Wilbon v. Feinstein - What the Hell?

[Moderator1]

I need to get out more, I missed whatever prompted this interesting answer on Mike Wilbon's chat. I happen to know and like both guys, so I'm a little surprise though maybe I shouldn't be?

WaPo Newsroom: So, Kornheiser gets suspended for criticizing a collegue at ESPN on his radio show, does Junior get the same treatment at the Post for calling you out regarding the Tiger situation ... -paraphrasing ... "If Mike still wanted to be a Professional Journalist..]?

Michael Wilbon: I don't need Junior to get suspended. Junior caught an earful of language and heat that was both deserved and will stay private. I'll match my credentials as a journalist with John Feinstein anytime. Junior has often mistaken his opinion with fact and with legitimacy. Thing is, my father didn't raise me to be subservient to Junior, or anybody else. My opinions about Tiger Woods or any other issue are mine and I could give a damn about what Feinstein or anybody else things about them. The only thing special about Feinstein's opinions is that they're his. And I let him know that in very specific language that best belongs on HBO.

 

[Ace]

Wilbon comes off as a **** who can't back up his talk in his little Junior response there.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Yeah, Feinstein made that "If Mike still wanted to be a professional journalist" crack about Wilbon on Kornheiser's radio show, while ripping Wilbon for supporting Tiger. Kornheiser seemed a little shocked at that one.

 

[derwood]

Can't wait for ESPN DC to go live.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

Man, these WaPo chats can be tense. Wilbon and Mike Leahy got into a similar spat a while back over Jordan.

 

[Bob Cook]

Man, these WaPo chats can be tense. Wilbon and Mike Leahy got into a similar spat a while back over Jordan.

And over a similar charge.

 

[MileHigh]

Can't wait for ESPN DC to go live.

It and Philly appear to be the next ones up after New York launches.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

Nice piece by Feinstein.

I liked Wilbon, back in the day, but he has become too much of an apologist for famous athletes, particularly Eldrick.

**** 'em.

 

[playthrough]

Feinstein's stuff ripping the Mike & Mike 10th anniversary was dead-on.

 

[Pancamo]

I agree with Feinstein but his declaration that he is a "wise-guy New Yorkers" is comical.

John doesn't strike me as street, comical or sarcastic.

 

[DanOregon]

Journos who suddenly start pulling their punches on some athletes misdeeds while ripping others who do the same thing make my skin crawl.
Feinstein is no stranger to the phenomenon. No doubt he knows that Tiger is not a lone wolf on the PGA Tour.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I love Feinstein, but nobody burns bridges faster.

No major columnist works harder than Wilbon, but he has become a total jock-sniffer over the last several years.

 

[Small Town Guy]

This review always stands out when I think about Feinstein's later work.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/books/review/04nocera.html?_r=1

Feinstein's willingness to see things the way management does may be inevitable. As we grow older, we tend to identify with our peers, and Feinstein's peers nowadays are the people running teams rather than the ones playing for them. This is not that different from the evolution of another well-known Washington Post writer, Bob Woodward, who began his career knocking on the doors of secretaries and now talks directly to presidents and cabinet officials - and conveys their version of events (empathetically, of course).

 

[Ace]

This review always stands out when I think about Feinstein's later work.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/books/review/04nocera.html?_r=1

Feinstein's willingness to see things the way management does may be inevitable. As we grow older, we tend to identify with our peers, and Feinstein's peers nowadays are the people running teams rather than the ones playing for them. This is not that different from the evolution of another well-known Washington Post writer, Bob Woodward, who began his career knocking on the doors of secretaries and now talks directly to presidents and cabinet officials - and conveys their version of events (empathetically, of course).

Wow. What a brutal review. Good stuff.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

That is a great column.

 

[shockey]

This review always stands out when I think about Feinstein's later work.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/books/review/04nocera.html?_r=1

Feinstein's willingness to see things the way management does may be inevitable. As we grow older, we tend to identify with our peers, and Feinstein's peers nowadays are the people running teams rather than the ones playing for them. This is not that different from the evolution of another well-known Washington Post writer, Bob Woodward, who began his career knocking on the doors of secretaries and now talks directly to presidents and cabinet officials - and conveys their version of events (empathetically, of course).

i, too, am of john and wilbon's generation of scribes. both are friends. most, if not all, og us eventually move from being a "player's guy" to a "management" guy. it's just human nature. many of the athletes we covered in our 20s and 30s are retired and/or in management now. it's harder as you get older to bridge the gen gap with the athletes.

largely, the big-name columnists like wilbon can stay "hip" through their facetime on the tube. when columnists/journos get as big as john and mike, it gets harder and harder for them to speak to joe schmoe on the corner. see: lupica, mike.

they all seem to be getting by just fine, thanks. just have to keep themselves thick-skinned at all times.

 

[Ace]

This review always stands out when I think about Feinstein's later work.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/books/review/04nocera.html?_r=1

Feinstein's willingness to see things the way management does may be inevitable. As we grow older, we tend to identify with our peers, and Feinstein's peers nowadays are the people running teams rather than the ones playing for them. This is not that different from the evolution of another well-known Washington Post writer, Bob Woodward, who began his career knocking on the doors of secretaries and now talks directly to presidents and cabinet officials - and conveys their version of events (empathetically, of course).

i, too, am of john and wilbon's generation of scribes. both are friends. most, if not all, og us eventually move from being a "player's guy" to a "management" guy. it's just human nature. many of the athletes we covered in our 20s and 30s are retired and/or in management now. it's harder as you get older to bridge the gen gap with the athletes.

largely, the big-name columnists like wilbon can stay "hip" through their facetime on the tube. when columnists/journos get as big as john and mike, it gets harder and harder for them to speak to joe schmoe on the corner. see: lupica, mike.

they all seem to be getting by just fine, thanks. just have to keep themselves thick-skinned at all times.

Yes, but they don't keep themselves thick-skinned. Wilbon's response above is tissue thin.

 

[shockey]

Yes, but they don't keep themselves thick-skinned. Wilbon's response above is tissue thin.

you are correct, in most cases. they can be a thin-skinned lot. in this case, however, i believe mike had reason to take offense -- you expect to take sling and arrows from your audience; it's more difficult to take when a colleague takes you to task. glass houses, etc.

it's just a low-blow delivered by a perceived friend. or at least a one-time friend or peer, imo.

 

[Ace]

Yes, but they don't keep themselves thick-skinned. Wilbon's response above is tissue thin.

you are correct, in most cases. they can be a thin-skinned lot. in this case, however, i believe mike had reason to take offense -- you expect to take sling and arrows from your audience; it's more difficult to take when a colleague takes you to task. glass houses, etc.

it's just a low-blow delivered by a perceived friend. or at least a one-time frend or peer, imo.

Yes, but a thick-skinned response would be to say that he doesn't need to be suspended. You called him and gave him an earful, whatever.

But calling him Junior, saying you'll match your credentials with him and that you don't give a damn what he thinks all just scream that Feinstein really hit the target.

 

[playthrough]

Yeah, "matching credentials" is really lame.