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Examples in Bad Sportswriting: The Illustrious Dan Barnes
Jonathan Willis
February 03 2009 03:12PM
Most of the blogs that cover the Oilers have definite opinions on the various mainstream journalists who cover the team. Terry Jones is invariably disliked, while someone like Robin Brownlee, despite the amount of flack he's taken since signing up to write at OilersNation is regarded with respect. Dan Barnes is over at the Brownlee end of the spectrum.
That's probably why his latest offering bothers me so much. Let's go through it line by line, Fire Joe Morgan-style.
Liam Reddox doesn't have to please you or me, the leather- lungs in the nosebleeds, the corporate suits in the golds, the talking heads on TV and radio, faceless, pajama-clad bloggers or know-it-all message board posters.
Liam Reddox: Not a pleaser. Not worth the risk. Anyways, if you were wondering how Dan Barnes viewed the Oilers fanbase, he's conveniently divided it up for us:
- Him
- Loud people who sit up high in the arena
- Rich people who sit low in the arena (note on the last two: we here at OilersNation don't' judge you by your seat location)
- Pundits
- Bloggers – strange creatures without faces who invariably wear their pajamas day and night, and likely live in their mothers' respective basements. They're pictured above (and no, that isn't me – it's from Wikipedia).
- Smug, self-important types who chime in here or at HFBoards
And the 23-year-old sure as heck doesn't have to apologize to anyone for living his unlikely National Hockey League dream, be that as a first-line left winger, fourth-line centre or any point in-between.
So all of you demanding an apology retract your demand forthwith! He's just living his dream, guys, leave him in peace.
So while his very presence in the Edmonton Oilers dressing room seems to offend the loud, predictable and tireless backers of Rob Schremp, and those are people who really need a new idea, Reddox's solid though unspectacular play on the ice continues to impress the only critic whose opinion matters in this case, Craig MacTavish.
Strawman (noun): a weak or sham argument set up to be easily refuted.
Also, since I'm indulging myself in petty criticism, I'm fairly sure that the GM's opinion is somewhat important as well. Moving on.
"He executes. He's a foot soldier and he executes. He makes the right play," said the head coach. "He's bought himself a lot of rope in the way he plays. He's reliable. I can play him in the last minute of games. I'm completely comfortable."
That has been obvious, even painfully so at times. Reddox has played 25 games and contributed five points on three goals and two assists. They are numbers that rightly suggest he's at best a third-liner at this point in his development. So, too, does his 10:30 average ice time.
In point of fact, among NHL forwards with more than 20 games played, Reddox's offensive numbers (1.22 PTS/60 minutes EV icetime) rank 328th overall, and his point total (5) ranks 12th among Oilers forwards. That would suggest he's actually a fourth liner. Ditto for his average ice-time, which ranks 13th among Oilers forwards and 393rd overall among league forwards. Fourth liner.
But that apparent synergy doesn't appease the anti-Reddox movement, whose members erupt with venomous references to Marty Reasoner or Toby Peterson (sic) every time MacTavish does the unthinkable and elevates their whipping boy to the first or second line.
Synergy (noun): the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects. What synergy is Barnes referring to here? Is it the synergy between Reddox being a foot soldier and Reddox executing? Feel free to chime in below with your suggestions.
As for references to Reasoner and Petersen, maybe and yes. Some folks out there remain convinced that Reasoner was a problem, but I think blogs and pundits on the whole have been fairly consistent in evaluating Reasoner as a useful veteran player. Still, at least he's right in suggesting Toby Petersen as a comparable.
It happened again Friday when Dustin Penner was benched against Minnesota and Reddox jumped into his left wing slot on the top line with Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky. He is, in fact, MacTavish's default position player.
I can't argue with that – MacTavish does play him at any position. Still, maybe I'm off track here but does it seem odd that the guy Barnes listed as " at best a third-liner" (actually a 4th-liner) is MacTavish's default fill-in?
Though Reddox claims he hasn't heard any of the vitriol, it wouldn't bother him if he did.
"It's understandable," he said after Saturday's practice.
After all, he's been stung with variations of the criticism forever, and the constant assault contributed to lowered expectations on his draft weekend in Raleigh, N.C.
Liam Reddox: Immune to your disdain.
"I'd had a pretty good year in junior, led my team in scoring. But I was told I was too small and wouldn't be able to play that way at the next level. Edmonton took a chance. They took me in the fourth round."
That was five years ago and he is just now making good on their modest investment. He is doing it wisely too, playing safe, sound hockey that will get him another game, adopting a defence-first approach and attention to detail that doesn't change even when his line assignment does. He won't win the Oilers many games, but he won't lose any.
Since Reddox won't win games, and won't lose games, is he playing for the tie? Because, if that's the case, someone should let him know that the NHL no longer allows games to end in a tie. Again, perhaps I'm on the wrong track here, but does it sound like Reddox is a non-factor, albeit a wise non-factor?
He has also scored three times, against Minnesota, Colorado and Ottawa. Despite the fact he's only five foot 11, 180 pounds, he wins enough physical battles down low to whack home a loose puck now and then. He's had chances for several more, but there are obvious limitations to his game.
Given that Reddox has been on the ice for seven goals for and eleven goals against, it's probably a fair argument that he loses enough physical battles to have a goal scored against now and then. The fact that he's one of the worst Oilers on the team by shots for/shots against would seem to indicate that his opposition has had chances for several more goals as well.
He will kill penalties, see the truly odd shift on the power play, and survive because of his versatility and reliability. While Schremp has to digest harsh and unnecessary comments from MacTavish about his lack of foot speed and Gilbert Brule seems victimized by the fact he's a few games away from needing to clear waivers the next time he comes up, Reddox sits in the catbird seat. If that means he's a target for fans who don't like his game or abhor MacTavish's fondness for grinders, fire away.
It's actually quite sad how rarely the phrase "catbird seat" is used in modern writing. The National Association of Words Not Commonly Used (NAWNCU) commends you for your efforts, Dan. By the way, the best point in this whole article is that Reddox comes out ahead of Brule by virtue of waiver eligibility. It's just a shame that the strongest argument in Barnes' article is an off-hand reference 15 or so paragraphs in.
He knows what and who he is and how hard he had to work in Peterborough, Stockton and Springfield to get here. He's a 23-year-old rookie who has played 26 games, including one last season, and he doesn't think it's fair to suggest he'll never get any better.
I'm sure that Reddox knowing who and what he is will come in handy down the line. I mean, it has for me – just watch:
Who: Liam Reddox
What: 4th line forward
Out of curiosity, has anyone suggested that Reddox has peaked as a player, or does this fall into the category of strawmen again?
Oh yes, he'll get more time. Because MacTavish doesn't have to please you or me, the leather-lungs, the suits, the bloggers, the posters or the critics. He has to make the playoffs. And he thinks Reddox will help him do exactly that.
Two notes:
- The now openly recognized goal of the team is a playoff spot.
- Liam Reddox, who rather improbably neither wins nor loses games, will help MacTavish get this team to the playoffs.
The ironic thing here is that if the premise is that Liam Reddox is a decent call-up, I'd agree. I might argue the following points:
- Gilbert Brule is running out of waiver eligibility.
- Liam Reddox is averaging just over ten minutes a game, so despite some of the odd situational use, on average he really isn't being run out there more than a garden variety fourth-line hockey player.
- Because the first line of Penner, Hemsky and Horcoff faces tough opponents, when Hemsky was injured they needed a defensively reliable forward at RW. It didn't make sense to put Cole there, because of his chemistry with Gagner, and Pisani was hurt which limited the coach's options.
- Liam Reddox was a goal-scorer in junior and has been close to a point per game pace in the minors, despite being used against the opposing team's best players. Based on his play in Springfield, he's clearly ahead of everyone other than Ryan Potulny and Gilbert Brule, and is likely better suited to a defensive role than either of those two. Then again, I am a pajama-clad faceless monster, so what do I know?
February 03 2009, 03:24PM
You need to contribute to this site, out from behind the curtain, a little more there OZ.
I like.
Nice Article - I agree with TD. Gie yourself a pat on the back!
No no no, friends, I just pull switches. This is J Willis' brainchild. I forgot to change the author tag.
February 03 2009, 04:03PM
"Because MacTavish doesn't have to please you or me, the leather-lungs, the suits, the bloggers, the posters or the critics. He has to make the playoffs."
Umm, wouldn't making the playoffs more or less please said people?
And I love how Barnes makes it out to be an Anit-Reddox movement. I don't think anyone has anything against Reddox the person, or the player really. He just happens to fall in line with yet another head scratching move by management and MacT when it comes to choosing someone to fill a void in the roster. There are other guys in the system that the majority feel should be in Reddox's spot before him.
February 03 2009, 04:03PM
HAHAHAHAHAHA I read that and thought "Since when does BingoFuel know all this stuff about Reddox??" and then I thought "Why doesn't this guy write instead of edit??"
Seriously though. Reddox is a nerd.
