Halberstam is one of my heroes and one of the greatest writers ever, but he had no idea how to write on the Internet
Yeah, I'm going to call bullshit on this. Halberstam, Wiley, and Schaap didn't need to know how to write for the internet, because they were damn good writers who were given room to tell damn good stories. Page2 was, in the beginning, a very, very intelligent daily read, which made it drastically different than almost any other sports related environment on the web, and Simmons was a nice component of this larger, intelligent daily read. Almost glorified cultural comedy relief.
The desire to "drive traffic" gradually turned Page2 into the dumbed down version of it's origins, because it's now filled with people who "know how to write on the internet" to drive traffic. Simmons is now a walking parody of himself and the other three gentlemen listed above are sadly no longer with us, and Page2 is essentially worthless because of it.
Yeah, I'm going to call bullshit on this. Halberstam, Wiley, and Schaap didn't need to know how to write for the internet, because they were damn good writers who were given room to tell damn good stories. Page2 was, in the beginning, a very, very intelligent daily read, which made it drastically different than almost any other sports related environment on the web, and Simmons was a nice component of this larger, intelligent daily read. Almost glorified cultural comedy relief.
The desire to "drive traffic" gradually turned Page2 into the dumbed down version of it's origins, because it's now filled with people who "know how to write on the internet" to drive traffic. Simmons is now a walking parody of himself and the other three gentlemen listed above are sadly no longer with us, and Page2 is essentially worthless because of it.
I'm going to guess you're new here?
What food product are you most upset about being discontinued?
I am old enough to remember M&M Royals. The M&M mint formula now found at Christmas time (and only at Christmas time, bastards) was used in Royals. I can't be the only one that remembers these, can I?
On another note, Little Ceasars Pizza is horrible, but they used to have a BBQ Chicken Pizza with a sauce that was fantastic. They used it at their American Pizza Cafe locations (late 90s) then later offered it through the franchises. My understanding is it's gone now as well.
Finally, damn Ruby Tuesday's for taking Bison off the menu.
/eating waaaay too much food
I am old enough to remember M&M Royals. The M&M mint formula now found at Christmas time (and only at Christmas time, bastards) was used in Royals. I can't be the only one that remembers these, can I?
On another note, Little Ceasars Pizza is horrible, but they used to have a BBQ Chicken Pizza with a sauce that was fantastic. They used it at their American Pizza Cafe locations (late 90s) then later offered it through the franchises. My understanding is it's gone now as well.
Finally, damn Ruby Tuesday's for taking Bison off the menu.
/eating waaaay too much food
This is nice and all, Hamilton, but Macho Man's been dead since Friday and we await your, uh, I mean The Masked Man's, obit with bated breath.
It didn't stop at black men. Trust me.
/still recovering
//needs a cigarette
/still recovering
//needs a cigarette
I'm considering offering to trade my case of IBS for his case of Diverticulosis.
Upon reflection, this is a pretty shitty deal for both of us.
Upon reflection, this is a pretty shitty deal for both of us.
Cockblocked in Thailand? Call me. I can throw you a few pointers.
Sincerely,
Gary Glitter
Sincerely,
Gary Glitter
There's an increasing number of people who just live to be a highly offensive term that would probably get me banned but starts out with the word house and ends with a racial epithet. That way, they feel rich and entitled by proxy.
Here's how the conversation between players/owners played out pre-strike:
Owners: Yeah, we're going to need to negotiate a new CBA, because we're making less money then we used to, the economy is worse, and the financial situation isn't tenable.
Players: OK, you're making more television money than ever. But we see your point on the economy. How about you open your books so we can work out more reasonable parameters for a new deal like the NBA does.
Owners: No, why don't you take our word for it that we're making less money than we used to and agree to this deal we're force feeding you.
No employee would agree to work under those conditions, nor should the players. And the behavior of some owners, Jerry Richardson in particular, just adds insult to injury. Provided there is a season, and there will be, I think, my fondest wish is that the Colts go in there and hang 60 on the Panthers.
Here's how the conversation between players/owners played out pre-strike:
Owners: Yeah, we're going to need to negotiate a new CBA, because we're making less money then we used to, the economy is worse, and the financial situation isn't tenable.
Players: OK, you're making more television money than ever. But we see your point on the economy. How about you open your books so we can work out more reasonable parameters for a new deal like the NBA does.
Owners: No, why don't you take our word for it that we're making less money than we used to and agree to this deal we're force feeding you.
No employee would agree to work under those conditions, nor should the players. And the behavior of some owners, Jerry Richardson in particular, just adds insult to injury. Provided there is a season, and there will be, I think, my fondest wish is that the Colts go in there and hang 60 on the Panthers.
