The Dejan Kovacevic Celebrity Wank-Off
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 1:47 PM EDT
Email
PrintThe Dejan thread blows my mind. The guy makes an idle comment in his column and people are treating it like his idle comments are better than other people's idle comments because maybe Dejan has the map to the holy grail.
I've never met Dejan and I bet he's probably a nice guy. And I read his writing and I like it. But I'm not going to thank him for showing up in the comments because I don't thank anyone else for showing up in the comments. And if you thank him and you don't thank other people then you're giving him special treatment.
Dejan explained his column and his explanation was that it's not based on any special insider knowledge, and yet fans continue to defend their elevated opinion of his comments because he might have special insider knowledge, even though Dejan himself has said that his speculation was based on no such thing. Fans are giving Dejan credit for things that he's telling you plainly that he isn't doing. This is what you call fan-splooge.
I've you've ever enjoyed any sort of celebrity yourself, you know what I mean. Once you're a celebrity, people start thanking you for showing up at their parties when they never thanked you before. People notice what you drink and find it suddenly fascinating, even though you drink the same old stuff you always drank before. In my life, I've been on both sides of fandom, and from experience I can tell you, it's pathetic both coming and going.
Have a little self-respect guys. Dejan isn't a magical wizard. Sometimes he writes good columns. Sometimes his columns are just so-so. Sometimes he has insider knowledge, and sometimes he's just speculating and theorizing like the rest of us. Unless everybody deserves a special thank you note for commenting on blogs, then Dejan doesn't deserve one. And when Dejan says he's just analyzing based on no insider knowledge, then you should believe him and treat his comments like any other comments.
I'm glad, you're all here. Thanks for being a part of the community.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.
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I think you're seeing something that isn't there.
This isn’t the first time that I’ve ever interacted with Dejan. If you want to talk to him about something, just send him an e-mail. It isn’t complicated.
I used to write to Paul Meyer sometimes, too, and it was… generally not helpful. As such, why not tell Dejan that we’re glad to have him at the P-G, when he’s such a big upgrade on the guys who have done the job in the past?
As for thanking him for showing up in the comments, that’s pretty standard practice when someone shows up to answer questions about a piece of theirs that you’ve linked. I thanked Dan Szymborski the same way when he showed up and answered people’s questions about ZiPS, for example, and I’ve known Dan for dog’s years. Just because someone’s famous (or an expert) doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with being polite to them.
But No One Extends The Same Politeness To Anyone Else
Even when they do the exact same thing — make off-hand analyses.
Being polite is nice. But when you’re only polite to special people, then it becomes special treatment, and when people collectively do it, it quickly turns into fan-splooge.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
People thanked Andy for doing his analysis of the Pirates draft, like Vlad said I’ve seen people thank Dan, I pretty much see people thank anyone for doing something. Like Vlad said, the thank you is for showing up and contributing when they normally don’t. Dejan doesn’t normally post here and he took the time to come and comment. This isn’t that hard.
Lots of people show up and contribute when they normally don’t.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Like who? Like, if Charlie wrote about something Keith Law said about Alvarez, and Keith Law showed up to defend it, I’m pretty sure we’d all be acting exactly the same.
Yeah, the nerve of those professional analysts!
How dare they come by and try to comment in our threads? Throw the bums out!
Jeez
As far as I’m concerned they’re welcome just as much as anyone else.
Which is to say, they’re welcome just as much as anyone else. No more. No less.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
And if anyone else writes a piece that’s run on another site, and then they show up here in the middle of a discussion of that piece to clarify things, they’ll probably be treated the same way.
Which you apparently find objectionable, as per the Law example. I just don’t understand it.
Geez, it’s not like people were offering Dejan ships laden with exotic spices and scented oils from the farthest reaches of Asia.
--
Dan Szymborski
dan@baseballprimer.com
by D.Szymborski on Jul 14, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Sweet! I’m holding a hunting party and feast and want to impress the guests with my quantity of black pepper.
--
Dan Szymborski
dan@baseballprimer.com
by D.Szymborski on Jul 14, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t forget sea salt!
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 15, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I sent him
some gold, frankincense and myrrh. You saying I overdid it?
…being polite is pathetic?
I’d agree with you if everyone suddenly pretended they agreed with Dejan and basically became fan boys on the spot, but it seemed most people said things like, “Still disagree with you, Dejan” or “I still have a problem with…”. It’s not like everyone said, “Thank God that Dejan blessed us with his divine presence!”
Yes
Being polite only to special people is pathetic.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Only specific people...
…have ever dropped by to comment on one of their articles that was under discussion.
