Woody Paige back to Denver Post

[Moderator1]

From the Moddy Pipeline:

Woody Paige is returning to the Denver Post. They totally screwed Marc Spears, by the way. They had him trying out to be a columnist, and then they decided to hire Woody back. Don't know in what capacity.

[slappy4428]

Cold Pizza's gain is Denver's loss....

[Blushing]

Woody has contributed to the impression that sportswriters are ranting idiots, if not state-of-the-art wackos. And with his persistent shtick, he has lost journalistic credibility.

[JHath]

Can't say I like Woody's stuff - he definitely comes off as a buffoon - and I haven't read Marc's stuff in years, but when I edited his raw copy at one of his first stops, it was horrific. So horrific in fact that the desk banded together and went to the EE about it with a 2-inch-thick file. Marc left a few months later for a better job.

Still, I hope Marc has improved since then because he always was a nice guy. To be tried out and then denied stinks - especially if Woody is the other option. Hang in there, Marc.

[slappy4428]

Woody has contributed to the impression that sportswriters are ranting idiots, if not state-of-the-art wackos. And with his persistent shtick, he has lost journalistic credibility.

On the other hand, he looks like Jerry Freakin Izenberg compared to Skippy

[Ace]

Can't say I like Woody's stuff - he definitely comes off as a buffoon - and I haven't read Marc's stuff in years, but when I edited his raw copy at one of his first stops, it was horrific. So horrific in fact that the desk banded together and went to the EE about it with a 2-inch-thick file. Marc left a few months later for a better job.

Still, I hope Marc has improved since then because he always was a nice guy. To be tried out and then denied stinks - especially if Woody is the other option. Hang in there, Marc.

Mr. Spears can really work sources, though. I'd always find a spot for a strong reporter, though maybe not the columnist's spot.

I'd find a spot for Mr. Paige, too. Maybe in the letters to the editor once a month or so.

[PeteyPirate]

Woody Paige does act like a moron on TV, but his columns -- as I remember them from his pre-ESPN days -- were very good. I think he has plenty of credibility in the print medium.

[shockey]

woody's a legend among readers in denver. he understood he could always go home again.

[Blushing]

As for Skippy, he has no credibility either. The guy can make words dance. But he lost all credibility when he cowered outside the  interview room, listening with an ear to the door, rather than go inside and confront Tom Watson. Skippy had just written a column blasting Watson as a choke. Watson, of course, went out and won the tournament, and Skippy didn't have the . . . . courage to face him. And it's these guys, Skippy and Woody, that ESPN makes stars, which is why, or at least one reason, I say ESPN has lowered the level of sports commentary in this country.

[Ace]

As for Skippy, he has no credibility either. The guy can make words dance. But he lost all credibility when he cowered outside the  interview room, listening with an ear to the door, rather than go inside and confront Tom Watson. Skippy had just written a column blasting Watson as a choke. Watson, of course, went out and won the tournament, and Skippy didn't have the . . . . courage to face him. And it's these guys, Skippy and Woody, that ESPN makes stars, which is why, or at least one reason, I say ESPN has lowered the level of sports commentary in this country.

Did Woody wet his pants? That Tom Watson is scary mean.

[goalmouth]

What, eating dog food wasn't good enough for Woody?

[Birdscribe]

Doesn't the Denver Post have a "hiring freeze" -- much like the rest of the industry?

clicking on sarcasm font

[jason_whitlock]

Can't say I like Woody's stuff - he definitely comes off as a buffoon - and I haven't read Marc's stuff in years, but when I edited his raw copy at one of his first stops, it was horrific. So horrific in fact that the desk banded together and went to the EE about it with a 2-inch-thick file. Marc left a few months later for a better job.

Still, I hope Marc has improved since then because he always was a nice guy. To be tried out and then denied stinks - especially if Woody is the other option. Hang in there, Marc.

Dude, this is ridiculously unfair: "One of his first stops."

I'd hate to be judged by the work I turned in at my "first stop." People grow and improve. I know I did, and I've watched many young sportswriters grow and improve. It happens.

[DyePack]

Can't say I like Woody's stuff - he definitely comes off as a buffoon - and I haven't read Marc's stuff in years, but when I edited his raw copy at one of his first stops, it was horrific. So horrific in fact that the desk banded together and went to the EE about it with a 2-inch-thick file. Marc left a few months later for a better job.

Still, I hope Marc has improved since then because he always was a nice guy. To be tried out and then denied stinks - especially if Woody is the other option. Hang in there, Marc.