@ Wanye Gretz: You know the only things I like to write about are the way the Oilers manage their public image (read: poorly), and how Daryl Katz is richer than the entire roster of Norse and Greek Gods.
All I know about hockey is ice. and stick. and beer.
Now let's get back to the real discussion: Reddox. And Barnes.
February 03 2009, 04:12PM
HAHA get back behind that curtain boy!
February 03 2009, 04:13PM
@ jeanshorts:
Well said...
@ bingofuel:
I guess you can only write in 140 characters or less...
Jon: With all the questionable things written out there, you want to take on Dan Barnes, eh?I'd think twice about that.
February 03 2009, 04:21PM
@ RobinB:
There's no doubt in my mind that Dan Barnes is in the upper echelon of hockey writers, but this particular piece just got under my skin. Between the gratuitous shots at critics and the "you're either for Schremp or Reddox" tone, I was irked.
Probably just an off-day, but it isn't like he particularly cares what I think anyway, as I lounge around in my PJ's.
February 03 2009, 04:22PM
While I am at it and I read the Barnes piece and I have some other thoughts which I will present as an open letter to a guy who will never read it.
Kind of like a letter to Santa, but more hockey related.
Hey Barnes -
Want to pump the tire of a prospect who should be getting a shot with the Oil? A guy who has worked tirelessly on becoming more physical, playing whatever role asked of him by the club and yet still gets treated like dirt despite being a very able bodied player and a former first round draft pick to boot?
His name is Ladislav Smid. Start there if you want to pump the tire of a guy not getting his due. Or if the aim of the article is to stangely draw a line in the sand against the bulk of Oilers Fans - pick an issue with a bit more zip.
And I don't wear pyjamas all day long Mr. Barnes. I wear your (wife/girlfriend/mistress/daughter/whoever you find the most insulting)'s negligee around for most of the day.
mmmmm silky.
February 03 2009, 04:32PM
@ Jonathan Willis:
I have to give Barnes the benefit of the doubt on this one. I see your point as I didn't think it was a particularly good article either, but Barnes is generally a very solid writer so I don't think it's a big deal if he doesn't strike gold everytime.
@ Wanye Gretz:
hahaha nice try Wayne. I remember you saying that you like Barnes best awhile back.
February 03 2009, 04:35PM
February 03 2009, 04:35PM
That may be the case but that is before he inferred that I wear pyjamas about all day. I am more interested in getting him to talk up Smid and I took my shot in my imaginary letter.
BAH Damn you and your memory RBK
February 03 2009, 04:50PM
smytty777 wrote:
@ Jonathan Willis: I have to give Barnes the benefit of the doubt on this one. I see your point as I didn't think it was a particularly good article either, but Barnes is generally a very solid writer so I don't think it's a big deal if he doesn't strike gold everytime.
Normally, I'd agree, but outside of the use of words like vitriol, venemous, and catbird seat, you could put Terry Jones' name at the top of the article and I wouldn't even think twice.
It's a big drop from his usual level of quality.
So Barnes is generally regarded as a pretty decent read because is prepared to go contrary to the common perceptions, right?
So what's the point of calling him out when he goes against YOUR common perception?
It was bound to happen sooner or later because that is why he is regarded as a decent read in the first place.
If it doesn't happen then he is just another media lacky that you guys tend to rail against. The only difference being that he is your lacky as opposed to the Oilers (as is generally the common claim).
@ Wanye Gretz: Nice photo, Wanye. Are those the Chihuahua skin slippers your friend Juan from the Remand Centre gave you on your anniversary?
February 03 2009, 05:02PM
Reddox would probably look great out there with Brodziak and (insert fellow for fisticuffs here).
The flak Reddox gets is undeserved just as it was for Toby Peterson. BUT those player should have never been put in the positions they were in. Peterson on the powerplay? Reddox on the first line.
This all goes back to the retarded machinations of MacT's mind. Square pegs in round holes, 2+2 is 5 ect. MacT is a good coach, but his arrogance in how he positions his players is unbelievable. His fondness for his MacTavish clones is nauseating.
Can anybody tell me why in the hell he had Visnovsky, Souray and Gilbert all out on the first power play unit? WTF? Seriously has anybody heard an explanation for that?
February 03 2009, 05:03PM
@ Rick:
Which perception is that, exactly?
1) Liam Reddox, hard-working dream-living utility forward, deserves a spot in the lineup. 2) Bloggers live in their PJ's. 3) You love Rob Schremp or you love Liam Reddox: that's the line in the sand.
Because if it's 1) I actually agree with him, and if it's 2) or 3) than I don't see how he could be right.
February 03 2009, 05:07PM
Rick wrote:
If it doesn't happen then he is just another media lacky that you guys tend to rail against. The only difference being that he is your lacky as opposed to the Oilers (as is generally the common claim).
Since you're talking to me, I'll take issue with this. I think Edmonton has a pretty decent media crew; the only guy I have a real problem with is Terry Jones. I've said that repeatedly in places where it isn't a popular thought.
I disagree plenty with Barnes, Brownlee, Gregor, Ireland, Van Diest, Staples... whoever. I certainly don't think that they're lackies for the Oilers.
Besides, this isn't about railing against Barnes, it's about taking some light-hearted shots at a guy who just did the same to folks like us (and you, if you remember).
February 03 2009, 07:05PM
JW: I don't think it's smart of you to take on any of the professionals. They are there each and every day collecting quotes and you should be seen and not heard but always read;)
BTW, I love me some FJM send-up. You know that one of those guys is one of the head writers on The Office, right?
I'm sorta torn on the whole Barnes thing from the other day. Though I am a MacT guy I read that treatment on Reddox and I winced a little. But I keep giving Dan the benefit of a doubt because when 94 was dealt and every wag was busy burying their heads up Lowe's *** instead of twisting him in knots over all the double-talk, Barnes wrote a couple of columns where he basically threw up his hands and wondered just what the shag was going on.
I have a hard time forgetting that and that's why I'll cut him some slack.
firstname.lastname@example.com wrote:
JW: I don't think it's smart of you to take on any of the professionals. They are there each and every day collecting quotes and you should be seen and not heard but always read;) BTW, I love me some FJM send-up. You know that one of those guys is one of the head writers on The Office, right? I'm sorta torn on the whole Barnes thing from the other day. Though I am a MacT guy I read that treatment on Reddox and I winced a little. But I keep giving Dan the benefit of a doubt because when 94 was dealt and every wag was busy burying their heads up Lowe's *** instead of twisting him in knots over all the double-talk, Barnes wrote a couple of columns where he basically threw up his hands and wondered just what the shag was going on. I have a hard time forgetting that and that's why I'll cut him some slack.
Why people still think Smyth was hot shit I'll never know. He always seemed like a turnover machine, never put up a point per game season (80+games) and has hit the toilet since he left. He was at best a 2nd line player who got way too many top line minutes on some bad Oiler teams.
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Since you're talking to me, I'll take issue with this.
In actuality I was speaking more towards the subject than I was you specifically. It just happened that you started the topic.
In looking around the blogs and forums this subject is often brought up but the big difference is that it is usually broached as some sort of drive by comment and always seems to have the same undertone.
What it always boils down to is that the guy making the comment is pissed off because the poster either disagrees with what has been said or is unhappy because the columnist isn't concentrating on the so called correct subject matter.
The guy that posted right below the comment I am replying to is a perfect example. The comment contains a nice smear of the media in general and "forgives" Barnes for this article as if Barnes wrote something that was incorrect.
It's stupid and I fail to see why a guy like Barnes who is held in high regard by some people for breaking formation needs to be forgiven because he broke formation with the same people that originally praised him for doing so. What are these people looking for? Is it the so called honest voice in the media or is it a media guy that speaks for them? There is a significant difference.
As for his article on Reddox I took it as nothing more than Reddox not needing to apologize for getting to where he is at and the points made are accurate. I seriously doubt the comments about the bloggers, posters and Rob Schremp were pointed at you specifically so I don't know why you would take offence to it.
At the same time, it is easy to figure out that there is a population of bloggers and fans that it applies to directly on target. If a blogger or poster wants to keep on trotting out that the media has their head up Kevin Lowes ass then why isn't it fair game to use the pajama stereo type in a dig back?
@ Rick: That's what Dennis does. He holds most of the MSM guys in very low regard, particularly me, as anybody can see if you go through his posts.
His default schtick is we're Lowe-MacTavish ass-kissers, bought and paid for by the Oilers. He's thrown that dig at me so many times -- despite evidence to the contrary being posted -- he's been told to lay off.
Now, Dennis just generalizes about the "wags" in this town. It drives him nuts not to mention me by name when he'd rather go that route, but he understands, in no uncertain terms, that if he does it the posts will be zapped. I suspect you've noticed the change in name line from plain, old DENNIS to the e-mail address topping his comments now.
And you make a good point about the constant digs MSM guys get from people like Dennis, who believe they are smarter and more perceptive than we are -- do people like Dennis not expect a shot back when we constantly read what dummies and fartcatchers we are?
February 04 2009, 03:01PM
Robin: there was a change in my name tag because I was looking after my sister's kid; so, I couldn't post with my usual name.