If Dejan had been named Joe Blow, and instead of running the piece in the P-G he posted it on his own blog, and I was familiar enough with his work on that blog to recognize him, I still would’ve treated him exactly the same way as I treated Dejan, even if Mr. Blow was 600 pounds and unemployed and living in his mother’s basement.
Why is this so difficult for you to understand?
Speaking of special people
This post makes me think Jimmy is special…
Dejan politely dropped by to clarify something in an article that was written about something he said. We returned his politeness. I don’t see how that’s pathetic.
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 15, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't think KLaw would be welcomed here
For all the smack about certain Pirate players even after they left (like McLouth and Nyjer)
He also seems to come off as a douche whenever he tweets (Twitter) especially sayin how Michael Jackson sucks after his untimely passing.
Look it up and see for yourself
by BadAndy on Jul 14, 2009 6:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I follow him. I know what you mean, Andy.
Still, I think people would be polite assuming Law was not a douche in the conversation. The BD community here is mostly respectful IMO. There’s far worse boards out there.
Snark.....
is his schtick. He is a pretty damn good analyst though. He can certainly be wrong and off-putting, but he backs up his analysis with coherent arguments.
Um...
…the page header for that Twitter page says that it’s for a “Kevin Law”, not Keith. And the photo doesn’t look anything like him.
Keith does have a blog, though.
As for talking smack on ex-Pirates...
…doesn’t that suggest that he honestly thinks those guys are overrated, as opposed to criticizing them purely because of their team affiliation?
Where I was gettin at is
The opinions and views of Keith Law rub salt in the Pirate fan wounds most times.
Like his man-crush on Smoak while labelin Pedro as league-average
Like labelin’ Maholm and Duke as #4-5 starters
Like dissin us for our obession with star players and so on
He doesn’t single us out but it still rubs certain homer fans the wrong way.
I don’t see Law defendin himself on this blog (as the FanPost suggest) but i’m just sayin he wouldn’t be welcomed here compared to DK
by BadAndy on Jul 14, 2009 7:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
And based on what we’ve seen so far:
Smoak is awesome. He’s risen from A all the way to AA in the span of a year and a half, McCutchen style. Meanwhile, Pedro struggles to hit breaking balls.
Name a good team that Maholm or Duke are aces on. Maybe #3-4 starters at the most, but #4-5 is not pushing it.
The star player thing is kind of dumb. Every fan base likes their stars.
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 15, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Pedro also has 18 HR in his first season of pro ball. I understand the criticism of Pedro’s inability to hit breaking pitches and his high strikeout totals, but that’s not going to slow down his fast track to the big leagues. Sorry, it’s just not. As long as he continues to show the massive power and drive in runs, he will be in Pittsburgh by the middle of next season, more than likely.
Now, I totally agree with you about Duke and Maholm. Maholm has been the most consistent pitcher on this staff for the last three or fours years and when he is on, he can be very good, but neither Duke nor Maholm are aces of any staff. They are #3 and #4 starters on any other staff.
It may not slow down his pace of promotion...
…but it’ll damn sure decrease his productivity once he gets there if it’s not addressed in the interim..
Pedro has great power, but so did Brad Eldred, and unless he fixes the contact issue, he could very easily go the same way.
Yeah, you’ve got a point, but I just think we need to sloooow down on our assumptions about what this kid is going to become in his major league career. It’s only his first full season of pro ball! It’s way too early to start comparing him to Adam Dunn and certainly Brad Eldred. He’s not some huge lumbering guy that can’t do anything but hit HR. The average will come. It’s only a matter of time.
We have to remember
that Alvarez was shut down last year. I think that is a bigger deal than is being led on. Look at Sanchez, he signs right away and is getting valuable ABs with our low A clubs. Alvarez went straight to Lynchburg, wooden bats and no gentle lead in like Sanchez is getting.
In the minors, Adam Dunn...
…wasn’t “some huge lumbering guy”, either. He had 21 SB at age 19 and 24 at age 20, and he mostly played CF in both those seasons.
For that matter, Adam Dunn didn’t strike out nearly as often in the minors as Pedro has so far. Dunn spent two full and two half seasons in the minors, and didn’t cross the 25%K red line even once.
So I take it
you are very bearish on Alvarez……package deal with Sanchez/Wilson/LaRoche ;)
I think he's a decent prospect...
…but he’s got some holes in his game right now, and I think that needs to be acknowledged in our planning.
So, because I’m still worried about Pedro’s strikeout rate, and because I only assume it will get worse as he ascends the levels and faces better pitching, I looked for a good player who strikes out over 30% of the time.