Dude, this is ridiculously unfair: "One of his first stops."

I'd hate to be judged by the work I turned in at my "first stop." People grow and improve. I know I did, and I've watched many young sportswriters grow and improve. It happens.

And sometimes it doesn't. Professional writers should know how to write.

I guarantee if copy editors were allowing mistakes into print every day, something would be done. Having the protection of editing shouldn't change basic standards.

[Ace]

Can't say I like Woody's stuff - he definitely comes off as a buffoon - and I haven't read Marc's stuff in years, but when I edited his raw copy at one of his first stops, it was horrific. So horrific in fact that the desk banded together and went to the EE about it with a 2-inch-thick file. Marc left a few months later for a better job.

Still, I hope Marc has improved since then because he always was a nice guy. To be tried out and then denied stinks - especially if Woody is the other option. Hang in there, Marc.

Dude, this is ridiculously unfair: "One of his first stops."

I'd hate to be judged by the work I turned in at my "first stop." People grow and improve. I know I did, and I've watched many young sportswriters grow and improve. It happens.

And sometimes it doesn't. Professional writers should know how to write.

I guarantee if copy editors were allowing mistakes into print every day, something would be done. Having the protection of editing shouldn't change basic standards.

Bottom line, though. I can work with a story that has news in it. Make it read better. Correct grammar errors.

I can't put news in a grammatically correct, perfectly spelled snoozer.

[Perry White]

Hooray!  Deadspin links to The Big Lead links to SJ.com

[Claws for Concern]

Woody Paige can still write. He never should have gone to ESPN in the first place.

[scalper]

Every time an editor tells you to write shorter, to make that "takeout" 25 instead of 50, blame ESPN.

Every time a paper outlaws or limits jumps from a section front, blame ESPN.

I know USA Today was the start, but ESPN and highlights really changed things for the worse.

I'd call ESPN the devil, but that's too easy and not nearly harsh enough.

[DyePack]

Every time an editor tells you to write shorter, to make that "takeout" 25 instead of 50, blame ESPN.

I assume this is hyperbole. 50 inches?

And I've seen a CE hustled out the door after a few weeks. Would he have gotten any better? No. Was he given the chance to get any better? Hell, no.

[MC Sports Guy]

Cold Pizza's gain is Denver's loss....

well-constructed. Hopefully this is the end of ESPN's biggest dolt. And that's a mouthful.

[MileHigh]

Paige tells a Denver blog he is NOT coming back to the Post.

http://www.westword.com/blogs/


How much truth is there in this gossip? None, says Paige, who responded to questions about the assertions by cell phone during one of his regular strolls around New York City; at one point, he mentioned passing Trump Tower. According to Paige, he still has one year left on his ESPN contract, and he’s already had a conversation or two about extending the deal. Moreover, he insisted that Cold Pizza’s ratings are healthy. Hence, he doubts the show is going anywhere.

As for how rumblings about a return got started, Paige had a guess or two. He visited Denver for the first time in two years on his way to the September 25 Monday Night Football matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons, the first game at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina struck. His main reason for the stop was to grapple with storage units filled with books and Southwestern art that have been m0ldering since he relocated to NYC. However, he also dropped by the Post’s fancy new headquarters, where editor Greg Moore gave him a tour of the newsroom and he chatted for a few minutes with Post owner Dean Singleton. But the call was strictly social and had nothing to do with a possible Denver comeback, Paige says. Not this time, at least. Although he thinks he’ll wind up in Denver again eventually, he doesn’t have an estimated time of arrival, and he continues to enjoy his ESPN duties.

[Ace]

Paige traveled from New York City to New Orleans via Denver? Damn Delta Airlines!

[Moderator1]

Interesting.
My goods came from a well-placed, oft-used member of the Moddy Pipeline.
We're all wrong eventually.  Even the Moddy Pipeline's average will fall below 1.000 one day.
I'm still not certain this is that time.

[Bubbler]

Every time an editor tells you to write shorter, to make that "takeout" 25 instead of 50, blame ESPN.

Every time a paper outlaws or limits jumps from a section front, blame ESPN.

I know USA Today was the start, but ESPN and highlights really changed things for the worse.

I'd call ESPN the devil, but that's too easy and not nearly harsh enough.

Perhaps, but any sports editor who doesn't make the case to his superiors that ESPN provides nothing but the most basic and superficial of news, giving the paper a chance to offer more depth isn't doing his job.

[shockey]

maybe woody just "changed his mind." that's everybody's out these days.