Also, I didn't realize that any critical posts would be 'zapped' but if that's the way WG or anyone else wants to run things, then I guess that's his deal. I would hope that decree doesn't come from any kind of suggestion from yourself because if so, it makes you look petty and weak. Then again, you really are more disdainful of posters than I am of journos so if Wayne's giving you this cover it allows you to run your Grizzly Bear act to full effect.
So, you've got that going for you:)
Seriously, though, I've seen enough poor moves from Lowe that it begged or begs for a bigger treatment and because I haven't seen that, then, yeah, of course I'm gonna wonder what's up and I'm gonna jump to my own conclusions. If you were a fan of a team and you read all the papers and the team was medicore for a long stretch and no one took a run at the guy making the decisions, wouldn't you wonder the very same thing?
Zap, Zap?:)
Rick: I don't think it's stupid at all that I gave Barnes a pass for sorta using a soapbox for Reddox. You've got a whole corps who'll at the very most paddycake around Lowe's moves and considering that Barnes had the nuts to come the closest to being a critic, I'll give him some slack for some independent thought.
I don't want anyone to cater to my own thoughts on the club as much as I want them to be critical of all things. 27's getting the hose now and his salary means he's got to take it. But who cut him that deal?
CHED is directly in bed with the Oilers so while I don't like it, I'll give them a pass for their propaganda because I know in other cases guys like Steve Stone have tried to be critical of the Cubs while working for WGN and they lost their job for it.
But what's everyone else's excuse?
firstname.lastname@example.com wrote:
Rick: I don't think it's stupid at all that I gave Barnes a pass for sorta using a soapbox for Reddox. You've got a whole corps who'll at the very most paddycake around Lowe's moves and considering that Barnes had the nuts to come the closest to being a critic, I'll give him some slack for some independent thought.
I wasn't suggesting that it was stupid that you gave him a pass. I was suggesting that it was stupid that you felt the article warranted the need for a pass.
@ email@example.com: Give it a rest . . . Comments zapped? I didn't know this . . . my sister's kid. Whatever.
Critical? By critical do you mean personal attacks on me? I'm not going to find and run past posts of yours AGAIN doing exactly that because I'm done wasting my time.
You've implied more than once I give MacTavish a free pass. So, I post items I've written that are critical of MacTavish. You say, "Sure, but what about Lowe? You kiss his ass." I post an item critical of Lowe. You say, "Oh, I never saw that. My mistake." A week later, you're back trotting out the same argument again.
And cut this crap, like the latest post where you ALMOST sound reasonable -- Robin, why so worked up, I'm just questioning perfectly legit issues, what's the big deal? -- when you'll be back spewing the same insulting stuff again in a week.
Petty and weak? This isn't your forum, Dennis. Save your spew for your own website (even if nobody will read it).
RB: my name and opinions are out there and have been a for a long time so make of them what you will but I'd have no reason to put up a name other than my own if I didn't have to. It's too bad WG can't check IP addresses - or can he? - because he'd see I posted those comments from a different locale. Seriously, dude, you're not special enough to the point where I'd post under different names so that you'd still answer me. Also, I had no idea that WG was doing any kind of Big Brother-ing on your behalf.
In any case, like I said, one station's reporters have a reason to toe the party line and everyone else doesn't and I always throw you in with everyone else that doesn't.
And the fact that you get to interview the players doesn't mean that you know any more about this club than I do or any other hardcore fan for that matter.
If that ever comes to you via a burning bush or some other revelatory forum, maybe you'll just stop being so angry and/or confrontational.
And if that does or doesn't happen, well, it won't change the way I view how and why the media reports certain things about certain people and lets others off the hook.
Dennis wrote:
In any case, like I said, one station's reporters have a reason to toe the party line and everyone else doesn't and I always throw you in with everyone else that doesn't. And the fact that you get to interview the players doesn't mean that you know any more about this club than I do or any other hardcore fan for that matter. If that ever comes to you via a burning bush or some other revelatory forum, maybe you'll just stop being so angry and/or confrontational.
Yes, you do throw me in with everyone else, despite evidence to the contrary. So keep sticking with it, even if it's not so.
Access gives me a lot more information than you have and, thus, I do know more about the team than you do. That really bothers you, doesn't it?
Angry and confrontational? Funny how that happens when somebody like you -- a coward hiding in another city -- makes a point of questioning my integrity and qualifications every chance he gets. I write what I write and say what I say and then I go and look the people I write about in the eye. If they don't like it, they get a chance to have their say. You spit your smug spew and try to sound smart, and I have no doubt you'll continue to do so without ever having the backbone to do the same and look me in the eye. That, smart guy, would go very badly for you. I don't need Big Brother to handle you.
I think you know more about the players personal lives than I do but I doubt if you know more about the club.
I'm not gonna really get into how big or small I am or if I am or ever was a brawler:) but that seems to be the way you're going so I guess I'll just let you ramble on down that path:) I'll just say I grew out of that stuff a long time ago; though I never was a guy who needed any help, let's put it that way:)
BTW, I never questioned your qualifications but you're a journo who's accessible and damn right I'm going to wonder why you or anyone else has never taken or took a run at Lowe's record.
That is what bothers me more than anything and it's not just directed towards you; you just get the brunt because you're out here in the wild:)
Robin, with all due respect, that's walking the line of threats, and while I understand where you're coming from, it's pretty uncool.
That being said, I'm with Willis on this one: why a fairly well-respected sportswriter like Dan Barnes needs to resort to strawmen and appeals to authority is beyond me. Of course, I'm not a real journalist and therefore my opinions don't matter, as most real journalists seem keen to remind me; ditto for JW. Seems to me like Barnes fired the first shots anyway.
I do actually happen to be writing this in my pajamas, although last time I checked a mirror, I had a face.
@ MikeP: First, no threats. It's just a lot easier to talk about the virtius of always writing the truth and telling it like it is (or as you perceive it) when you're doing it anonymously. It's also easier to sit back and take shots at MSM writers the same way. I doubt Dennis has enough conviction in what he claims to think to say it to my face. He's a coward (with just the right touches of playing the victim and the passive good guy in his last couple of posts).
Second, I'll debate any hockey issue because I enjoy that part of it, but you obviously haven't followed the running potshots Dennis has taken at me -- nor do I expect you'd know or care -- but if you want to talk about uncool, his ongoing attempts to get under my skin are it. I don't apologize for have zero patience for him.
Know the history before you judge.
February 04 2009, 11:04PM
It just seems to me like Barnes needed/wanted to write something "fresh". Something out of "left field". It worked. It has seemed to intrigue all of us enough to read it. I don't agree with his article and that's ok. I just don't like Reddox. But a story like that sells papers and gets attention. I'm sure that's his goal.
And just for kicks... if I had to choose between Schremp and Reddox? Schremp.
*ducks for cover*
RB: I can assure you I'm no coward:) And it's not like I'm calling you a murderer or anything!:) I'm just saying that you're like the rest: Lowe has given you plenty of ammo but you choose not to use it.
So, why would I be afraid to say these things to your face? It's not like I'm 5-4 and 120 pounds and I'm guessing you're not 6-6 and 275. And if you were, there's just not that many guys who are strong AND quick;)
But, as I said, I gave that stuff up a long time ago.
Anyway, while it's no secret that I do like to rankle;) it's also no secret that NO ONE has ever given Lowe a rough ride in the press. That just seems wrong given how long this team's been mediocre.
Dennis wrote:
So, why would I be afraid to say these things to your face? It's not like I'm 5-4 and 120 pounds and I'm guessing you're not 6-6 and 275. And if you were, there's just not that many guys who are strong AND quick;) But, as I said, I gave that stuff up a long time ago.
Then stop bringing it up.
Dennis wrote:
Lowe has given you plenty of ammo but you choose not to use it.
This "free pass" for Lowe fantasy you have, for posters like Mike P who wonder why I go after you, is a lie and a lie you repeat time after time knowing that's not the case. Clearly, you read what you want to read and hear what you want to hear, so carry on. Stop wasting my time.
February 05 2009, 08:27AM
RB: If you write or ever wrote something that skewers or skewered Lowe for the moves he`s made, then I`d stop thinking that you don`t have the courage to do so:)
Also, I said I stopped brawling awhile ago but don`t think for a second that you can intimidate me:) You can `go after me`:) all you like but until you wonder in print about Lowe`s moves, I`ll always have the trump card.
I`m just asking for a critical media, nothing more.
Dennis wrote:
... I doubt if you know more about the club.
This has really piqued my interest.
If you would, please explain.
Dennis wrote:
And the fact that you get to interview the players doesn't mean that you know any more about this club than I do or any other hardcore fan for that matter.
Yeah. Yeah. Another internet tough guy.
Dennis, I realy admire the work you do on your site. And the inferences you draw are often quite remarkable. But this ^ statement is the textbook definition of hubris. There's no way you could even come close to making this claim without having been a player on the team, or having held a job at head ofice. Saying this makes you come across as the ultimate wannabee. In effect, you've basically removed any credibility you may have gained with the rest of your argument (s).
