The WashPost House of Ill Repute

[Dave Kindred]

I am here to confess. The Washington Post didn't name me, but I can't let my fellow desperadoes take the heat alone. I am their bookie.

For a long time now, I have collected cash in the house we rent at Augusta every April during the Masters. After anteing up, $50 each in this case, we draft the 90-some players, even Charles Coody and Doug Ford in the day. We pay for the day's low round, most cuts, most in the top 24, 1st-2d-3d.

Turns out that the Post ombud thinks we're sinners doomed to journalistic hell unless we repent by replacing cash with Oreos. You'd think, reading her swill, that one of us ran into the 11th fairway on Sunday and threw Tiger's swoosh-ball into the trees, the better to manipulate the results.

My man Kornheiser, on his Post radio show, called the ombud column "the dumbest waste of space in the newspaper's history."

To be fair, we should understand it was a slow news week. There was only the Imus firing, and the Duke rape-charges dismissal, and Paul Wolfowitz using World Bank money to pay off his girl friend. Small wonder the ombud chose to harangue a gang of sportswriters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/13/AR2007041302084.html

 

[CapeCodder]

As you say, Dave, it's not like there wasn't a whole lot of other journalistic questions to delve into that week. Shame on you. :


But if you have to wager a delcious snack treat next year instead of a few bucks, I vote for Mallomars--a far superior cookie to the traditional Oreo (unless it's double-stuff were talking about here...)

 

[write then drink]

I think the reader, Sullivan, raises a valid concern.

probably wasn't worth a 922-word piece by Howell.

 

[jaredk]

I think the reader, Sullivan, raises a valid concern.

What is the concern?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The fundmental stupidity of Howell's column was its assumption there's some way a writer who put a bet down on a sports event COULD alter his coverage.
You can't spin the scoreboard. You have no way to influence an event nor really to twist or even shade its facts. Whenever, and it's rare, sports coverage reflects a bias, it's always an emotional one, not fiscal.
Next up from Howell. To insure integrity, our business section reporters must keep their savings in their mattresses.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Debbie Howell spends most of her time hiding under the bed from nasty bloggers who point out that Fred Hiatt is a ******.
Tough to see the forest for the trees from under there.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

I always thought that the best bet to make at Augusta is to see who can eat the most of those cheese sandwiches they have at the course. One of them is delicious but I'm curious if anyone can hold down several of them.

Next year - $50 says you can't eat five in five minutes and not puke within the hour.

BTW - Paul Wolfowitz did nothing wrong but your mention of him does illustrate how sportswriters today let their political bias seep into the most unconnected sports affairs. You'd be surprised how big a turnoff that is to many, many readers

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Next year - $50 says you can't eat five in five minutes and not puke within the hour.

BTW - Paul Wolfowitz did nothing wrong but your mention of him does illustrate how sportswriters today let their political bias seep into the most unconnected sports affairs. You'd be surprised how big a turnoff that is to many, many readers

I wouldn't eat five of those pimento cheeses in five years, let alone five minutes.

As for Wolfowitz, I never made any sports connection and would never get to that in a column. The reference was to the Washington Post ombudsman, who deals in all news. And there's nothing political in it, anyway, unless you want to see it that way -- the guy is not being investigated by Congress, by Democrats, or even by the cursed MSM -- his own World Bank board of directors is after his ass.

The liberals on the WB board are after him.
As to the actual topic, this is the kind of thing that ombuds live for -- inconsequential and not an issue that will get them disinvited tp the finer soirees.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Next year - $50 says you can't eat five in five minutes and not puke within the hour.

BTW - Paul Wolfowitz did nothing wrong but your mention of him does illustrate how sportswriters today let their political bias seep into the most unconnected sports affairs. You'd be surprised how big a turnoff that is to many, many readers

I wouldn't eat five of those pimento cheeses in five years, let alone five minutes.

As for Wolfowitz, I never made any sports connection and would never get to that in a column. The reference was to the Washington Post ombudsman, who deals in all news. And there's nothing political in it, anyway, unless you want to see it that way -- the guy is not being investigated by Congress, by Democrats, or even by the cursed MSM -- his own World Bank board of directors is after his ass.

I've had two as a meal once and I was left with that three McDonald's cheeseburger feeling in the pit of my stomach.

As far as Wolfowitz is concerned - first off I think Dave K is stretching to even mention the Wolfowitz story in the same class of news as the VT shootings or the Duke story and I think that belies a bias which as a reader I see common in many sportsreporters. Second - my understanding is that the World Bank ethics committee twice looked into the matter and found nothing wrong (it is only the MSM who is trying to make this an issue people should care about - much like the Augusta National story from a couple of years ago). Third - my criticism was a general one - many people go to the sports sections to avoid the partisan bickering and bitterness and we get upset when sportswriters take it upon themselves to insert their political biases into a story that has nothing to do with politics.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Next year - $50 says you can't eat five in five minutes and not puke within the hour.

BTW - Paul Wolfowitz did nothing wrong but your mention of him does illustrate how sportswriters today let their political bias seep into the most unconnected sports affairs. You'd be surprised how big a turnoff that is to many, many readers

I wouldn't eat five of those pimento cheeses in five years, let alone five minutes.

