So, this is my blog. Cool, huh?
If you've found yourself here, you probably A. know me B. read my work someplace else and/or C. are looking for some quality sports analysis.
It's "C" that I'm looking to provide you. As the title of this blog suggests, my name is Mike and I like sports. In particular, that includes the NBA, MLB, NFL, NCAA Football and Men's Basketball, Soccer and the NHL. I'll be writing about all of that, and more on this space.
The inspiration behind this stems from my belief that there is a lack of competent, engaging, insightful sports writing on a macro-level; by that, I mean that very few people write about multiple sports, with a wide-ranging geographical focus, and do it well.
Instead, with a few exceptions, most of the columnists that we are exposed to fall somewhere within the following checklist:
1. Write about the hot issue of the week and beat it do death with a stick. UGH. I promise not to do that unless its particularly relevant...or unless, you know, I feel like it. It IS my blog after all. But seriously, we all know its really annoying and a cop out.
2. Write a puff piece glorifying somebody we've never heard of. Now, there's nothing wrong with this. I love reading this stuff from time to time, and I'm someone who believes that there isn't enough good news out there these days. But there are columnists (see Reilly, Rick) who make an entire career out of this...and get paid damn well to do it. Props to the guy for getting that gig but his being labeled a "national voice" is like calling Lady GaGa the "national sound." I'm pretty sure that America is a little more compelling, diverse, and complex than shallow, flavor of the week journalism. At least I hope so.
3. Write about the controversial issue or "play the race card" I'm not touching this with a ten foot pole because I don't want to get sued.
4. Write about the obvious "Kobe Bryant is a great basketball player!!!!!!!1!!!!!" Really doctor? Are you SURE?
5. Write without saying something By this, I mean the type of commentary that involves my least favorite phrase on planet Earth: "____ is as good as anyone in the league." This derives from the politically correct, overly sensitive world we live in; everybody is afraid of being wrong so nobody says anything.
Guess what? Life, and sports, don't work that way. You're going to be wrong, and it's going to be OK. The alternative to that is to assimilate into one of the above categories, forever doomed to a career of unimportant drivel.
And that dilemma is what created our current predicament, which in turn created me. Too many writers worried about their alienating their constituencies, a group that spans the country and with widely varied opinions on virtually every issue. So, they decided not to; after all, you can't burn any bridges if you don't write about anything flammable.
Hence, the checklist. They opt to blend in with the scenery through writing about the same stuff everyone else writes about, either through the same emphasis on the obvious or the same aversion toward orignial thought. Or they write fluff pieces in order to demonstrate that "life is more important than sports," a sentiment that is true but one that does not compell me to navigate my brower towards espn.com rather than CNN. Occasionally, you have someone fall into category #4 but even that counter-culture has become predictably mainstream; the void left by the late Ralph Wiley, a man would dance around the controversial issue with a deft touch and unique opinions, has yet to be filled.
Too infrequently does it extend beyond that. Which is unfortunate, because there are shades of gray and compelling topics to be explored.
They don't see it that way. I do. One promise I can make you is that I do have opinions, and I'm certainly not afraid to express them. Along with that, I'll give you plenty of evidence to back them up. Just as there's a big difference between saying nothing and saying something, there's an even bigger one between expressing an opinion and giving quality analysis. I'm going to fall into the latter category.
So now that you know where I'm coming from, let's get going. I'll put something up soon so we can discuss something more fun and tangible than the state of sports writing in America.
One last thing - feedback=good. Writing is meant to be read, so tune in and let me know what you think. Until next time...
Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease,
Mike