Being a "hardcore fan" doesn't give you the insight of overhearing dressing room comments, or seeing a player nursing an undisclosed injury, or seeing the look on their faces after a devastating loss, or watching and listening to an NHL coach conduct a practice at ice level, or, well, you get the point.
Bashing a member of the press for not asking the questions you want him to ask is really stretching it. How long do you think they'd have their credentials if they ripped into the hand that feeds them? Is it perfect? No. But that's the way it is. And what do you think Lowe would say if he were challenged in the manner you suggest? He'd probably deflect the question anyways. If you listen to the Tambellini interview on Gregor's site, you'd know they are asking some pretty straight questions, right to the limit of what they can get away with.
For you to suggest that any MSM writer should put his neck on the line for your personal pleasure borders on arrogance. They're not in business to speak for you. They're supposed to report on the situation they see from a stance that's as objective as possible. Is it truly objective? Probably not nearly as much as you like. But you already know that. So why rail against something you know isn't going to change - no matter how much a FAN thinks it should be so.
A guy thinks he knows as much about the team as somebody who's right there every day and has been for years.
That's rich.
February 05 2009, 06:28PM
David S:
I like you. You're obviously bright.
Nonetheless, everything you wrote is either incorrect or irrelevant.
1. RB might know who's happy on the team, who's limping, who's friends with who, etc. But this doesn't mean he knows anything about hockey, i.e. about who's playing well, which prospects are improving, systems play etc. (Analogously, outsiders using stats clearly know more about baseball than some ex-players and some writers.) Of course, I do think RB knows his stuff, but that has nothing to do with his "access." 2. Edmonton sports journalists don't give us many inside scoops anyway. We still don't know much about what happened with Garon, for example. Thus, it seems to me the players really say much to RB or JG, or if they do, we never here about it. Thus, there isn't much value to JG and RB's vaunted "access." 3. Most of the info about injuries and line ups gets posted on oilers.nhl.com, anyway. RB and JG merely give it to us a bit early. 4. Sports journalists are paid by newspapers, not the clubs they're covering. If the team says 'no access for critical reporters' the reporters need to stand up, get their editors behind them, and go to war. If they don't, sports fans need to write emails encouraging them to do so, and if that doesn't work we need to berate them for not doing so. Moreover, if beat writers started complaining about Lowe, or about the Oil manipulating the media, the papers would win that battle hands down.(Real, political journalists do this, BTW. If they didn't, we'd be living in tyranny.)
All that said, I like what RB and JG write and I read it.
I just wish they'd quit pretending that "access" makes what they say about hockey, -i.e. about who should be traded, or what lines should be out, or whether coaching is a problem, or about who is pulling their weight offensively and defensively- more reliable because they sometimes chat with the players. If I was pals with Reddox and Horcoff, would you be more willing to believe my argument that we shouldn't trade for Lecavalier? I doubt it.
In the end, political journalists have had to catch up with the on-line revolution. In the U.S., Drudge, Kos, and HuffPo sometimes do better than NBC or CNN. And sometimes JW and Dennis will do better than JG or RB. That's the new world. Adapt or go extinct.
I get it. I do.
Don't get me wrong. I really like Dennis' and crew and their take on the game. But the insinuation that they know more about the team than someone who is embedded is simply wishful thinking, which I daresay manifests itself as jealousy.
Dennis' point of view is more indicative of the modern era, where fans have access to more information than they ever have before. Problem is, there are some who make the leap from having information to having knowledge. I would invite you to visit some of Plato's works for a discussion on information versus knowledge. But the idea that one who has unlimited information also has unlimited knowledge is patently false.
The thing that turns information into knowledge is context. And I hate to say it, but in this case access is what gives you context.
I'd wager more than one MSM guy knows the deal with Garon. And Pronger and Comrie and Torres et al. That they can't give us that context isn't their fault. This is something that has been around since the dawn of sports reporting. The fact that it's more obvious in Edmonton is a direct result of our obsession with the team and management's obsession with presenting a squeeky clean image (pretty much like every other pro sports team). It's this image they sell as much as the performance of it's athletes. In this light, pro sports is as much (or more) an entertainment industry as it is "sport".
Bottom line - It doesn't matter if it's politics or sports. The information you get is only that which you have been allowed. Context is and always will be controlled. Without that context, you cannot reasonably make the statement that "you know more about the team". It's impossible.
Or put another way - I could spend the next twenty years researching the JFK assassination. I could become the world authority on the subject, but more than likely I never know why he was killed or who killed him until somebody who KNOWS steps forward.
Dennis is kinda annoying... Great points David S... I give the win to you!
@ David S: Couldn't say it better myself, so I won't even try. Guaranteed Dennis has read this, but, until now, has chosen not to reply. After all, really, what could he say?
Man you internet dudes are tough!
@ David S:
That's a very lucid post. Well done.
Maybe the wording Dennis used was clumsy on his part by stating that he knows more about the club as opposed to trying to say he know more about the game. It's the only reasonable assumption.
Even at that it's all opinion based on how you see the game and not necessarily knowledge so that doesn't make sense either. There is always room for more than one view on things and all of them can be right in their own way.
It's curious that Dennis would throw it out there that he knows more than anyone else and yet instead of expanding on it, the only place he has been seen since is at Lowetide's site where he is harping on Brownlee's threatening tone.
I would think if anything it could make for an interesting discussion but perhaps the conviction on his part isn't really there.
As a final thought, in general I find there is much more legitimacy in there being a third party consensus in how knowledgeable someone is than there is in referring to yourself the most knowledgeable.
February 06 2009, 10:56AM
David S:
1. You're understanding of Plato is apparently a bit superficial. The distinction Plato makes in Book VII of the Republic, for example, is not between "information" and "knowledge." It's more like the difference between believing that X and understanding why X is true. (For a brief exegesis see Routledge's introduction to the Republic, or use JSTOR to find some articles on "the divided line"
In Theaetetus, Plato introduces a different distinction: put crudely,the distinction between knowledge and mere opinion. At any rate, Plato would never have have gone in for your remark about "context." Knowledge for Plato is understanding the forms, and the forms are unchanging, i.e. not dependent on context. (But nice job mentioning Plato in a sports blog.)
BTW, mentioning Plato in a post where you defend a guy who argues that he's right because he is an expert is very ironic. Socrates would've hit Brownlee harder than Dennis. You remember Socrates, the guy who went after all the people who were supposed experts, who all turned out to be know nothing blowhards?
I suppose I disagree with your recent post even more than the first. You seem content with the fact that RB and JG can't tell us what they know, but we should believe what they say because of theses secrets they know, This is unfortunate, but if you're happy with it, I'll accept that. You obviously have a philosophy background, yet you're clearly not seeing the fallacy here; RB's continual claim that "access equals understanding" is a whopping, fallacious argument from authority, (The fact that you accept that political journalism should work this way too is frightening.)
A serious question: What do you know about the team that we don't that makes you're claims about the game of hockey more reliable than ours? Try to be specific. If you have a good answer, I'll be impressed. And please don't think I'm being snarky or facetious. I do like your columns, I just question in what ways you are an expert.
Rick wrote:
It's curious that Dennis would throw it out there that he knows more than anyone else and yet instead of expanding on it, the only place he has been seen since is at Lowetide's site where he is harping on Brownlee's threatening tone. I would think if anything it could make for an interesting discussion but perhaps the conviction on his part isn't really there.
Conviction or the ability to argue what was said in a couple of well-worded posts that were more eloquent than the awkward swats I took at him.
Let's get one thing straight. While the "Brownlee wants to fight me" angle Dennis is pitching over at Lowetide's might play better, I have no interest in getting physical with whoever he is. Never said it. Never thought it. I said that in these comments right after he suggested that's what I meant -- didn't stop him from trying to stir it up at LT's.
My point, and I thought it would be evident, is it's a helluva lot easier to play the scathing critic in e-mails and internet forums/comment sections than it is to say the same things to somebody's face. That's why I referred to facing the people I write about. Am I worried Kevin Lowe is going to get physical with me? No. But I always have to be aware that he might pull me aside and say, "What you wrote is BS and here's why . . ." I don't get that chance with Dennis. I don't get to say, "Wait a second . . . ." And yes, I think it would go very badly for him.
Anyway, Dennis is playing a bit of the victim here. After taking several verbal runs at me -- I have them, but I'll not bore you by posting them -- and looking for a reaction, he got it. It's a bit like the kid who pokes repeatedly at a dog with a stick. When the reaction comes, as you expect it would at some point, he runs away crying. Of course, the dog is the bad guy.
February 06 2009, 11:12AM
Ah! I keep writing "you're" when I mean "your."
February 06 2009, 11:25AM
RB: We get that you have to face Lowe, which must be uncomfortable. (And yes, Dennis doesn't have to face you.)
But there's a difference: you get paid to write. Don't you have a responsibility to the people who read the paper you write for to tell the whole truth? I get paid, and some of the people I have to criticize as part of my job get very angry at me, but I do it because it's my job. Sometimes you have to do uncomfortable stuff to earn your pay.