Pedro, if he’s lucky, might be able to be the next Adam Dunn. Or, if he’s not lucky, he might be the next Bill Hall.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 15, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’d be perfectly happy if Pedro Alvarez turned into Adam Dunn.
I don’t think Bill Hall is very likely. At worst, I think he’ll be something like Jack Cust.
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 15, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd Be Happy If He Becomes Adam Dunn Too
But as the conversation above notes, Adam Dunn was not this bad in the minors — not even close.
At this point, knowing what we know, Pedro would be very lucky to become Adam Dunn.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 16, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I can understand why fans may not want to hear it...
…but if he’s being objective and logical about his reasons for taking those positions, people should at least acknowledge and respect them as valid points.
I didn’t enjoy hearing people rip the team when Littlefield and Bonifay were wrong, but I didn’t blame the people doing the ripping. You go to war with the reality you have, not the reality you’d like to have.
I actually like him more now that I follow him. I also recommend John Heyman, SI_JohnHeyman and NYP_JoelSherman
Oh and regarding Dejan I just appreciate him coming and clarifying (which he doesn’t have to do) rather than us just arguing back and forth about what we think he meant.
RIP NATE. RIP TONY PLUSH.
"I'D BE A CHEF"
-TONY PLUSH
He wasn't making an off-hand analysis.
He was taking time out of his workday to clarify a point he’d made in an article published on a separate site. Which was nice of him to do.
If he’d come in to comment on a post and discussion that wasn’t already about him and speculations as to his meaning, then the response from the community probably would have been different. But it was, and he did, and there we are.
You seem like you’re saying that we should’ve given him the cold shoulder as a matter of principle. Which is both rude and counterproductive.
I think there’s a happy middle-ground between the cold-shoulder and lining up to give him verbal blowjobs.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, and that thread...
…was squarely in the middle of that ground.
If you found that objectionable, then I hope to God you never run across any people who are actually brown-nosing. The shock might be too much for your heart.
Well, Smart People Can Disagree
I thought the thread was way over the top.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
You are way off the mark.....
on this one. For Dejan it is his JOB to write about the Pirates. We do it as interested fans. He IS a professional. He took the time to respond to various people’s questions, comments and criticisms, some of which were pretty harsh, and he did it in a thoughtful and courteous manner.
Not many people handle criticism of their professional work that way. As Vlad also noted I have interacted with various members of the media over the years and Dejan is in front of the field.
And Just To Be Clear
I don’t have a problem with Dejan. I just have a problem with the way people are acting around him.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Androjen:
You pretty much said all that in the thread that you’re referencing here. Why did you feel the need to make a fanpost repeating yourself about the same thing that only seemed to bother you and nobody else? I don’t really get what the big deal is. I understand your point, and even if you’re right… so what?
This Is Silly
You are questioning the point of blogging on a blog.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
He's questioning the point of blogging about a specific topic.
And I must confess, I don’t really see why this was worth a whole separate post, either. But it’s your time and electrons, to use as you will, I guess.
No
I’m questioning the point of going to the extent that you’re going to. You made this point exhaustively last night in the thread. Everybody that is going to read this fanpost probably read that thread. What’s the point of repeating yourself about something that frankly was a minor issue? We all read what you had to say last night or this morning. There is no new information here. Nobody else was extremely bothered by the “fan splooge”, as you called it. So what gives?
There was no new information in Dejan’s comments either.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you actually read Dejan's comments?
He said that the thing about a Sanchez trade being financially motivated was based on actual info from people in the FO, and that he was planning on explicating it in a piece over the weekend. That’s something useful that we didn’t know before he started commenting.
No, he’s questioning the point of doing multiple times in multiple places.
It’d be like Charlie following up his post about Sano with another post talking about the exact same thing, when he already had his say.
Jimmy Two-Times.
I’m gonna go complain about the papers. Complain about the papers.
Link.
by Vlad on Jul 14, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
When Dejan clarifies his point, it’s good. When I do it, it’s bad.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
You’re not clarifying, in my opinion. You’re just repeating yourself. What new information did you add here?
Dejan was “clarifying” and added something to the discussion. As I said in the thread, it sounded to me Dejan implied “salary dump” when that wasn’t his intention. That was useful information.
When Dejan clarifies his point within the thread to which he’s been referenced in, it’s good. When you clarify your point within the thread in which your initial point was made, it’s good. When you clarify your point in a new fanpost, about something that you’ve already exhaustively explained (read: bitched about) in a different thread, of which seemingly nobody cared about besides you, it’s bad.
Got It
But when you comment on it, it’s good.
