tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post333607871142116528..comments2023-12-22T01:47:49.178-05:00Comments on oh you beauty: On Rafa Benitez: Part Vnatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-53082983604615335522010-02-21T20:14:22.451-05:002010-02-21T20:14:22.451-05:00I haven't had much exposure to your print medi...I haven't had much exposure to your print media and how they deal with what passes as sports in you parts.<br /><br />I have however been watching a bit of NFL through the years. Up until recently I had to make do with what passes for "Football Experts" over here. Some blokes who went to college in the US and played the game there. Then suddenly they decided to cut costs and started to broadcast the MNF and TNF games, and the game from the last kick-off block on Sundays with the original commentary from the US. And what a relief it was to finally get decent commentary from people who actually knew the game. Who had played it at top level and even had coaching experience. People who actually spotted things that we the uninitiated missed and provided useful commentary that went beyond just voicing their views and what was blatantly obvious.<br /><br />How many commentators in the UK have actually had an even remotely successful career in management? I'll go on a limb and suggest the grand total of one, David Pleat, the rest are just former players at best. And it gets even worse in the written media, where the majority are just fans who might have a degree in journalism, but have absolutely no expert knowledge when it comes to the game itself. And these are the folks telling us that one should play with two up-front, man-mark and make substitutions at a whim. <br /><br />But it gets worse. The worst ones are those who played the game some 10-20 years ago, who cant seem to fathom the game played in any other way than they did during their career. <br /><br />And then are the ulterior motives behind a lot of their writings. For some it is personal vendetta (Collymore), for some it is neoptism (Redknapp) and for some it is personal feelings clouding their judgment (Winter). Then there are those who let their feelings for a rival seep into their writing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16494617977689471028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-30436447896803138082010-02-17T22:05:56.577-05:002010-02-17T22:05:56.577-05:00Also Tony Barnett at the Times, who came out of th...Also Tony Barnett at the Times, who came out of the Echo. Olly Kay has his moments, and Henry Winter will write a good column once or twice a season.<br /><br />The Guardian is a strange case; they've tried to diversify since moving and dropping the Manchester from their name but with respect to Liverpool they're still largely motivated more by hatred (and more recently contempt) than by schadenfreude and the sheer love of chaos.<br /><br />Hmm. I guess what I'm trying to say is that with the Guardian at least you know it's personal.drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16041903590665426891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-50721363950471783942010-02-17T16:43:54.353-05:002010-02-17T16:43:54.353-05:00I link it in the sidebar, but the local Liverpool ...I link it in the sidebar, but the local Liverpool media, specifically the Liverpool Echo, is required reading.natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-58940391711812816002010-02-17T12:40:15.706-05:002010-02-17T12:40:15.706-05:00I watch a few games a week on Setanta and FSC. Yo...I watch a few games a week on Setanta and FSC. You're right, DirectTV rules. I'll watch some of their news or wrap-up shows too. But as far as print media, I don't read much other than ESPN, blogs and The Guardian UK. The rest seem like the NY Post or tabloid types. Am I missing any credible papers? I'm guessing from your links and the above description no.Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11585007019421806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-53867822820826577642010-02-16T13:12:14.969-05:002010-02-16T13:12:14.969-05:00I'm not opposed to putting that in place of an...I'm not opposed to putting that in place of anything I wrote.Edhttp://liverpool.theoffside.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-68206764311690007982010-02-16T08:56:42.366-05:002010-02-16T08:56:42.366-05:00As someone with a master's degree in journalis...As someone with a master's degree in journalism, you'd think I'd take offense to that, but I most certainly don't.<br /><br />Nice summary. Could have saved Ed and I almost 2000 words.natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-74275222975151694192010-02-15T21:41:31.027-05:002010-02-15T21:41:31.027-05:00There is scarcely a more parasitic, vile class of ...There is scarcely a more parasitic, vile class of creatures than English journalists. To those on top they offer abject boot-licking (as Tevez might have it, sock-sucking) servility, but even then they are waiting for the slightest waver or sign of vulnerability so they can slip the knife in. And for those who are down, they put the boot in, over and over and over; there is nothing they love so much as kicking a man who is down.<br /><br />Compound this with the entire era of journalists* now prominent growing up in the 70s and 80s, which means they either supported Liverpool or hated them blindly and couldn't wait to throw themselves behind whomever supplanted them at the top of English football.<br /><br />Most of them would love nothing more than to see Benitez run out of Liverpool, partly out of desire to see Anfield in chaos but mostly because they can feel like they've made it happen, that they stirred up the people against him and brought him down. And what's worse is they're part right, even Liverpool supporters I hear down the pub blathering on about the zonal marking or rotation or the Lucas/Insua hate--whatever the papers are on about that day.<br /><br />American sports journalists are vacuous, stupid, and all too eager to turn isolated events into vast metaphors for perceived faults in society. English sport writers are far more intelligent, but also cynical, condescending, and bloodthirsty. With very few exceptions, I wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire.<br /><br />* also referees, but that's another matter and problemdrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16041903590665426891noreply@blogger.com