As for Wolfowitz, I never made any sports connection and would never get to that in a column. The reference was to the Washington Post ombudsman, who deals in all news. And there's nothing political in it, anyway, unless you want to see it that way -- the guy is not being investigated by Congress, by Democrats, or even by the cursed MSM -- his own World Bank board of directors is after his ass.

The liberals on the WB board are after him.
As to the actual topic, this is the kind of thing that ombuds live for -- inconsequential and not an issue that will get them disinvited tp the finer soirees.

I think Fenian is saying we should stay on topic here and in that I agree.

Sorry for the Wolfowitz sidetrack.

Do Oreos contain transfats? If so maybe we should send a joke letter to the editor chastising Howell for suggestiing people eat unhealthy foods which is worse than gambling.

Also - out of curiousity - does the WaPo publish betting lines? If so - that raises a whole other issue.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Next year - $50 says you can't eat five in five minutes and not puke within the hour.

BTW - Paul Wolfowitz did nothing wrong but your mention of him does illustrate how sportswriters today let their political bias seep into the most unconnected sports affairs. You'd be surprised how big a turnoff that is to many, many readers

I wouldn't eat five of those pimento cheeses in five years, let alone five minutes.

As for Wolfowitz, I never made any sports connection and would never get to that in a column. The reference was to the Washington Post ombudsman, who deals in all news. And there's nothing political in it, anyway, unless you want to see it that way -- the guy is not being investigated by Congress, by Democrats, or even by the cursed MSM -- his own World Bank board of directors is after his ass.

I've had two as a meal once and I was left with that three McDonald's cheeseburger feeling in the pit of my stomach.

As far as Wolfowitz is concerned - first off I think Dave K is stretching to even mention the Wolfowitz story in the same class of news as the VT shootings or the Duke story and I think that belies a bias which as a reader I see common in many sportsreporters. Second - my understanding is that the World Bank ethics committee twice looked into the matter and found nothing wrong (it is only the MSM who is trying to make this an issue people should care about - much like the Augusta National story from a couple of years ago). Third - my criticism was a general one - many people go to the sports sections to avoid the partisan bickering and bitterness and we get upset when sportswriters take it upon themselves to insert their political biases into a story that has nothing to do with politics.

In fact, and I can't find the link, but I believe the WaPo eliminated betting lines with great moral fanfare a few years back.
Don't even think about screwing with Oreos.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Maybe we should take the healthcare angle.

Dear Miss Howell,

I just read your Ombudsman column dated April 15th and I must say that I am a bit outraged at your attitude towards the sportswriters in question. These folks mostly lead sedentary lives and yet you would have the winners of the betting pools in question gorge themselves on cookies? Is the health insurance at the Washington Post that good that you can suggest employees take obvious health risks (even in jest)? With childhood obesity a major problem in this country and heart disease the major killer in this country - I find your suggestion of using Oreos to bet with instead of cash highly irresponsible. Doesn't the Washington Post care about the children? I'm guessing that you are neither a wife or a mother because if you were you would know better than to try to change the way men act around other men and you would not suggest foods loaded with transfats as a substitute. Why don't you suggest the men cut out beer and substitute drinks colored with red dye while you are at it?

Sincerely,

Chris L

 

[Dave Kindred]

In fact, and I can't find the link, but I believe the WaPo eliminated betting lines with great moral fanfare a few years back.
Don't even think about screwing with Oreos.

It was 20 years ago or more, Fenian....I persuaded Solomon it was wrong to legitimize an illegal activity....not being an avid agate reader now, I'm not sure the no-betting-lines edict still stands....

Speaking of "moral fanfare," I doubt that any columnist has ever inveighed against sports gambling more often or with greater passion than I have. Yet I have organized a Masters draft pool in our house forever. That's because I've never once thought of it as sports gambling. It's a low-grade lottery.

As for Oreos, see the earlier posting from CapeCodder, who suggests we replace Oreos with Cosell's snack of choice, the Mallomar.

 

[fishwrapper]

I won the NCAA Tourney office pool, this year.
I [amassed] 535 [points].
Whew. I'm in the clear, now.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I'm pretty sure they still post lines for pro sporting events. I've never seen them do much more than casually reference in a story a college betting line, but they've definitely had lines for NFL and sometimes NBA games. I'm iffy on whether they've done NHL and I know they've never done MLB games. Whether they do it now or not is unknown, since I haven't had enough dough to really want to get into those sports.

 

[accguy]

Here's the bigger question: Does Sean Jensen receive an invite to stay in the house again after blogging about all of this?

 

[write then drink]

Here's the bigger question: Does Sean Jensen receive an invite to stay in the house again after blogging about all of this?

yeah, i was wondering the same

probably not the best judgment to scribe about such a pool, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Next year: strip Augusta pool

 

[tapintoamerica]

Newspapers are so afraid of their customers that they will self-flagellate to any degree over anything to appease them. This is a perfect example of that, one made even more perfect by the inherent contempt that management has for sports reporters.

 

[fishwrapper]

An ombudsman is not "management." Thankfully.
Most of them would have to get down off their soapbox or high horse to be management.