Golly, these rules are complicated. I’m glad you’re here to explain them to us.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I already agreed with you before Jimmy
He hasn’t really done anything special, I would prefer most of the people on this site having that job.
by thecheeseisblue on Jul 14, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions
Perhaps you can answer this here, in your very own Fanpost
since you wouldn’t answer without unwarranted snark it in the original thread.
What part of:
Personally, I thought it was cool of him to do, considering.
is brown-nosing, kowtowing to or deifying DK?
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
I think
he noticed a general change in the attitude of the entire thread once Dejan showed up. I did too. Some of the posters were probably a little star-struck. My overriding point is, SO WHAT? A columnist from a major newspaper and the most competent of all the Pirates reporters is defending and elaborating on a column he’s written on our lowly little blog, and nobody is allowed to be the least bit excited about that?
I still want Andro to asnwer this
Especially since the comment in question here wasn’t even aimed @ DK.
Well, Andro?
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 14, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Our Lowly Blog
Well, the point I’m trying to make is that you’re no more or less lowly than Dejan. He’s a person. You’re a person. He has opinions about baseball. You have opinions about baseball.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
not that I miss him at all but......
What happened to Gunner?
Does he have another handle now?
by BadAndy on Jul 14, 2009 7:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
ssshhhhh.....
…don’t wake the baby…
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 14, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I miss Gunner
It’s like in a Shakespeare tragedy, where there always had to be a character thrown in for comic relief.
I know what happened to Gunner
He was hiding behind a curtain and Hamlet stabbed him…
wait…
that was Osric
That was Polonius. : )
I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.
by Chester J Lampwick on Jul 15, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
dammit
needed remove post option moments before you posted this
Do you really think i don't realize he's no more important than any other person?
I never elevated him to any such status.
I merely made an observation, which you took as an invitation to make a smart-arsed remark where there was no call for it.
So, if the point you were trying to make was I’m “no more or less lowly than Dejan,” you did a pretty piss-poor job of illuminating it.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 14, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Okay
I appreciate your criticism.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Thaks Jimbo......ya know.....just for being you and responding to questions on your fanpost!
"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce
Haven’t seen Smug Alert in a while; now that I think about it I’m wondering if the title you used is a take-off from the episode?
I’m pretty dense, if so.
"THAT'S NOT SMOG! IT'S SMUG!!!"
Forgive my off-topicness.
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Nah
Jimbo is my nickname for everyone named Jimmy or Jim but it is inspired by “Uncle Jimbo” though.
"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce
by gorillakilla34 on Jul 15, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Andro
just curious as to what made you on the side of fandom? not trying to be an ass, just curious.
Eh
Nothing important. I’d prefer to remain anonymous on here. I am not big-time famous by any means. But I have a certain amount of fame in certain circles.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
i respect that
i was just curious as to if you meant famous like as a minor leaguer, or like media related, or shit lke that.
Westmoreland County Bureau Chief?
I kid
your posts are appreciated here………coming from a unemployed nobody like me FWIW
by BadAndy on Jul 14, 2009 7:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Jimmy...obviously...you're somewhat clueless when it comes to courtesy.
The biggest reason Dejan got thanked…in my view…he stated on his own blog…12 hours before…he was taking 3 days off…away from his job…talking baseball. Yet…he took the time to join the discussion here…when he could have been doing something else. People recognized it was a special effort…and thanked him for that…no more…no less. If I take time off from my job to get away…then end up doing something related to work…I generally get thanked for it…as anyone else would. It is basic human decency…or is that beyond you.
So you’re in a media related position…big deal. I’ve known a lot of media people…some are very nice…and some are jerks (or stronger words). I deal with people in the media every day I work. They put their pants…or dress…on the same way everyone else does. Or do you feel you need your ego stroked…since thanking Dejan for giving up a little free time seems to have offended you so badly?
Yep…I said that Dejan might have specific insight or knowledge. Is he supposed to give away his article for Sunday…just to keep a few bloggers happy…doubtful. If you are truly in the media arena…are you going to give away something for free that you are going to turn around and give to paying customers later…I hope not? He DOES have insight to the situation that none of US have…because of his job. That adds some weight to what he says. Should we take what he says blindly?? NO. You shouldn’t do THAT with ANYONE in the media.
We know his background…we don’t know yours. And rather likely…your background is irrelevant to the situation…especially since you would prefer to remain anonymous. Have a nice day…I’ve already wasted too much of my time on this.
