Blogger Bashers Rejoice

[auggie_ben_doggie]

The NY Islanders have opened their "Blog Box," allowing bloggers to view the game from their own press area, giving them access to the home locker room and the chance to ask questions of players and coaches after home games.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/richard_deitsch/10/08/islanders.bloggers/

As someone who has defended the idea of increased media access to bloggers, it's with a heavy heart I must report that according to SI.com, several of them mingled with the working media during postgame interviews while wearing Islanders jerseys:

Certainly, they dressed differently from members of the press. Four of the bloggers wore Islanders jerseys, Karl proudly carried an orange purse with the team's logo on it, and all were encouraged to cheer or shout if they wanted. Botta said the Blog Box will be open for every home game this season and that he expects it will be at capacity on some nights while other games will draw just a handful.

[Babs]

Since they were "encouraged to cheer" by the Islanders, why would you expect them not to wear jerseys? 

[Chi City 81]

Since they were "encouraged to cheer" by the Islanders, why would you expect them not to wear jerseys? 

Self-respect?

[Babs]

But this wouldn't even occur to them, since most don't even desire to appear objective.   

Objectivity is a relatively recent construct in the media anyway, if we remember history. 

Pendulum swinging the other way?  I'm just thinking out loud here.

[thebiglead]

Team blogs are kind of like Fox News. You go there knowing you're getting one side of the story.

[hondo]

Team blogs are kind of like Fox News. You go there knowing you're getting one side of the story.

You obviously haven't met Alan Colmes and Geraldo Rivera.

[auggie_ben_doggie]

Team blogs are kind of like Fox News. You go there knowing you're getting one side of the story.

Are you saying that every blogger who writes about the Islanders is drinking the Kool-Aid? I'm sure at least a few of them have made some cracks about the backup goalie becoming GM or the starting goalie getting a 15-year contract, right?

[thebiglead]

No clue, Ben. Don't read the Islanders team blogs. But most team blogs give you the perspective of, say, a Bears fanboy. Not saying anything is wrong with that, either.

[Bob Cook]

As one who spent half his college years witnessing firsthand Bob Hammel as Bob Knight's water boy and most of his staff outwardly cheering at Indiana games, and as one who has read many threads on this here board about fanboy newspaper, TV and radio reporters, I would caution anyone that while it may be fair to trash specific bloggers for being blatant fans, it would not be fair to conclude that bloggers should be trashed just for being bloggers because many are homers, while "legitimate" reporters are not.

[Chi City 81]

As one who spent half his college years witnessing firsthand Bob Hammel as Bob Knight's water boy and most of his staff outwardly cheering at Indiana games, and as one who has read many threads on this here board about fanboy newspaper, TV and radio reporters, I would caution anyone that while it may be fair to trash specific bloggers for being blatant fans, it would not be fair to conclude that bloggers should be trashed just for being bloggers because many are homers, while "legitimate" reporters are not.

Agreed, Bob. But in this, and all cases, jerseys = homers.

[Flash]

Sigh ... desperate marketing ploy ... some things will never change in hockey.

[Fenian_Bastard]

Team blogs are kind of like Fox News. You go there knowing you're getting one side of the story.

You obviously haven't met Alan Colmes and Geraldo Rivera.

Meat puppet and crazy person.
The original title of the show was "Hannity And Liberal To Be Named." Honest.
Anyway, Karl and his purse have me worried here.

[Write-brained]

I'd prefer they wear the jerseys so the athletes can differentiate between the serious guys (reporters and bloggers) and the fanboys - then again they'd probably spend more time getting fellatio with the fanboys.

[Pete Incaviglia]

But this wouldn't even occur to them, since most don't even desire to appear objective.  

Agreed. I was "called out" by a blogger even after the blogger contacted me (not identifying himself as a blogger at first) about something I had written in a column.

I explained my point. I even offered historical evidence that supported my point.

Still, the fan, err, professional, err, blogger called me out, skewing everything to make his point.

I'm not bitter. I just laugh.

[Bob Cook]

As one who spent half his college years witnessing firsthand Bob Hammel as Bob Knight's water boy and most of his staff outwardly cheering at Indiana games, and as one who has read many threads on this here board about fanboy newspaper, TV and radio reporters, I would caution anyone that while it may be fair to trash specific bloggers for being blatant fans, it would not be fair to conclude that bloggers should be trashed just for being bloggers because many are homers, while "legitimate" reporters are not.

Agreed, Bob. But in this, and all cases, jerseys = homers.

I have no argument with you there, Doc. Anyone wearing a jersey in the press area had better be a player who can't find his way to the lockerroom without directions.

[captzulu]

From the quotes in the story, it sounds like most of the bloggers who were there saw themselves as fans with a backstage pass and acted accordingly. They never really even tried to pass themselves off as real journalists, so if you were expecting hard-hitting journalism out of them, you'll obviously be disappointed. But I don't really have a problem with them being in the locker room, as long as they don't get in the way of real journalists (which, from the story, it seemed like they didn't). There are non-journalists in pressboxes and locker rooms at sporting events now, so what's a few more? From the team's perspective, doing this increases the number of information outlets covering your team, and the coverage from these outlets are more likely to be positive than traditional media.

[Pete Incaviglia]

First of all it's hockey. I don't think those of us covering MLB, NFL or NBA have (as much) to worry about.

The NHL can't gain any footing in the US and it's losing what it already had. This is just a ploy as the story said to get more info about a niche sport out there.

Even power player Nike sold off Bauer because it's losing money.

Any other league would never try this.

[BYH]

It's time for my standard statement about the worthlessness of Chris Botta, the Jay Horwitz of sports that nobody gives a shit about.

Well, there it was. Chris Botta is a useless piece of crap. He'll credential stupid fanboy bloggers and shit on any other non-mainstream media that wants to cover his shitty team. Go fuck yourself, Uniondale Chris Botta.

[Lester Bangs]

First of all it's hockey. I don't think those of us covering MLB, NFL or NBA have (as much) to worry about.

The NHL can't gain any footing in the US and it's losing what it already had. This is just a ploy as the story said to get more info about a niche sport out there.

Even power player Nike sold off Bauer because it's losing money.

Any other league would never try this.

Am I the only one who finds this kind of brilliant? The other sports don't need the exposure, but for hockey this is damn smart. If I were an NHL flak, I'd credential anybody who wanted to write a single inch about any aspect about my deader-than-fried-chicken sport. Now, do I want to work alongside these assclowns ...

[Babs]

Sigh ... desperate marketing ploy ... some things will never change in hockey.

Ha, I think you mean the opposite.  The NHL doesn't do ENOUGH marketing, that's its biggest problem.