Comments on: The Buzz Bissinger meltdown

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:12:02 +0000

The problem is that Bissinger seems to think all blogs and websites fall under the same umbrella of worthlessness. Will mentioned this briefly but it was never really addressed, the Good blogs/websites, ones in which there are talented and creative people involved, will generally produce material that people will want to read. Those that spew off the cuff opinions and vitriol will not.
As far as publishing athletes drunken photos, I see the pundits on ESPN and in print jumping on the same bandwagon and debating those issues just as frequently. Lastly, for Bissinger to assert that what commenters write after a post should somehow be attributed to the original post, clearly shows what level of ignorance we are dealing with when it comes to “new” media. Buzz is a phenomenal writer, but his actions on Costas Now were childish at best.

By: scagmajor

scagmajor — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:01:55 +0000

One could easily find several dead-tree sports columnists that engage in the same kind of writing that Buzz accuses Deadspin of. The same thing can be found on ESPN. But that’s OK, I guess, because they’re “professionals.” And for Costas to condemn Will because of his comments section is ridiculous. Should we condemn Buzz because of the people who yell [redacted] every time they read one of his pieces? Buzz is just another journalist angry that he’s being eclipsed by “amateurs.”

By: GypsyBiker

GypsyBiker — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:27:50 +0000

Sorry, but Buzz was right on! Nobody is saying you don’t have the right to blog whatever you want, but the fact that you do doesn’t make it meaningful or intelligent.

I mean really, what’s the point of the BigBen or Leinert photos? Leitch is squirming because he gets called out and can’t defend his position. It’s all about where “journalism” is headed, do you want to have a intelligent discussion (and by “intelligent” I don’t necessarily mean serious)about and issue or do you simply want TMZ/MTV journalism?

By: Michael Rand

Michael Rand — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:38:07 +0000

Well said, Huge Jazz. I thought Buzz had some valid points to make as well — and that he went about it in a very poor manner, which undermined his credibility and led to the downward spiral we can now all see thanks to the miracle of the Internet. I think Will even would agree with some of the points. There’s going to be good and bad in everything, especially a medium that is so inclusive. But Deadspin is not the problem. It’s found a vast audience that “gets” what it is trying to do.

By: Huge Jazz

Huge Jazz — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:10:23 +0000

Strange as it may sound I think both Buzz and Will have valid points. Costas is better suited for something other than controversy and conflict.

I stongly support the right to free speech in blogs. However, Buzz and Costas have a point where many times the bloggers have a decidedly vitrol and nasty tone, which have nothing to do with the actual sport or athlete and does nothing to further the discussion and debate. Some bloggers seem to retain a similar angst that drives teens to secretly give the finger to a parent when their back is turned in protest to whatever they disagree with. Why? That’s up to therapists. But childish rants about hoping someone blows a knee because they are expressing their opinions, as bloggers express theirs, is about the same speed.

Will was right in the fact that Buzz seems scared his and his ilk’s time is passing. Change, especially when it may be linked to your income, is very difficult as you get older. And some people have difficulty adapting. It would seem Buzz has hit that wall.

By: Dave MN

Dave MN — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:27:33 +0000

Okay, so now that I’m home I was able to watch that whole thing over at Deadspin. Bissinger is a total piece of garbage for criticizing people for debasing others, while trying to debase Will the entire [redacted] interview. I hate holier than thou hypocrites. Bob Costas can catch some rare disease and die for all I care. That man has gotten worse and worse at his job and at being a human being over the past decade…really, what does he have to offer anymore?

Braylon Edwards is a crybaby. You live in a different time. This is not the 60s and 70s. It’s not just the internet that’s different. LIFE is different, you idiot. In the 60s and 70s you could have slept with all of the groupies you wanted without fear of disease or death. Not so today. You also could party non-stop back then without being called on it. Also, no longer true. Adapt! Quit whining.

Will didn’t do the best job of standing up for himself, but I don’t know what he could do when he was basically there to be a straw man for a psycho (Bissinger), a washed up hack (Costas), and an athlete who wishes it were the “good old days” (Edwards). I hope Edwards has a catastrophic knee injury next season, then he’ll have something to cry about besides just being caught partying like a dumb[redacted].

/pounds beer.

By: jama

jama — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:15:16 +0000

Can we expect Rand sitting next to Mark Rosen, Delmon Young, and J.K Rowling on anytime soon?

By: jama

jama — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:11:25 +0000

Is this the guy that wrote Friday Night Lights? The guy that made millions off a High School Football team?

By: Dave MN

Dave MN — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:27:46 +0000

I would like to state that “Bissinger” sounds like a classification of defecation.

Examples:
The Runs
Montezuma’s Revenge
The Beer [redacteds]
Bissinger

Kinda sounds like it would burn

By: fasolamatt

fasolamatt — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:02:22 +0000

I suppose that someone should point out that Bissinger once wrote for the PiPress. A restaurant review he wrote about the St Clair Broiler hangs in that overrated establishment.