Wright Thompson on McGwire

[goalmouth]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=mcgwire

Maybe I'm DB'ing. Not easy to write about a ghost who's still living. A little bit of an abrupt ending. But after Hyde got Jake Scott, I'm a bit disappointed Thompson couldn't get McGwire.

 

[OnTheRiver]

Good effort by Wright. Should've been written by the STL media long before now....

 

[Pringle]

Did he see him at a coffee shop and decide leaving him alone was the right thing to do?

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

I agree the ending was a tad abrupt, but it was still a very well written piece. Kudos to Wright.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Did he see him at a coffee shop and decide leaving him alone was the right thing to do?

When you write something the caliber of this, please send us a link...

 

[hungryhungryhippo]

Did he see him at a coffee shop and decide leaving him alone was the right thing to do?

When you write something the caliber of this, please send us a link...

Wouldn't happen because if you pull something like chickening out of interviewing the focal point of your piece when you have the opportunity, most places ain't running the piece.

 

[Pringle]

Did he see him at a coffee shop and decide leaving him alone was the right thing to do?

When you write something the caliber of this, please send us a link...

Don't big-time me.

 

[BYH]

That was an outstanding story.

Almost made better by the fact McGwire continues to hide out. Leaves an element of mystery that would have been removed had he just shown up and said "No comment."

 

[D-Backs Hack]

Did he see him at a coffee shop and decide leaving him alone was the right thing to do?

The story did indicate that he declined to be interviewed.

I don't subscribe to the Wright Thompson-is-the-**** meme a lot of people here do, but that was a solid piece.

Only problem I had is that he doesn't say if McGwire has always had that small of a presence at his high school, or just since the drug stuff started. In 1998, you'd think the school would have wanted the world to know that he went there.

 

[Shaggy]

I thought it was pretty good, though the web design was weird.

 

[BYH]

I thought it was pretty good, though the web design was weird.

It was but it worked. I liked splitting the story up by where he's lived.

Something that's easier to do online than in print.

 

[21]

It's a better piece without McGwire. His invisibility is the whole story.

Although: the last section (about how comfortable he is behind the gates, chatting in Starbucks, moseying through the grocery store) sort of diluted the earlier portrayal of McGwire as a reclusive hermit. Sounds like he's living a quiet life with his wife and kids, avoiding big public circuses and media. Given the events of the last year(s), can't say I blame him.

He'll materialize at some point, when it benefits him. He'll say how painful it has been to have the entire sports world turn against him, when he did nothing wrong, at least nothing anyone can prove. SI will do some cover story about his quiet hurt life, we'll all shriek and grieve about lying and cheating and fallen heroes, and then no one will care any more.

 

[buckweaver]

Only problem I had is that he doesn't say if McGwire has always had that small of a presence at his high school, or just since the drug stuff started. In 1998, you'd think the school would have wanted the world to know that he went there.

It said that those "hometown hero" posters were a lot more prevalent in 1998 or thereabouts than now. So I suspect that his "small presence" at the high school wasn't always the case.

 

[The Backyardigan]

This story reminded me of the feature they did on Steve Bartman a couple years back.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=bartman

Similar premise, but I liked the Bartman story a lot more than this one.

 

[Columbo]

So Thompson did the same chicken**** method he used with the Grbac piece. Incredible.

You can use that ONCE every blue moon.

It would have been more appropriate with the McGwire. only.



****in stud.

 

[Pringle]

So Thompson did the same chicken**** method he used with the Grbac piece. Incredible.

You can use that ONCE every blue moon.

It would have been more appropriate with the McGwire. only.



****in stud.

But the question is: Have YOU ever written anything this good? [/Mizzoustud]

That's what's relevant here!

Also, from now on, Tony LaRussa should never be allowed to change his lineup. Or even pick out his lineup. Because he was a ****tier player than the guys in it.

 

[Omar_dont_scare]

So Thompson did the same chicken**** method he used with the Grbac piece. Incredible.

You can use that ONCE every blue moon.

It would have been more appropriate with the McGwire. only.



****in stud.

I actually liked this piece much better than the Grbac one. The "oh, he's not talking" thing works a lot better with a sports figure of that stature.

I never really did see what made the Grbac piece so spectacular. While it was well-written I don't see how it serves your audience. No matter how much we in the field may love something like that, I think that would make the average reader just shake his head or wonder why he just spent the past several minutes reading only to find the reporter wouldn't talk to the guy.

 

[Columbo]

So Thompson did the same chicken**** method he used with the Grbac piece. Incredible.

You can use that ONCE every blue moon.

It would have been more appropriate with the McGwire. only.



****in stud.

I actually liked this piece much better than the Grbac one. The "oh, he's not talking" thing works a lot better with a sports figure of that stature.

I never really did see what made the Grbac piece so spectacular. While it was well-written I don't see how it serves your audience. No matter how much we in the field may love something like that, I think that would make the average reader just shake his head or wonder why he just spent the past several minutes reading only to find the reporter wouldn't talk to the guy.

I agree ... it could have worked with McGwire... except I had seen it wasted already on a nobody.

 

[Omar_dont_scare]

So Thompson did the same chicken**** method he used with the Grbac piece. Incredible.

You can use that ONCE every blue moon.

It would have been more appropriate with the McGwire. only.



****in stud.

I actually liked this piece much better than the Grbac one. The "oh, he's not talking" thing works a lot better with a sports figure of that stature.

I never really did see what made the Grbac piece so spectacular. While it was well-written I don't see how it serves your audience. No matter how much we in the field may love something like that, I think that would make the average reader just shake his head or wonder why he just spent the past several minutes reading only to find the reporter wouldn't talk to the guy.

I agree ... it could have worked with McGwire... except I had seen it wasted already on a nobody.

I think it still works here, a) because of the subject and b) you have to wager most of the people who read this didn't read the KC piece where Thompson essentially did the exact same thing.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

When is this guy going to kick off the skirt and challenge someone?

I sense great fear in you, Young Skywalker.

Fear and hate ... and you don't use it.