Thank you to everyone who has read, shared, commented or visted this blog in 2017.
Here are the Top 10 most popular posts from 2017:
Brady’s statement — What’s going on? I haven’t paid much attention. I’m just a positive person — is the epitome of this privilege. He’s not paying attention to the world because he doesn’t have to. He's not speaking about politics because he doesn't have to. He’ll be fine no matter what. But the glib lack of acknowledgement that something is going on — at a time when more and more athletes, many of whom are black, are speaking their minds — is stark.
Jemele Hill and a chilling effect
When the president’s spokesperson calls what a journalist said a “fireable offense” what does that mean for the next person who wants to speak out on an issue they care about? What does that mean for the next young black female journalist who wants to call out the institutional racism she experiences in the press box or on the street? What does this mean for the white ally who wants to speak out for social justice? What does this mean for anyone who wants to speak their mind or report on race, gender, sexuality, income inequity, climate change? Are they emboldened by this? Or are they frightened? Do they pull back an adjective or two, make one fewer phone call, decide the essay isn’t worth the trouble. That’s a chilling effect.
Woj made me (and all of us) better journalists
Woj was the kind of mentor every young journalist should have. He pushed you. He holds you to the same standards he holds himself. If you slacked off, or weren’t pursing the right story the right way, he’d let you know. Praise from Woj was to be savored, because it meant you did a good job.
The history of sports journalism (Part 1 of 3)
Sports journalism in the United States began in earnest in the 1820s and 1830s, with specialized sports magazines covering primarily horse racing and boxing. At the time, newspaper sports coverage was sporadic, and tended to focus on events with greater social context rather than just games themselves, like a race between horses from the North and the South, or a boxing match between American and British fighters. But by the end of the 19th century, newspapers would become the primary medium covering sport in America.
If people are cutting the cord, if nearly a quarter of all homes don’t have cable subscriptions anymore, that’s less money flowing into ESPN every month. That’s a revenue stream ESPN had been counting on that’s not longer as steady and as full as it used to be. And with Disney ownership in charge, there is a bottom line that must be maintained.
My wife was warned of all the potential problems. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Her single-minded determination is among her best qualities. Through it all, through every misstep and every false start, every early morning and late night, every tear and every fear, she held on to hope. She never, ever let hope die. Our daughter exists primarily because of the otherworldly single-minded persistence of my wife. My wife is a goddamn superhero.
Ask Tom Brady about Donald Trump
Brady didn't have to have that hat on display in his locker and he didn't have to publicly support trump. But he did. So now that Trump is president and making controversial decisions leading to nationwide protests and a looming constitutional crisis, it's our job to ask him about it. Failure to do so will make the gap between what's happening in the real world and in Houston feel even greater than it already does.
For now, she’s got plans to go to New York City in 10 years to study theater. Like Idina Menzel. And her friends from theater. As for me, I’m just going to enjoy watching her on stage every chance I get. “Listen, Daddy. Hear the bell? …”
Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever do this
Why blaming cord cutting is wrong
To blame cord cutting is to essentially say “We had no choice in this.” It’s to essentially say “Our future as a company is wholly dependent upon external factors that we had and have no control over.” It’s essentially to say “It’s not our fault we’re doing this. We’re just responding to reality.”