Bob Costas, apparently, is not a fan of the whole new media revolution. He makes plenty of generalizations about the online sportswriting in this discussion with the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson (ostensibly regarding Mark Cuban's locker room ban of bloggers), so we'll just quote a few of the "But it's one thing if somebody just sets up a blog from their mother's basement in Albuquerque and they are who they are, and they're a pathetic get-a-life loser, but now that pathetic get-a-life loser can piggyback onto someone who actually has some level of professional accountability and they can be comment No. 17 on Dan Le Batard's column or Bernie Miklasz' column in St. Louis. That, in most cases, grants a forum to somebody who has no particular insight or responsibility. Most of it is a combination of ignorance or invective." ...Costas usually doesn't seem like such a crusty old curmudgeon so clueless to the ways of the world. And honestly, if you cannot discern between 'shocker6969' commenting on an ESPN message board from the myriad talented bloggers and online columnists out there, you should stick to your dead trees and boob tubes, where "authorities" can funnel acceptable content straight into your craw.
"It's just a high-tech place for idiots to do what they used to do on bar stools or in school yards, if they were school yard bullies, or on men's room walls in gas stations. That doesn't mean that anyone with half a brain should respect it."
The rest of us, who seek out the best in web writing? We were dissatisfied with the old media, which often "grants a forum to somebody who has no particular insight or responsibility" and is often "a combination of ignorance or invective." And thanks to the magic of technology and that crazy American thing called "freedom of ideas," we don't need your approval.
Furthermore, to fact-check Costas a bit: There are apparently no sports blogs based in Albuquerque.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I actually thought highly of Costas. This article significantly changes things. It's funny how the professional media is eating up this Cuban thing. It seems like they're taking whatever they can get to boost their dwindling purpose in the sports world.
I read only one writer belonging to a major network, and even he's lost his edge since signing on. Bloggers should strike back at the media....no links, no commentary, no acknowledgment whatsoever. And soon they'll find out how dependent they are on blogs. Otherwise, media is just the annoying fly on the locker room wall.
Posted at 1:11PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Ryne Nelson
2. "New media revolution"
No offense, but you write about sports...on a computer. That's not exactly revolutionary. It's a nice way to waste some time, and that's about it.
Posted at 1:14PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Chris
3. This is the idiot who thinks that the Wild Card isn't good for baseball, despite the fact that it's probably the single factor that has lead to many cities retaining interest in their team until the end of the season, raising ticket sales to the highest level ever. I wouldn't put too much weight into what this comically self-important clown says.
Posted at 2:02PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Scott M
4. @ Chris: Speaking as a newspaper writer, it's a revolution...
Nice linkage on the Costas quote, Ziller. What, no Lupica?
Posted at 2:03PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Greg Wyshynski
5. Does Lupica still cover sports? I thought he'd become the next J.K. Rowling or something.
Posted at 2:04PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Tom
6. Chris, no offense, but I guess you don't understand new media vs. old media. The nominalization of the old-school gatekeepers is the revolution, and he's not just talking about sports blogs: It's Drudgereport, it's culture and media blogs; it's user-generated content and news soures delivering more detailed, nuanced information instead of content that appeals to the lowest common denominator.
Posted at 2:09PM on Mar 14th 2008 by August West
7. However this burqueno reads plenty of sports blogs as they are far more interesting and insightful than the derivative drivel in the 'main stream press'
Posted at 2:10PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Josh
8. Hey BOB... remember 1988? "The worst team ever on paper to go into the world series" oh yea you know what you are talking about! NOT
Posted at 2:23PM on Mar 14th 2008 by chuck
9. @ Augusta West
"...it's user-generated content and news soures delivering more detailed, nuanced information instead of content that appeals to the lowest common denominator."
Right, because we never see any lowest common denominator type blogs on AOL fanhouse. It's all brilliant insightful commentary...(/sarcasm off)
The story "Saving Damon Jones' Mohawk" was especially revolutionary, one which no "old school newspaper" would have the balls to touch, right?
Posted at 2:31PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Chris
10. Costas doesn't like the new media because Mickey Mantle doesn't like the new media.
And how does Costas know the Mick doesn't like the new media? Because he talks to the Mick every night, in his Yankee jammies with the booty feet and the hole in the back so he can go poopy.
