Really, Reilly?

[broadway joe]

Is it possible he could have made up the "venti mochachino"? Maybe it was just a cup of Acme black from his hotel sink but, as a literary device, it's more useful to lament your spilled venti mochachino than Acme black. Just wondering.

Yeah, it's possible that he made it up because it sounds more humorous. Also possible he was just trying to be as specific as possible, as any writer should.

You should be as specific as possible about what kind of beverage you are drinking? I'd call that valuable characters pissed away on a throwaway line that only served to make him look as into himself as was the guy who was driving the car.

This column is what Reilly does; read him or don't. But that line was either narcissism in its purest form or just plain poor writing. It's not humorous and if Reilly thinks it is he's not "lost something off his fastball," but is due for journalistic Tommy John.

I no longer enjoy Reilly's stuff and that's OK. Lots of people do. As a journalist you can still read it and know what he's trying to do and this column is fine on that level. But that line sucks.

You're annoyed that he told you what kind of coffee he spilled instead of just saying it was coffee? That makes no sense.

 

[SoCalScribe]

The best paid help cannot begin to approximate the impact of a moderately competent parent or parents.

 

[Lester Bangs]

Is it possible he could have made up the "venti mochachino"? Maybe it was just a cup of Acme black from his hotel sink but, as a literary device, it's more useful to lament your spilled venti mochachino than Acme black. Just wondering.

Yeah, it's possible that he made it up because it sounds more humorous. Also possible he was just trying to be as specific as possible, as any writer should.

You should be as specific as possible about what kind of beverage you are drinking? I'd call that valuable characters pissed away on a throwaway line that only served to make him look as into himself as was the guy who was driving the car.

This column is what Reilly does; read him or don't. But that line was either narcissism in its purest form or just plain poor writing. It's not humorous and if Reilly thinks it is he's not "lost something off his fastball," but is due for journalistic Tommy John.

I no longer enjoy Reilly's stuff and that's OK. Lots of people do. As a journalist you can still read it and know what he's trying to do and this column is fine on that level. But that line sucks.

You're annoyed that he told you what kind of coffee he spilled instead of just saying it was coffee? That makes no sense.

Perhaps, but to me it smacks of the "look at me" bull**** that puts the focus on the writer and plays into the "columnist as celebrity" crap that is getting so old. He couldn't just be drinking a cup of coffee or even a mocha, it's a venti mochachino? It goes from a drink to a pop culture reference and has not a god damned thing to do with your subject. Then again, maybe he really was drinking said Starbucks product.

That said, I am admittedly cranky and old school so I'm probably just being a prick. All of this has distracted me from watching MLB Extra Innings on DirecTV.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Could the coffee thing have been a shot at, say, another writer? Just wondering.

Like?

 

[DirtyDeeds]

PK, I'm assuming.

 

[DCaraviello]

Good christ, people. Details, details, details. That's what you shoot for in any piece. "Venti mochachiato," or whatever it is, is much more funny than "coffee." He's poking fun at himself -- here's this dopey writer who can't even keep his coffee cup vertical while Kobe is jumping through five hoops at once. And for those of you who say you hate athletes, or don't care about what Kobe does -- what the heck are you doing on this site? In this industry? You may think jocks are overpaid louts, but that doesn't change the fact that the job of a sportswriter is to tell good stories -- preferably about the kind of people that readers actually want to READ about. Some of the reactions on this thread make me wonder if poor management isn't the only reason this industry is in the toilet.

 

[Double J]

The main reason in my opinion is hysterical rejoinders to honest criticism on message boards, but, hey, that's just me......

 

[lohengrin]

He's been the prototype of the "I-me, I-me" type of columnist for a long time. He can do some great stuff. But this is hardly the first time he's done something like this. Remember, he's really tight with "Gretz."

Good christ, people. Details, details, details. That's what you shoot for in any piece. "Venti mochachiato," or whatever it is, is much more funny than "coffee." He's poking fun at himself -- here's this dopey writer who can't even keep his coffee cup vertical while Kobe is jumping through five hoops at once. And for those of you who say you hate athletes, or don't care about what Kobe does -- what the heck are you doing on this site? In this industry? You may think jocks are overpaid louts, but that doesn't change the fact that the job of a sportswriter is to tell good stories -- preferably about the kind of people that readers actually want to READ about. Some of the reactions on this thread make me wonder if poor management isn't the only reason this industry is in the toilet.

 

[CentralIllinoisan]

Rare is the time when Kobe is not the biggest ego in his own car.

Candidate for line of the year. Well done, Les.

 

[silentbob]

The whole "hanging on for dear life" while riding shotgun with the superstar is soooooooooooooooo worn out.

 

[Singapore Slim]

I don't hate the column.

I hate the fact that there are people on earth that really live like Kobe Bryant does. And all for playing a ****ing game. I'm really beginning to hate sports.

This would seem to be a column that would help you to not hate these sorts of guys. I don't think Peyton Manning is tossing the pigskin through a tire swing at 3:30 in the morning. I don't think Derek Jeter is taking BP that hour. I'm not a big fan of Kobe, but you have to admit he puts the work in, more than just about any other pro athlete out there.

 

[DanOregon]

The thing about Kobe, LeBron, et. al., sure they were born with talent, but the same competitiveness that makes them demand (and frequently make) that last second shot is also what gets them up in the morning and be able to focus their entire energies on being as good as they can possibly be.

And as for the details, Reilly initially said Bryant played golf with Plump in the article, since corrected (without a note) to refer to the guy who played Jimmy Chitwood in Hoosiers.

 

[CitizenTino]

I can't believe Kobe didn't know what time his game was until an hour and a half before tip-off. I mean, think about that.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Wow, Reilly, only two years late on this one ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4145564

 

[Grimace]

Wow, Reilly, only two years late on this one ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4145564

"blowing through batters like a Cub Scout through Skittles."

 

[SoCalDude]

Wow, Reilly, only two years late on this one ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4145564

"blowing through batters like a Cub Scout through Skittles."

That's when I stopped reading.

 

[DanOregon]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can hear the rimshots when I'm reading his stuff.

 

[Double J]

Last season, he had 23 saves for the Staten Island Yankees, with a 0.83 ERA. And best of all, the kid can relieve himself!

:

Next up for Reilly: ex-Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel attempts to re-invent himself - as an outfielder! Can you believe it?!?!

 

[Armchair_QB]

Still dead.

 

[UPChip]

Last season, he had 23 saves for the Staten Island Yankees, with a 0.83 ERA. And best of all, the kid can relieve himself!

Big deal. I do that every morning, and I bet I've got better location!