23 Reasons Why J.R. Moehringer can't write a profile about Pete Carroll

Written by J.R. Moehringer for LA Magazine.

This, kind souls, is writing. Best magazine piece I've read in awhile.

Interested, though, to hear your thoughts. (It ran two weeks ago, but I didn't see it until today.) Too gimmicky? Sincere? Brilliant? Phony? Remember, Tom Wolfe once wrote about hot rod culture in Southern California simply by writing a letter to editor Byron Dobell that contained all the notes he took.

Also, I think a word was dropped from the end of the first bullet point on the web version. I assume it's supposed to say "Accepting his loan of a shirt might have been unethical."

 

Given the time, J.R. Moehringer doesn't have a contemporary.
That was fabulous on so many levels. A difficult, cornering framework. Yet kept pace. That was fun. Thanks.

(There will be Gary Smith shouts, and they're heard.)

 

Good Lord.

After finishing that, I had to go back and read the old DD post about newspaper hacks and Gary Smith and Tim O'Brien and insecurity, just to convince myself I'm not as hopelessly incompetent as Mr. Moehringer made me feel.

Nothing short of brilliant.

 

That was incredible. Easily one of the best pieces I've ever read. Fun read all the way through, and a damn interesting (not gimmicky) way to tell the story of Pete Carroll.

Now, if you'd excuse me, I'm going to go do some pushups on my couch.

 

It's the kind of story that reminds me this: Even though I can't do it this well, this is the reason why I do what I do.

I loved the physical descriptions in this part of the piece.

 

Yeah. I loved the whole "man-crush" segment, too.

 

Exactly. It was such a good piece I didn't even notice that 30 minutes went by while reading it. I already sent the link to a bunch of co-workers and am thinking of sending it to a couple of coaches that I cover.

Thanks for sharing it DD.

 

I just go through point No. 3 and I can't believe what I'm reading. I had to take a quick break just to gather myself. I mean, this is one of the most original approaches to any kind of writing I've ever seen.

The way he connects writing a profile and a football game is fantastic. I never thought of it that way.

Anyway, back to reading.

 

We've just seen the first lock for BASW 2008.

And my writer's crush on Moehringer intensifies.

 

Thank you, DD. That is exactly what I needed to hear.

 

A wonderful piece, of course, but it always bothers me when someone feels forced to make a gross exaggeration in an attempt to paint a picture.

Let's just look at the SEC. Spurrier, Meyer, Richt. Saban. Nutt.

The Philopottamas at Tennessee is the only one who meets the first two criteria.

There are a lot of sourpusses, I guess. But I suspect Carroll was one, too, when he was coaching in the NFL.

 

Moehringer's a tremendous writer. I loved the profile; it presented an aspect of Carroll that I've yet to read anywhere else. But if you want to read his best work, pick up "Tender Bar," which is fantastic.