Why the awe over Posnanski?

Is this long, windy drivel supposed to be state of the art for SJ nation? Did Time Inc. lay off his editor? I guess I just don't get the boundless admiration.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/joe_posnanski/05/11/ken.griffey/index.html

 

I wasn't an admirer until I read his Buck O'Neil book, which I found inexpressibly moving.

 

I like Posnanski because he manages to meld statistics into conversational writing. He's not over your head, but he's not just randomly pontificating. His blog is better than almost anything he gets paid to write.

 

Because he knows how to research and report the hell out of a story and makes excellent use of details to tell it in a compelling straightforward way?

The blog link lacked flair though, you're right, but I don't think any writer ever puts his/her best efforts into blog items.

 

I think some people see him as the antidote to all the cynicism in sportswriting, the anti-Simers.

He lost me when he did contortions to find excuses for Willie Mays' consistently miserable behavior by saying it's tough to always be the center of attention. Here's a hint: If you don't like being the center of attention, pass up the $100K autograph shows.

 

He has the knowledge of a seamhead but doesn't write like a seamhead.

He's definitely at his best when he's writing about baseball.

 

This is my favorite (well, one of my favorites)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1149837/index.htm

 

Thanks for the link, but I remain unimpressed. They must be less demanding in KC.

 

So, Goalmouth, which columnists are worthy of your love?

 

Lost me when he defended the BCS- a program headed up by a friend of his which to his credit was forthcoming about

 

To me, he's the best baseball writer there is. But that's my opinion.

 

Agreed.