I've never met Wright, but plenty of people I respect say he's a super-nice guy. Plus, again, he's extremely talented.
For everyone offended by my amusement about the driveway bit, we'll just have to agree to disagree. The first time he drove to someone's house, didn't get an interview, and drove away (Grbac), it was odd, but (arguably) worked. The second time (McGwire) it seemed a little self-referential, like Mick Jagger actually painting his windows black.
Now he's written a third story that includes a scene of him, in his car, looking at someone's front door? Seems a little much. Call me crazy.
Going to Pokey Chatman's house is obviously great reporting...tough break she wouldn't talk. But she didn't talk, so why the hell would you include your trip?
Answer: To make the story about you, about your experience in writing the story. It's all very meta, very clever, very precious. But it's not very interesting.
And his faux solemnity about all the "rumors" floating around, and how terribly sad it is that we're forced to speculate in lieu of ever knowing the real story, is just a little too hangdog for me. Pokey Chatman slept with a player, got exposed, and left under a cloud. It's not a tragedy, and it doesn't have any wider implications for society.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, y'know?
In stories like this, Wright comes off as a guy who knows he's talented enough to make almost anything readable. So, as DD said, he tries to cutesy up every story with deep thoughts, showing off how he can turn a phrase and set a scene. It's like watching one of those And1 guys dribbling: What he does takes talent, but it's not going to get the ball in the basket, which -- when you get right down to it -- is the purpose of the game.
Really, though me posting on a journalism board nitpicking Wright Thompson is like Chris Childs posting on an NBA board nitpicking Oscar Robertson. So consider my apologies issued.
