Signing and am dying to hearhimtalklikeeveryoneisalwayssayingthathedoesespeciallywiththeslowtalkingsomewhatpompousBobCostas
I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.
/Dr. Rumack
(Seriously, give 'em hell, Will)
Ah, there is no brighter day for those of us from Columbia than the day one of our most embarrassing video moments gets embedded on the interwebs.
References Will should try to shoehorn into his appearance:
1) You're with me, leather.
2) F**k Lion
3) Mamula
4) Throwgasm and/or Sex Cannon
5) Oh snap, now you're glue!
6) Erin Andrews
Am I forgetting anything?
talkfasttalkfasttalkfastertalkraellyreallyreallyreallyfastquickthoughtsfastwords
@Lady Andrea: Will respects us enough to allow us to embarrass ourselves.
I will pay $10 to whoever utters the following phrase to Costas: "You're excited? Feel these nipples!"
What is the costasnow? I thought snow was free.
@Suss--: groan. +1.
@7-8 Deville: It's at Shea, not PNC Park. And it's going to be freezing cold out there tonight. I'm a little conflicted about saying no to the game, but I figured it was a no-win scenario. Either I'd see the Pirates lose and go home disappointed, or I'd see them win and have to watch my back on the way home.
If Costas tries anything funny, just bring up Vince McMahon. He's scared shitless of him!
@Suss--: boooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
/Mets fans
If all else fails just remember it's HBO and you're allowed to drop eff bombs. I think Bill Maher does this.
To freak out Bissinger even more, you should wear a neon jump suit and when he starts speaking, start typing into the air, because you use an invisible, weightless supercomputer.
And you should probably attach a lightsaber to your belt.
No Bill Conlin? Well, we don't have to worry about Will being called a 'pamphleteer'. @Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado: Definetly mention Fuck Lion(it's HBO wooo boobies).
"With the Internet, there's too much information out there, and we've become a very mindless country. I don't know how else to say it: We really revel in ignorance and disinformation"
We must resort to serfdom and having our Bibles read to us.
@Stev D: I hope he brings along the Ankiel figurine.
@Suss--: Bolivian or Colombian?
@How do you spell retard?: Good point. No need to pull any punches then.
If you're The Spokesperson for The Internet, 90% of what you say should be porn or porn-related.
I feel like we're missing someone.
@Stev D: And when it's his turn to speak, Will should utter "you like blogs, bloggers are awesome" to Bissinger while making the Jedi mind trick motion with his hand.