Is the real worry that you will lose your job if Lowe disagrees with you? If so, I understand your hesitation to criticize Lowe, but if this is the case, you really need to fight the organization. Get other writers and some editors on your side, get some non-sports reporters to do stories on the Oil suppressing stories. You'll win this fight because the Oil need good PR with the impending arena.
But if you don't even try to fight, you're not living up to the professional responsibilities you have as a journalist. Readers don't buy the paper to read what Kevin Lowe thinks is acceptable to say. They buy the paper to hear the truth and your uncoerced, unbiased analysis.


text:
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On Monday, May 20, the Assembly passed NJEA's ESP due process rights bill, A-3696/S-2163, by a vote of 51-26-1. This bill, which will give educational support professionals the right to binding arbitration in disciplinary matters, now heads to the governor's desk to await his signature.
"This bill would not be on the governor's desk without the tireless advocacy of NJEA members throughout the state," said Ginger Gold Schnitzer, director of NJEA Government Relations. "Certified, support, and retired members have joined together to try and win these basic due process rights for our ESP members—and as a result the bill came out of the legislature with bi-partisan support."
A-3696 was first introduced in the Assembly Education Committee in March. While scores of his colleagues around the state emailed and called legislators, urging their support, Buena Regional School district maintenance mechanic Brian Currie testified in favor of the legislation.
"As public school employees, we care about our communities and we are happy to pitch in when we can help our fellow residents," Currie said. "We simply want to be shown the same level of respect when it comes to treating all school employees fairly and with equal due process rights."
If signed into law, 48,000 ESP members throughout New Jersey will enjoy the basic right to due process in the workplace that they deserve.
"NJEA has already reached out to the governor's office to request that he sign this important bill into law," Schnitzer stated. "We are asking members to do the same."
Contact the governor's office and ask him to sign S-2163 to give Education Support Professionals equal due process rights.
Sample Script:
Hello, my name is ______ from ______ . I am calling to ask the Governor to sign S-2163 into law to provide employee protections for our education support professionals. I hope my family and I can count on his support. Thank you!

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Team DivA
Team DOGKaiser
Yo dawg, we heard you like kaisers so we put dawgs in your kaisers so you can pwn divas while you pwn divas.
this is so cool
cant wait for public mid wars map (:
Im gueassing DivA win
P.S. Dont mind that gag web or what ever I just found this picture in some forun and it was preatty funny for my :P
Diva FTW!! c'mon i got my money on you. pls. Win for your fans Anyway GLHF both of you
Hair versus Bear? I think we all know who will win here.
DivA, naturally.
A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
DOGKaiser for win! 200 silver are mine!


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text:
By PATSY STODDARDEditor
The Emery County Commission held their annual commission meeting in Green River on Aug. 28. The commission opened the bids for the painting of the Buckhorn bridge. They only received one bid for $32,260 from B & T Builders and Supply. The bid was approved.
The radio station translator was discussed. Castle Country radio wishes to broadcast KRPX over Emery County's translator. It was determined that a test run be done to see how clear the signals are. Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth wondered if a survey could be done to see which stations the county residents are listening to. The station that would be dropped in order to pick-up KRPX will be oldies KODJ. County residents are encouraged to let the commissioners know if they have a preference on these radio stations.
Bret Mills, the communication director, talked about the grant the county has received for $440,000 for upgrades for the television and translators. It is a national grant that will be used to help recoup the costs associated with the digital TV. This grant has enabled the county to make the improvements without the use of local tax dollars.
Commissioner James Nelson said the improvements to the TV service have been dramatic. The new equipment brings up the signal strength and will allow the county to have digital equipment. Mills modified the old analog equipment to work to get by and now this will give the county new digital equipment. The commissioners thanked Mills for his hard work on the grant.
The commissioners formed a committee to look at the county's purchasing policy. Currently if an item is going to cost more than $300, bids must be obtained. The commissioners are wondering if this amount should be raised. Those on the committee are: Brenda Tuttle, Sheriff Greg Funk, Commissioner Pitchforth, County Attorney Blackwell and Wayde Nielson, road department.
The commission approved the updating of the Emery County jails policies and procedures to coincide with standards for Utah jail policy.
The commission approved a letter of support for the Southeastern Utah Association of Governments Rural Development self-help program. This program helps people get into homes, either new construction or remodeled homes. The applicant will help with the construction or repair of the home. Several applicants can work together to construct homes and they can't move into the completed homes until all of them are finished. They work with licensed contractors to get the work done, the applicants can help with everything except the plumbing, electrical and cement work. Commissioner Jeff Horrocks said the program helps those who are unable to afford a home in traditional ways. Anyone interested in this program can apply with the Southeastern Utah Association of Governments. Chad Booth with the County Seat television program spoke to the commissioners about their program. He thanked the commission for their monetary support of their program in the past. He said KOAL radio rebroadcasts their programs. Some of the topics the program has covered include public lands issues, sage grouse, HB 148, taxes, water, economic development, interviews with the Washington delegation, Emery County public land use bill, indigent defense, RS-2477, invasive species and wildfire among others. The program reaches 34,000 homes each week. Booth said one suggestion they have had is to film school children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the show. They would travel to different schools to film and then the children could watch the show each week to see if they are on the program. The commissioners liked the idea.
Booth said they are always on the lookout for new topics of interest for the show. One topic Ray Petersen suggested was land exchanges. The commissioners said they would prepare a list of topics and get those to Booth for consideration. The show airs on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. on ABC 4. They are looking at options for the time spot. The website where the shows can also be viewed is thecountyseat.tv
Under citizen comments the Green River ambulance was discussed. Gary Riches said those people who run on the ambulance devote their lives to it and Green River is just out there on their own on their calls and they cover a lot of miles. Commissioner Horrocks said they should take any problems they have to Lt. Gayle Jensen and to Jim Gordon the ambulance director. He said he is always available to talk to also. One resident stressed the need for a city supervisor for the ambulance department.
One Green River resident said in the 15 years he's been in Green River his taxes have nearly doubled on his primary residence. He is concerned that services seem to always go to the western side of the county and Green River is ignored. Commissioner Horrocks said there are several Green River people that sit on county boards and they know where the money goes. Commissioner Horrocks suggested that the travel bureau go to the Green River City Council meeting and give a rundown of where the transient room taxes go. Commissioner Horrocks said most of the county meetings are covered in the Emery County Progress and he encouraged them to pick-up a copy to see what's going on in the county.
The Emery County Business chamber will hold their September Lunch and Learn at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River at noon on Sept. 19. Mark Holyoak from Castleview Hospital will be the guest speaker.
Commissioner Nelson said he attends many meetings in Green River and they will work harder to keep the Green River residents informed.
The commission approved the promotion of Jonathon Minchey to patrol deputy I after his successful completion of POST. Blaine Allen was hired as a 90 day temporary for the road department.


text:
Thank Goodness For The Professionals: Don Brennan on Dany Heatley
Jonathan Willis
June 12 2009 11:09AM
Bloggers take a lot of abuse from main-stream media types for their attachments to the teams they cover. I get it; a professional, objective tone is the way to discuss a sports team – at least, if a writer wants to be taken seriously – and many bloggers struggle to maintain that objectivity.
Unfortunately, the same things that would land a blogger in hot water or undermine his reputation are often ignored when they show up in newsprint under the byline of an actual journalist. One particularly egregious example of this is the work getting produced by Don Brennan with regard to Dany Heatley's trade request. Brennan is of course most famous for this suggestion that he made during the Senators-Penguins playoff series last year:
Crosby's got a bad RIGHT ankle? How will it stand up to a two-hander? The Senators have to find out…. As much as they will be looking for timely goaltending and scoring, the Senators need somebody to emerge as a modern-day Bobby Clarke. Maybe hockey historian Jason Spezza can explain to his teammates what the former Flyers captain did to Russian star Valeri Kharlamov when the latter had a bad ankle in the 1972 Summit Series. It's playoff time. Anything goes.
When Georges Laraque called Brennan "stupid" for making that suggestion, Brennan challenged him to say it to his face, which Laraque proceeded to do.
In any case, with this as background, it is perhaps unsurprising that Brennan – a man who embodies the spirit of the worst sort of hockey fan – isn't taking Heatley's trade request very well. Let's start with yesterday's column.
After suggesting that Bryan Murray should trade Heatley to the New York Islanders, Brennan explains the chief reason for such a move:
First of all, the spoiled, selfish suck-hole would hate it there.
Folks like Robin Brownlee have repeatedly reminded me that columnists aren't expected to maintain objectivity; they're supposed to present an opinion. This though, goes beyond that. It's an assault on character, a vicious attack on a guy who has committed the unforgivable sin of requesting a trade, and it's eerily reminiscent of fanboard reaction here in Edmonton when Chris Pronger was traded.
Brennan goes on to the second reason, which is basically that Charles Wang is crazy and if he liked Alexei Yashin he'll probably like Dany Heatley too.