And who's in his bunk bed, next to him? Why little Billy Crystal who paid $600,000 for an old Mickey Mantle glove, and also has a hole in his back so he can go poppy, too.
Posted at 2:43PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Richard Weissfeld
11. @ Chrisa:
You don't have to like the content to acknowledge that the method of delivery is new and that it's growing in popularity... plus blogs have proven to be the only ones willing to consistently call-out MSM outlets on their bull-sh*t and errors.
Nobody's saying it's overthrowing MSM, but it's definatley changing the age-old dynamics.
Posted at 3:09PM on Mar 14th 2008 by August West
12. sorry but he is right, you guys, 90% of the time, are idiots. You write without consequences and therefore your stupidity tends to shine thru.
Posted at 4:21PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Richard Sanders
13. what are anonymous posters piggybacking off of again?
Posted at 4:55PM on Mar 14th 2008 by ยง
14. Chris
They don't write about sports. They write about what someone else has written about sports. they have to have an original thought which requires some intellect.
Ziller
When you said, "from the myriad talented bloggers and online columnists out there," what the hell were you trying to say? The standard of good writing has diminished greatly since you pseudo nerds have come out of the closet and attacked the sensibilites of the reading public. It is mind numbing to read some of the crapola you "myriad talented bloggers" regurgitate. I mean you come off like you guys are breaking ground on new boundries in reporting and writing when all you're doing is mimicking and doing it badly.
"The rest of us, who seek out the best in web writing? We were dissatisfied with the old media"
Only thing missing was a Hi Ho Silver!!!
Posted at 7:11PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Phil G
15. Most of the "professional media" writes crap anyways. These guys think that because they get to watch games for free, eat and drink for free in the press lounge they somehow have a greater understanding of the game they are reporting on. Make no mistake, there are some excellant journalists who write thought provoking material but if you really want to learn about and understand the game the print media is way down the list of subject resources. Mr. Costas would do well to realize he's not taken as seriously as he thinks.
Posted at 7:23PM on Mar 14th 2008 by Rick Vogt
16. Blogs are fun, but let's be serious folks!
There are far too many bloggers who make a name for themselves by chasing celebrities around and digging in their personal lives. At least the main stream media had some type of journalistic responsibility (although broken at times).
But there are countless blogs who have allowed themselves, or even attempted to become the source of widespread falsities.
Not to mention the fact that many fans of blogs don't realize (or chose to ignore) the fact that these blogs are unchecked for facts, and are simply agenda-filled opinions.
That's like skipping the entire news section to read the editorials only for a news source. And most Americans have become too intellectually lazy to read both.
So rather than be completely dismissive of Costas, which seems to be the type of mindset and atmosphere that blogs have helped foster, I can say that I somewhat disagree with Costas painting a broad brush over all blog-sites. I also disagree with most of the comments which suggest that "main-stream" media is old, archaic, and too afraid to cover the topics that most people want to read about.
I think the information age itself has fueled all media outlets, whether traditional or technological, to focus on the lowest common denominator. Every news outlet and, even moreso, blogsites are too focused on (1) Daily activities of Hollywood stars, (2) Personal lives of politicians, (3) Athletes who get so much as a speeding ticket, (4) Anything that may be remotely suggestive of racial discourse and (5) The media itself.
We as Americans have begun to lose interest in the issues at hand, and then factor in idiots who like to have their opinions "empowered" and you do have the ingredients of an intellectual cesspool.
Posted at 2:31AM on Mar 15th 2008 by Bitch Please!
17. Bob Costas is right. Most bloggers have little knowledge of the subject matter and can't seem to write a simple note. Just read some of the replies here and on other sites. However, some are informative and provide knowledge previously unknown to us.
Posted at 12:05AM on Mar 16th 2008 by Melvilletiger
18. This just in! Costas also doesn't like tall people.
Posted at 4:04PM on Mar 17th 2008 by MC Welk
19. Since I am adding a reader comment (oh, hey... don't newspapers and magazines have a letters to the editor section?), Bob Costas has officially just called me an idiot.
Mr. Costas, I will frankly not sit here and allow myself to be insulted by the likes of you.
Posted at 10:25PM on May 16th 2008 by RetepAdam