I hope, someday, you find a woman that likes you for you, and not because you look like Leonardo DiCaprio.
Comment deleted for magically materializing in the wrong article.
/impressed with nibbles on this one
/impressed with nibbles on this one
To which Gawker site should I submit my "Why I Hate Having All This Money" article?
No contest.
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
You're going to pass up that "Move aside, and let the man go through" line as you walk to the plate or come in from the bullpen?
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
You're going to pass up that "Move aside, and let the man go through" line as you walk to the plate or come in from the bullpen?
Gus Johnson. Mike Mayock. NFL Thursday Night Football. Make it happen. You will not be disappointed, trust me.
Yeah, I see where you're coming from, but who wants to be a Carolina Panthers fan?
Move the Clippers to Anaheim. Let the Maloofs move the Kings to Vegas. Not rocket science. Solves two problems.
Sounds like the plot to 'The Ratings Game 2'.
/only person on earth that saw the original
/only person on earth that saw the original
That's why there are minor leagues. Same sport. Less money. Usually a better fan experience.
As someone who takes in-laws and parents to Indians games when they're in town, I am, because it means people will be stupid enough to buy tickets for when they tank and bottom out later in the year.
Which means I pickup tickets on the secondary market below cost, so my relatives pay less to go to games and root against a team that stinks.
/water finds its level eventually.
Which means I pickup tickets on the secondary market below cost, so my relatives pay less to go to games and root against a team that stinks.
/water finds its level eventually.
And a segment of fans and writers who are in love with some idealized version of hockey that never existed..... where fans who show up to games cheer really loudly, when they show up at all.
Except that that place actually existed. It was called 1978.
News flash. Coyote games on local television regularly garner fewer viewers than infomercials, the club has no owner and the NHL has had to float it's own money just to keep the franchise going while the city of Glendale had to cover the losses this year.
Barring Bettman pulling yet another rabbit out of his ass, and as much as I hate the guy he's done it more than once, that team is headed back to Winnipeg where it has a new arena and fan support waiting for it. Will it help the league's profile among the American-centric intellegencia? No. Does that matter at this point? Not really.
The economy is contracting before your very eyes, the US dollar is no longer worth the linen it's printed on, and second tier sports in given markets are going to have a hard time staying afloat as corporate consolidation accelerates and our pool of individual disposable income continues to shrink. Half the NBA has financial problems, the NHL in the south is a failure, (how's that $300 million sale of the Stars coming? Any offers yet?) MLB attendance is down across the board and NASCAR is a rapidly dying television property.
So you can get as uppity as you want to about Winnipeg (which, in fairness, is a dump), but the new economic reality of the NHL is that Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec City and, eventually, the York/Peel region of Toronto are going to take the place of Florida, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Columbus (if their ownership situation doesn't get resolved). And I'm sure it chaps your ass that the "romanticists" who tried to tell you that the NHL wouldn't work in the south were largely right after all.
I realize you regularly draw the short straw for contrarian pieces, Barry, but if the best you have is "USA yay! Winnipeg boo!" you should really think about taking a pass next time.
Except that that place actually existed. It was called 1978.
News flash. Coyote games on local television regularly garner fewer viewers than infomercials, the club has no owner and the NHL has had to float it's own money just to keep the franchise going while the city of Glendale had to cover the losses this year.
Barring Bettman pulling yet another rabbit out of his ass, and as much as I hate the guy he's done it more than once, that team is headed back to Winnipeg where it has a new arena and fan support waiting for it. Will it help the league's profile among the American-centric intellegencia? No. Does that matter at this point? Not really.
The economy is contracting before your very eyes, the US dollar is no longer worth the linen it's printed on, and second tier sports in given markets are going to have a hard time staying afloat as corporate consolidation accelerates and our pool of individual disposable income continues to shrink. Half the NBA has financial problems, the NHL in the south is a failure, (how's that $300 million sale of the Stars coming? Any offers yet?) MLB attendance is down across the board and NASCAR is a rapidly dying television property.
So you can get as uppity as you want to about Winnipeg (which, in fairness, is a dump), but the new economic reality of the NHL is that Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec City and, eventually, the York/Peel region of Toronto are going to take the place of Florida, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Columbus (if their ownership situation doesn't get resolved). And I'm sure it chaps your ass that the "romanticists" who tried to tell you that the NHL wouldn't work in the south were largely right after all.
I realize you regularly draw the short straw for contrarian pieces, Barry, but if the best you have is "USA yay! Winnipeg boo!" you should really think about taking a pass next time.
I detest Southwest with every fiber of my being, and I'm pissed that they bought out my preferred airline, AirTran.