Brennan then explains why this is such a troubling decision for Heatley to make:
He has now asked for a trade from the only two NHL teams he's ever been on. He likes Ottawa and his teammates so much, yet just four seasons after the Senators gave him a new lease on life, he is ripping it up.
Heatley's only been in Ottawa four years, and he wants a change already! It's bizarre, of course, since four years isn't enough time to judge anything. After all, we give Prime Ministers… well, never mind, I guess Canadians have judged the PM twice in those four years. Well, it isn't like political parties judge their leaders in such a short… okay, so the federal Liberals are on their third leader in that time span. Then again, those are trivial items; where do affairs of state stand in comparison to a player deciding if he likes his hockey team or not?
As for his "new lease on life", there's no disputing that the Dan Snyder tragedy must have been a life-changing experience for Heatley. Then again, this isn't like when Boston picked up Tim Thomas and gave him an NHL opportunity after years of roaming Europe and the minors; Heatley was already an established star, pursued by multiple teams, and Ottawa made the best offer. Then again, perhaps Heatley should be more grateful; after the Senators took that incredible leap of faith, it isn't like he recorded multiple 50-goal, 100-point seasons… never mind.
Brennan says that the reason for Heatley's request is uncertain, but that suggestions have been made that he doesn't like new coach Cory Clouston. After slamming Heatley for putting himself above the team, Brennan offered this gem:
Is that really it, Dany? If so, you truly are one messed-up dude. If not, you better step up and explain what's what. Or we're left to believe it is so.
Guilty until proven innocent – fair enough; after all, I believe that our justice system is founded on the very same principle. Still, Brennan offers Heatley a chance to prove himself; it's so nice to know that his mind isn't already made up:
Yes, what's most important to Dany Heatley is now obvious. It's Dany Heatley.
Never mind, then. Still, perhaps stating in no uncertain terms that Heatley's a selfish suck-hole who puts himself above the team isn't enough to get the job off assassinating his character done. What further attack could be launched?
Only the Islanders, Kings, Coyotes, Thrashers, Predators and Maple Leafs are able to take on Heatley's salary without dumping some of their own. Of that group, he might consent to the Kings and Predators, where media coverage is minimal. Just the way Heatley will want it. Forget the Leafs. Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons would make Heatley cry like a schoolgirl. Same reason it's hard to imagine the sensitive sniper agreeing to a swap that would put the jersey of the Canadiens, Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Rangers, Bruins, Wings, Flyers, 'Hawks or Sabres over his weak shoulders.
Very good. Lets leave aside the "cry like a schoolgirl" statement for the time being, and focus on Heatley's supposed fear of the media. Let's assume for a moment that Heatley made a horrible mistake; for the sake of argument we'll assume he made a tremendous error in judgment that resulted in the death of one of his teammates. Let's further assume that as a result of this error in judgment and the resulting emotion, he requested a trade. No doubt he'd pick a city where the media would leave him alone – anyone as clearly sensitive as Heatley wouldn't want to go to a city where that mistake and his acquisition would be major news.
Except that's what happened. Heatley went to Ottawa after his reckless driving directly resulted in the death of teammate Dan Snyder; Ottawa, Ontario, a city where media coverage was guaranteed, where hockey was easily the number one sport on the map. This leaves aside reports that Heatley's willing to waive his NMC to come to Edmonton, where the spotlight is even more intense, because I don't think we need further proof. Brennan's statement is grossly inaccurate on its surface.
In any case, Brennan wasn't satisfied with this attempt at destroying Heatley's reputation; he wrote another column today. Some excerpts:
No, this erratic, career-defining call -- this labelling of himself as a two-team quitter -- appears to have been made by Heatley alone.
Like a child, Heatley seemingly doesn't understand the word commitment.
Meanwhile, the sound you do not hear is the barking. Dany the Dog has decided to keep his muzzle on for now.
Thank goodness that we have a professional print media. I'd hate to see what one of those loose-cannon bloggers would do if he had to write about Heatley's departure.
Columnists like Bloggers are not all the same. Many bloggers have no class or respect, and clearly neither does Brennan.
You can't put all MSM in the same boat as Brennan, just like you can't lump all bloggers in the same boat. The diffence is no one knows the bloggers, and mostly don't care about them. I read the ones who are insightful. I think we've seen the hacks/or flake bloggers go by the wayside. Which is good.
I will say at least Brennan met up with Laraque, many bloggers are anonymous so it is pretty easy to write a scathing report when no one knows who you are and you never have to stand up to them.
Yesterday Brownlee ripped Brennan on Gregor's show saying it was classless because it is easy to write this stuff when Heatley is no longer with or around the team.
He sounds just as bitter as I was while burning my #44 Pronger jersey moments after his trade request.
Heatly is totally getting a bad rap here. Heatly was in a different situation when he signed his contract, it's easy for people to say adapt and make the best of what is front of you, but he did have half a season under Clouston, and I think he's got a pretty good understanding of his role on the team. I don't think this is like the Pronger debacle at all, I think Heatly would have been happy to stay in Ottawa if the scenario hadn't have changed, but that's business, deal with it. It is a 2 way street though, I know if I'm not happy going to work, I'll find someplace where my skills and knowledge will be utilized the best they can, so why can't he? Obviously I don't make 10 mill a year, but the pursuit if happiness is more important than who's signing the check
June 12 2009, 11:37AM
Al wrote:
You can't put all MSM in the same boat as Brennan, just like you can't lump all bloggers in the same boat.
June 12 2009, 11:37AM
I don't mean to be elitist, but Brennan does write for the Sun after all. They're all about getting people riled up, regardless of what's the truth is.
He (Brennan) sounds very much like a jilted lover that has lost his greatest love.
I suspect that maybe somewhere in the Brennan home are shreds and fragments of what used to be a creepy shrine built to honor the greatness of Heatley.
Strickland is saying (unconfirmed) Pronger has been traded to LA for Jack Johnson and the 5th.
If so, what a horrible trade for LA.
Brennan is an awful columnist. Has he ever written anything good, aside from his mustache movement article? That was real good stuff.
There are many blogs that have infinite more insight than brutally biased guys like Terry Jones and Brennan can provide. You'd think that all newspapers would value quality articles over crazy diatribes in this day and age.
June 12 2009, 11:44AM
@ Art:
I wonder if his next article will document the ceremonial burning of his Heatley 'Hair Doll'...
Ogden Brother wrote:
Strickland is saying (unconfirmed) Pronger has been traded to LA for Jack Johnson and the 5th. If so, what a horrible trade for LA.
His article just changed a minute ago. Now he is talking about Heatley for JJ. No mention of Pronger anywhere, but I saw it as well.
June 12 2009, 11:52AM
patty wrote:
Ogden Brother wrote: Strickland is saying (unconfirmed) Pronger has been traded to LA for Jack Johnson and the 5th. If so, what a horrible trade for LA. His article just changed a minute ago. Now he is talking about Heatley for JJ. No mention of Pronger anywhere, but I saw it as well.
Weird... makes more sense though.
June 12 2009, 11:58AM
Ogden Brother wrote:
Strickland is saying (unconfirmed) Pronger has been traded to LA for Jack Johnson and the 5th. If so, what a horrible trade for LA.
I dont think Lombardi's that stupid!
Jonathan Willis wrote:
When Georges Laraque called Brennan "stupid" for making that suggestion, Brennan challenged him to say it to his face, which Laraque proceeded to do. Read more: http://www.oilersnation.com/2009/06/thank-goodness-for-the-professionals-don-brennan-on-dany-heatley/#ixzz0IExqEYlW&C
That's hilarious.
I don't know much about this Brennan fellow but the way you describe he's much worse than even our own Sun-schmuch Terry Jones. Is the media really that bad over in Ottawa?
Brennan is an idiot. He proved that with his dumbass comments about two-handing Crosby's ankle during that Pens-Sens series, and he proved it again with his tirade towards Heatley. He needs to get over it and find a new player to stalk!
This is some great stuff here, but while I love the Oilers and most of the fans on ON, I'm eagerly anticipating Gregor's and more importantly Tencer's call-in shows where "Earl" goes on and on about how awesome it would be to have Heatley on a "Triple H line" with Horcoff and Hemsky.
Yes, my friends, this would be the same "Earl" who whined and complained about Pronger asking for a trade, wanting to leave Edmonton for unexplained reasons. The same "Earl" who yells and screams and Oilers/Ducks games, "Real mean honour contracts" or some other BS like that.
In the least we can say that while the Edmononton mainstream media did nothing to really unearth the reasons for Pronger's request, they did not eviscerate his character publically and unprofessionally. That was left to "Earl" and the other "dudes" who hate millionaire hockey players that put the needs and desires of their family and quality of life over dancing like a monkey for a $14.95 PPV price for their amusement.
These sports fans should leave the Oilers forever and take up hobbies like, "The Hills" or "Grey's Anatomy" where that kind of emotional, unobjective, irrational yelling, screaming and assinine arguments are not only accepted, but celebrated.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to express my opinions.
