Some people think you should just start writing—no introduction. That is what my college newspaper once told me. Well, phooey to that. Like people aren’t going to know? Yea, I’m the guy who has been here the whole time, you just haven’t noticed. Makes you feel silly, doesn’t it? I’ve never been one to insinuate that anyone else is less intelligent.
All sports bloggers have delusions of grandeur. If you disagree, you are one of them.
Jim Murray is my inspiration. Shirley Povich is, too. Jimmy Cannon is a great read, though I can never find him. The ease at which these three writers constructed a column will never be seen again. Write that down.
Back in college, I hosted a nationally syndicated sports talk show for four years, wrote an award-winning column for two years and managed to get my degree in something completely unrelated—Earth Sciences.
I keep college women’s sports as a high a priority as the men’s sports. I hate it when fans say women’s sports are boring. They aren’t as physical. They aren’t as athletic. True, but, there is an aspect to women’s sports that men’s sports lack. Tact, efficiency and patience. Go watch any college women’s basketball game. Cruise to a softball game or check out a swim meet. If you actually watch the game and stop complaining you might enjoy it.
I dislike the idea of soccer. Kicking a ball only to chase it down and kick it again isn’t my idea of an entertaining 90 minutes. Same with lacrosse. Rich white guys on the east coast playing keep away? I’d rather go skinny-dipping in Mauna Loa. Maybe I don’t get it, but I know I’m not alone.
Michelle Wie frustrates me beyond compare. I understand that Safeway and Sony need to put people in the stands at these events, but for God’s sake find someone that has actually won an event – at least once. Give me an amateur champion or a great college player over a young woman who shoots 9-over and is 27 back of the leader.
Brett Favre reminds me of early America. He wanted to do it his way and they wouldn’t let him anymore—so he moved to New York. Then moved along to Minnesota. He probably won’t win the MVP this year but the Vikings wouldn’t be able to win more than five games without him.
I rarely “toot my own horn,” but when I do, it’s necessary. I rarely lambaste professionals, but when I do, it’s necessary. Most writers don’t read enough and most readers don’t write enough. If an author writes a column once a week, they better be finishing a book once a month. And vice-versa.
Now that you have reasons to disagree with me, I hope we can both make this reader to writer relationship a healthy one. Full of arguments, late night tantrums, and perhaps a little resolve.
Good read there. Wonder what brought that on?
UnderRAPS
Good read there. Wonder what brought that on?
UnderRAPS
Jarvis,
Thanks for the words.. this was posted on the old site, and for some reason never made it to the new one. So I re-posted it.
Jarvis,
Thanks for the words.. this was posted on the old site, and for some reason never made it to the new one. So I re-posted it.
Nick, I see. I should add I am and currently a huge women’s sports fan. In college, I made sure to not miss a volleyball or basketball game at the University of Idaho. I even rode my bike to Pullman to catch the Cougs softball team play. I am a current fan partly because of my nieces. Two play soccer and one plays basketball and I would not be surprised to see them get scholarships when they hit high school age. They are that good.
Thanks for that article,
UnderRAPS
Nick, I see. I should add I am and currently a huge women’s sports fan. In college, I made sure to not miss a volleyball or basketball game at the University of Idaho. I even rode my bike to Pullman to catch the Cougs softball team play. I am a current fan partly because of my nieces. Two play soccer and one plays basketball and I would not be surprised to see them get scholarships when they hit high school age. They are that good.
Thanks for that article,
UnderRAPS
Nick,
Should have left it unposted…just kidding. Let me put it this way. Your at the store, your looking for ceral. Your in the ceral aisle and you see your favorite ceral and right next to is it the knock off brand. Now you only need one box of ceral, so you can’t pick up both of them (There are those that pick up both of them, but most of world only gets one ceral and def not a brand name and knock off, usually if your getting two boxes your picking two of the same kind). So you look and see and price wise, the brand name is a little more expensive of course. But its not enough to force you to get the knock off. Then you look the size of the box, and they are the same. Then you get down to okay how do I remmeber them tasting. Ah yes, the brand name is really good that is why its your favorite. The knock off, well its a knock off. Its not the same and not nearly as good. In fact, its not as colorful, sweet, tasty, and while eating it you can’t help but compare it to the brand name and remember how good that is. So what are you going to choose? The brand name….. this is the same exact situation mens sports vs women’s sports is in. The brand name is men sports and the women is the knock off. Lets just focus on basketball…. ya a women can dunk now, ya there is a WNBA, and yes they have ” Tact, efficiency and patience” but it doesn’t “taste as good” as the NBA. You can’t see a Wade to Lebron alley oop dunk. You can’t see Dwight howard throw the ball down like he is trying to break the glass. You can’t see a D-rose go coast to coast faster than you can say it. Its nothing against the knock off brand, but unless the price of the brand name goes up past the point where people rather save a buck and deal with the lesser quality than your stuck. Your always going to have bad attendence, lack of interest, etc. And this is coming from a man who always gets the knock brand of ceral at Walmart. Go Malt o’ Meal!!!!
Nick,
Should have left it unposted…just kidding. Let me put it this way. Your at the store, your looking for ceral. Your in the ceral aisle and you see your favorite ceral and right next to is it the knock off brand. Now you only need one box of ceral, so you can’t pick up both of them (There are those that pick up both of them, but most of world only gets one ceral and def not a brand name and knock off, usually if your getting two boxes your picking two of the same kind). So you look and see and price wise, the brand name is a little more expensive of course. But its not enough to force you to get the knock off. Then you look the size of the box, and they are the same. Then you get down to okay how do I remmeber them tasting. Ah yes, the brand name is really good that is why its your favorite. The knock off, well its a knock off. Its not the same and not nearly as good. In fact, its not as colorful, sweet, tasty, and while eating it you can’t help but compare it to the brand name and remember how good that is. So what are you going to choose? The brand name….. this is the same exact situation mens sports vs women’s sports is in. The brand name is men sports and the women is the knock off. Lets just focus on basketball…. ya a women can dunk now, ya there is a WNBA, and yes they have ” Tact, efficiency and patience” but it doesn’t “taste as good” as the NBA. You can’t see a Wade to Lebron alley oop dunk. You can’t see Dwight howard throw the ball down like he is trying to break the glass. You can’t see a D-rose go coast to coast faster than you can say it. Its nothing against the knock off brand, but unless the price of the brand name goes up past the point where people rather save a buck and deal with the lesser quality than your stuck. Your always going to have bad attendence, lack of interest, etc. And this is coming from a man who always gets the knock brand of ceral at Walmart. Go Malt o’ Meal!!!!
Adam, that was the longest most drawn out analogy I have ever seen. And I couldn’t be more proud of you than I am right now. That is the best analogy I’ve heard thus far.
Adam, that was the longest most drawn out analogy I have ever seen. And I couldn’t be more proud of you than I am right now. That is the best analogy I’ve heard thus far.