June 12 2009, 01:14PM
Jon: The trash Brennan has been spewing is worthy of the same contempt he is showing Heatley, but let's be honest -- this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
I can't think of too many MSM writers who are worth a damn who could possibily consider what Brennan is writing to be anything but an over-the-top tabloid rant bordering on a vendetta of some kind.
I've raised issues with Heatley walking out on the Senators and I've had some pretty good goes with players and management types over the years, but nothing like this. Does ANYBODY think what Brennan is writing is OK and fair comment?
Think of worst, most-irresponsible blog out there. A piece-of-crap waste of time that offers nothing but spew and hate and cowardice and contempt. This is the MSM version of it.
patty wrote:
Ogden Brother wrote: Strickland is saying (unconfirmed) Pronger has been traded to LA for Jack Johnson and the 5th. If so, what a horrible trade for LA. His article just changed a minute ago. Now he is talking about Heatley for JJ. No mention of Pronger anywhere, but I saw it as well.
Ha Ha Ha. I don't think the 5th would be in play without getting a top 10 pick back in return as well.
June 12 2009, 01:38PM
@ Robin Brownlee:
Glad to hear your take on it; that's my opinion too. I really don't understand how Brennan hung on to his job after the Crosby/Laraque incident, but I guess he gets attention.
June 12 2009, 01:44PM
Agreed. Robin/Jon, do you think there could be any legal repercussions heading Brennan's way? If someone ambushed my character like that, I'd be wanting some kind of recourse ...
@ Jonathan Willis: Just think what you could be if your decided to trade in your PJ's
June 12 2009, 02:14PM
@ Robin Brownlee:
While sometimes a good spleen vent can be theraputic, I agree it's really not good practice for a journalist. I imagine that kind of thing will eventually come back to haunt him as players just start avoiding him.
I'm curious. Have you ever witnessed a journalist getting frozen out of a beat, Robin?
June 12 2009, 02:23PM
Librarian Mike wrote:
I'm curious. Have you ever witnessed a journalist getting frozen out of a beat, Robin?
And since Mike asked, are the stories about Glen Sather freezing out John Short true?
June 12 2009, 02:25PM
Jonathan Willis wrote:
are the stories about Glen Sather freezing out John Short true?
Oooooh. I didn't know about that. Do tell!
Let's face it, the media on a whole is a drama creation machine. Headlines sell. Headlines are mini soap operas designed to hook passers-by.
Brennan rants and raves and snags the fish in his net. He earns a pay cheque. He earns a following. More eyeballs read ads and everyone is happy. Right now, Ottawa fans are seething and Brennan is being opportunistic. Are you telling me that the media is never opportunistic? Please. That's the whole business.
Let's face it: hell hath no fury like a hockey fan scorned (see Pocklington, Pronger, and Comrie for our own local double standard).
Besides, since when has journalism ever been the paragon of propriety? Ever watch a media scrum? How about a press conference. Piranha on a carcass.
Kind of fascinating, like a public hanging and if it's fascinating it's NEWS!
As they say, in terms of public scorn it ranks like this:
1) Politicians 2) Lawyers 3) Journalists
Why should we be surprised or outraged? Unless that's simply more drama creation ...
First I gotta say that I haven't got much work done these last few days as I've been reading every opinion on who we'd give up for Heater. I live about 10 min from his summer home and am ready to head out there to beg him to come to Edmonton.
it's funny how we're OK with picking up Heater and defending his credibility compared to what we did when Pronger did the same thing. Us Oiler fans didn't really react in a way that encourages other big name players to come play for us.
The reality is completely different once we're sitting on the other side of the fence
@ Jonathan Willis:
If this is how MSM is going to write can I PLEASE post that article on the bedroom antics of that NHL player? You remember - the one that you vetoed at the last Nation meeting in the interests of remaining credible?
*pretends he has a secret to remain relevant*
I sent and e-mail to Brennan telling him what I think of his article. he justified his actions by saying:
"So you're saying its okay for a player to ask out of town because he doesn't like that the coach cut his ice time? It's not better for that "star" to suck it up, play like he can, and get the ice time back? Every player should be able to play how much they want? Every play should be able to play their own game, and not follow the system? Why have a coach?"
I told him that Heatley's actions do not deserve a personal, verbal assault, with which he replied:
"Funny thing is, about all this respected you say I've lost .... Probably about 170 of the 200 emails I've received are from people who agree with me. But thanks for your concern."
Not really what I would expect from a "professional" journalist.
What a sad little man.
June 12 2009, 03:22PM
@ Wanye Gretz:
It was for your own good. You have a name, and a responsibility to protect it; lots of people look up to Wanye Gretz.
June 12 2009, 03:37PM
Jonathan Willis wrote:
@ Wanye Gretz: It was for your own good. You have a name, and a responsibility to protect it; lots of people look up to Wanye Gretz.
Agreed. I've got a kid on the way, and I'm working on convincing the wife to name it Wanye (as a middle name if it's a girl).
June 12 2009, 03:39PM
Jonathan Willis wrote:
. . . lots of people look up to Wanye Gretz.
When he's standing on the bar at Hudsons, anyway . . .
@ Hoos:
Remember when we went to high school together? I do.
Jonathan Willis wrote:
@ Wanye Gretz: lots of people look up to Wanye Gretz.
This is true. I am tall.
@ Librarian Mike:
I am thinking it might be time to drop the "Gretz" from my moniker. When people think I am "Wayne Gretz" I feel a touch arrogant. No one should share a name with the greatest human to walk this blue marble. Perhaps if I dropped it to Wanye or Lil Wanye people would get the point and I would look like a douche but not an arrogant douche.
Wanye Gretz wrote:
Perhaps if I dropped it to Wanye or Lil Wanye people would get the point and I would look like a douche but not an arrogant douche.
I didn't realize your name wasn't Wayne until just now and I have been reading this site for over 18 months.
*embarrased, r59 runs away crying having thought WaNYe was actually arrogant for naming himself after #99*
June 12 2009, 03:49PM
@ Wanye Gretz:
Your call dude, but I wouldn't change a thing. The way I can tell the difference between you and 'Wayne Gretz' is that you don't talk about yourself in the 3rd person.
June 12 2009, 03:59PM
@ Wanye Gretz:
We was just hackin' on you, man . . .
Keep the name. Truly, you've earned it by now.
@ Librarian Mike: Yeah, more often than not he refers to himself in the 1st person plural
Wanye always talks in the third person.
@ Wanye Gretz
This weekend I was regaling my compatriots of our exploits in grade 11 drama. Yes, I do remember well our highschool days.
One question: would YOU have requested a trade from there?
@ Hoos:
Ah grade 11 drama. Note to Nation: Hoos and I attended high school in prison in Southern Alberta. If any of you try and make a move on any of the Nation staff Hoos will round up the rest of his crew and make a mess of you.
Talking in the third person is the best. When people call you on it it only makes you cooler.
@ Ender the Dragon:
I wasn't hatching this plan because of getting static from anyone on the Nation. I have been pondering it for awhile. Whenever someone ditches their last name they always get way cooler.
Remember when Maddona Ciccone dropped Ciccone? Tight.
Remember when Cher Bono became Cher? Decent.
Remember when Oprah Winfrey became Oprah? Oh yeah.
Much like them I long to become a powerful woman in showbiz reppin' a single name.
*immediately regrets unveiling the 5 year plan. Glad he didn't mention the sex change due in 2012*
June 12 2009, 04:19PM
@ MrOiler: Reporter sleep with your wife?
Wanye Gretz wrote:
Talking in the third person is the best. When people call you on it it only makes you cooler.
The Warrior agrees.
This article is a reminder of the long-winded excuses I used to get from my kids when trying to explain why they were late etc..it becomes much ado about nothing. DanHeat is not traded anywhere yet much less to Edmonton. Are we going to have to hear uber-analysis of his entire life? Are we going to hear someone count the hairs on his ass ad nauseum? If anyone cared to examine Gretzky or Messier's life decisions in detail they might not look so good either. Enough already.
Heatley could've been an Isle but was past over in the draft for Dipietro when they already had Luongo. I would want that one back.
I actually agreed with what Brennan said about giving Crosby a two-hander.
It's part of the game. To not take advantage of or exacerbate an opponent's weakness is incredibly foolish.
June 13 2009, 06:21PM
To go out to intentionally injure someone is not part of the game; and if it is, it shouldn't be - even at the pro level.
To publicly call for a player to imitate Bobby Clarke's slash on Kharlamov (sp?) is just plain wrong. And if you don't agree with me, how did you feel when Suter concussed Kariya? How would you feel if Robyn Regehr drove Hemsky's head into the boards on the eve of a playoff match?
It's wrong, and it doesn't matter what colour jersey the player who does it wears.


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From red carpet premieres to foundation dinners, our stars looked incredible this week. Take a look at the best dressed!
Next Slideshow: The 12 Best Dressed Latinas of the Week!
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Hilaria Baldwin
The yogi and new mami looked gorgeous in this floral frock while attending The Joyful Heart Foundation Presents: The Joyful Revolution Gala 10th Anniversary Celebration.
Adrienne Bailon
Adrienne looked ladylike and chic in this lace dress with Valentino heels at the 2014 Fresh Air Fund Honoring Our American Hero event in NYC.
Victoria Justice
The young star gained rockstar status in this black cropped shirt paired with a plaid mini — all finished off with leather, of course — at the NYLON x Alof Hotels event in LA.
Paz Vega
Paz was the epitome of movie star glam at the A Fistful of Dollars screening at Cannes.
Bella Thorne
The cubanita looked gorgeous on Good Morning America in a grey skirt and matching crop top.


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Amazon has bought EVI, a virtual personal assistant very similar to Apple's Siri.
Bill Siwicki
Amazon.com Inc. reportedly has acquired voice recognition company and virtual personal assistant mobile app EVI for $26 million. EVI is very similar to Apple Inc.'s Siri, the iPhone's virtual personal assistant that understands speech and responds, and is available in Apple Inc.'s App Store and the Google Play app store. The EVI move follows Amazon's January acquisition of text-to-speech technology company Ivona Software. Ivona is the voice technology behind the "Text-to-Speech," "Voice Guide" and "Explore by Touch" features on Kindle Fire tablets.
Mobile industry analysts believe reports of the acquisition and feel an EVI purchase makes sense for Amazon, which has so many successful hardware offerings, including the line of Kindle e-readers and the line of Kindle Fire tablets, on which voice recognition could play an important new role. But some have been speculating Amazon is getting into the smartphone business, especially after a July 2012 Bloomberg report indicated Amazon had tapped Android device maker Foxconn to produce an Amazon smartphone.
A Siri-like voice offering from EVI fuels more smartphone speculation. But analysts say a smartphone is just one possible reason for Amazon doubling down on voice technology.
"It is not clear that EVI has anything to do with Amazon building its own smartphone—it could be intended to provide voice-enabled commerce of some kind," says Avi Greengart, research director, consumer devices, at research firm Current Analysis Inc. "However, Amazon is extremely ambitious and would like to control as much of the mobile platform as it can. It has shown it is willing to build hardware for e-reading and for mobile media consumption."
The price tag for a "Kindle phone" could present a challenge in the highly competitive smartphone market, Greengart adds.
"A Kindle smartphone would have to contend with other devices' carrier subsidies, which hide the true cost of a smartphone from consumers," he says. "However, it's possible that Amazon would try to take advantage of two trends: consumer willingness to buy phones with extremely large displays, which are better for browsing and content consumption; and carriers like T-Mobile USA that are going subsidy-free."
A phone could be a difficult proposition for Amazon because the e-retailer might need to get into the business of creating and maintaining relationships with wireless carriers, says Sucharita Mulpuru, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research Inc.
"EVI may be for a smartphone, or it may just be for a smarter Kindle," Mulpuru says. "EVI could just be to help people search on a Kindle. Or it could be to get some smart mobile development talent, which is scarce these days." Mulpuru calls that kind of company acquisition an "aquihire."
Greengart also says buying talent could be the driving force behind the EVI acquisition.
Amazon.com, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, and EVI did not respond to requests for comment.
The EVI app runs on any iPhone or Android smartphone and is free. It uses natural language voice recognition technology to understand what an app user means. It includes a search engine that helps it find answers to users' questions, answers that are spoken to users as well as displayed on screen. And the app's voice technology can be used to send text messages, make calls and schedule calendar events.


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Here you are. Ready to take the first steps toward a new career with Genghis Grill. It's enough to bring a lesser soul to their knees. But no, not you. You're ready to conquer new lands and achieve new heights. That's why we want you as our newest recruit. With an active culture, friendly atmosphere, excellent benefits and all the training and opportunity you need to grow, we can't wait for you to join in and move up the ranks.
In fact, the success stories you see below are of people just like you. Some of them even started out working in our individual restaurants before working their way up. And once you're here, there's always more territory to conquer. Do you have what it takes? Apply here to start your journey toward a career at Genghis Grill.


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By Brendan Conway
If you think that funds tracking the consumer staples sector can only vary by so much, think again.
For instance: Through June 14, the group's strongest-performing sub-categories were personal products, up a heady 27.8% for the year, followed by drug retail, up 26.8%. But even in this until-recently-hot category, there are laggards. The food distributors sub-industry, for instance, is ahead by just 8.9% over the same period.
Those were some of the interesting nuggets that S&P Capital IQ's Tom Graves turned up this week in a look this week at the group's exchange-traded funds, which offer a variety of holdings and have delivered a diversity of returns.
The most popular ETFs in this niche tend to own Procter & Gamble (PG), Coca-Cola (KO), Philip Morris International (PM), and Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) among top five holdings. But sector weightings often vary — and as the above performance figures show, it sometimes matters. So does the country breakdown.
Then you can measure these funds' correlation with the broader market, which range from relatively tight trading with the S&P 500 to as low as 50% of the index's moves — the latter crown goes to Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP), which also happens to be the most widely owned fund in the group. Finally, you've got funds that take indexing to a whole new level: They attempt to select companies on the basis of their fundamentals. In this category you've got First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDex Fund (FXG) — which is this year's top-performing fund in the group, according to XTF.com.
When it comes to sectors, as Graves notes, Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) devotes 20% of the portfolio to household products. But iShares S&P Global Consumer Staples Sector Index Fund (KXI) — which tracks foreign stocks plus their U.S. counterparts — is 24% invested in packaged foods and meats. (Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund (VDC), another popular option, about matches the XLP's household products exposure.)


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Yesterday we stopped into the Nudie Jeans Co. showroom in New York for the press preview to see what they've been brewing for upcoming seasons. If you're following the Raw Denim Project, you know that Gordon's jeans are Nudie and everyone at DT is a huge fan of the brand. We were met with piece after piece of gorgeous eco-friendly denim in exciting new washes, sensible and soft knit separates, Japanese fabrics, brilliant color stories in plaid workshirts, and plenty more. Here's a summary of what we discovered…
The Nudie fw'11 collection was divided on three racks: Khaki, Indigo, and Black. This is the first season Nudie is using a dedicated design team for the collection (separate from the core denim line).
The results? A vibrant, cohesive story that backs up the Nudie brand seamlessly.
Indigo being the integral denim component, it featured jackets and jeans with accompanying knit T's and indigo-check workshirts. Eco-washes were abound. The process by which the denim is treated, distressed, dyed and washed is completely kind to the environment. No chemicals are used. We were especially enamored with the colors in the Japanese plaid button-ups and verticle pleats in the denim jackets. The lab jackets (hand distressed and up there on the price scale, with good reason) looked like they'd been worn (with love, affection, and adventure) for years.
The Khaki collection is full of great transitional separates based on preexisting fits, with industrial peasant-esque knit tops and innovative outerwear. Think jackets that come apart at the lining so they can be worn on the coldest winter day or for an evening at a New England beach. Subtle details like leather patches gave it an exclusive feel.
The Black collection really got us going. A classic Nudie offering, denim coated with dry black paint in both jeans and jackets, is a canvas for the customer to de-construct according to their own lifestyle. Fibers already peering through the paint in the knee area, you could almost imagine how glorious these would look after six months of wearing them (maybe we should give Gordon another half-year assignment?).
The denim collection is, as always, based on the key concepts of eco-consciousness, and a garment that grows, ages, and molds with its wearer. Nudie jeans are purchased with a guarantee that the wear and natural distress caused by enjoying a pair of jeans will create additional character and stories on the surface and in the fit. The signature orange thread has been adapted to different locations (such as on the inside collar and at the hem, sometimes the back pocket), with other indigo threads appearing as well. A sophisticated step, detail-wise.
The backbone collection, which we introduced you to upon launch, was soft enough to sleep in and promising in its versatility. The 100% organic collection (produced via 100% organic methods) is comprised of 11 basics that cover ever base. We couldn't help but ruminate over styling a photo shoot in these luxe basics, male and female models alike.
Check out more photos of the line below, and stay tuned for more Nudie fall 2011 coverage.
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Want to get your hands on some Nudie? Shop online!
—Michelle Christina Larsen & Jackie Racer. Photos by Raffael Flores-Contreras (nightlifebaby.net).
Tags: eco friendly denim, Fall 2011, japanese fabric, nudie jeans co, press preview, raw denim, Spring 2011


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Tiny Particles, Big Trouble explains why some nanoscale science and technology is done in the controlled environment of a clean room, what clean rooms are like, and how scientists help keep the clean room clean. During the program, visitors sniff scents that are too small to see, try on the head-to-toe suits that scientists wear in clean rooms, and manipulate pretend silicon wafers with tweezers.
- Nano is very, very small.
- Nanoscientists study and make things that are too small to see.
- Tiny particles of dust and chemicals can cause big problems when studying and making nano-sized things.
- Some nano labs are clean rooms.
- Clean rooms have a controlled environment to control particles and chemicals.
- Scientists who work in clean rooms use special equipment and materials and wear special clothes.
- Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.
- Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.
NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.