So tired of Dejan
He is starting to gear his stuff toward guys like NuttingHostage who comment there, his main focus now is to appease those who call Bob cheap 400 times in every comment they make. Can’t stand him with his Sano stuff it’s like he sees Jorge Arangure say he’s going to the buccos then he responds with a conflicting report so those broken record commentors have something to agree with each other about.
by aso513 on Jul 14, 2009 4:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
FWIW
I’ve communicated through the years with many PG columnists (O’Neill is a friend of mine, I’ve met and dined with Tony Norman, and I’ve had e-mail replies to comments or inquiries from Dejan, Smizik, Collier, Reg Henry and some others). They’ve almost always at least shot back a short polite reply. They don’t have to do that, but it’s nice they do.
Let’s face it, right or wrong there ARE people who if they come visit your house (and this is Charlie’s online home and offers shelter to the rest of us as well) you treat them a little differently than you might your next-door neighbor. If Obama or Queen Elizabeth or the Pope came to your house, you’d probably get out the good china, the stuff you’d never use for your bum of a brother-in-law.
Dejan doesn’t fit into that category, obviously, but: What’s wrong with being a little extra polite anyway? The rest of us live here, and we argue and bicker and fight sometimes, and we know each other pretty well. We’re a bit of a family, and like most families we usually don’t fall over ourselves complimenting each other the way we might for a visitor.
I don’t think it was over the top, and I don’t see anything wrong with it.
Bucdaddy is right.
Do you realise Jimmy, that the fuss you’re making over this might give professional scribes such as Dejan, John Perrotto or Jen Langosch future reservations about candidly interacting with bloggers on sites such as this?
Their day to day interaction in the clubhouse and front office provides insight into the baseball world that bloggers just cannot achieve.
As the Bucco web society gets closer, it seems you are trying to force it apart.
Vlad mentioned Paul Meyer was quite unapproachable. Is that what you want in a beat writer?
‘Wank-off’’ – hehe! You Americans are starting to speak proper English. :-)
by RDV across the sea on Jul 14, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions
I'm Not Too Worried
If somebody can’t handle a few blog comments, then they’re not grown-up enough to handle the Internet. Dejan seems like an adult to me. I think he’ll be fine.
And note, I haven’t criticized Dejan once. I don’t have any problem with Dejan.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
You are the one that can't handle a few blog comments.
You’ve made a huge deal out of people showing courtesy or even a little joy towards the fact that a respected professional journalist joined in the chat on Charlie’s site.
Are you grown up enough to handle the Internet?
by RDV across the sea on Jul 14, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I've totally changed my mind
I hadn’t read the thread in a while, and went back to catch up.
Did you see that Charlie referred to Dejan as “Mr.” Kovacevic? Outrageous!!!
He hasn’t to date extended the courtesy of calling me Mr. Awesome, let alone Captain Awesome! I have a very serious name and worked very hard to achieve my notoriety. I demand equal treatment!
Yeah...
…you didn’t go to Awesome Military Academy for four years and then leave a leg behind at the battle of Lamesville to have young punks disrespect you like that.
I'm a bit late to the party but...
I really don’t see the problem with thanking the guy for commenting here on his post. Hell, I’ve been thanked for making fansposts and I’m a “nobody” in the celebrity world. I think this is a case of general courtesy.
Andro… I ususally enjoy your posts and comments so I hope you don’t take what I’m about to say as disrespect but it seems to me that you having a problem with the respect given to DK would have more to do with your insecurites than it does people butt kissing a “semi-celebrity.” I think thou doth protest too much (or something like that). If you want to see real butt kissers go browse the commenters on the PG blog.
I have quite a bit of respect for what DK writes,
and he’s been gracious enough on more than a few occasions to respond to personal mails.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have sucked for 17 years. I think we’re pretty lucky to have a PG beat writer for them in recent years who does such a good job.
AndrogenJarJimmy should walk the BD plank, IMHO.
ditto!
and in case I haven’t said it often enough lately, thank you to everyone who posts here (and elsewhere) about the Pirates, including Mr. Kovacevic and Mr. Jimmy. after 17 years of sh!tty baseball, Pirates fans need all the community we can get.
Even Though I've Said It A Dozen Times, I'll Say It Again
I don’t have a problem with Dejan or with his writing in general. I like his writing. I just have a problem with people getting celebrityitis.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 15, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Andro
I worked for the Pirates in ‘98 when McGuire and Sosa were chasing Maris. I have been in the Pirates and visiting team clubhouses. I have interacted with the likes of Smoltz, Sosa, Schilling and many, many more. What went on when DK came on was common courtesy – nothing more. It’s not like DK is a major celebrity/athlete – he is a beat writer. It gives this blog some validation when a major newspapers beat writer comes on and chats it up. Let’s embrace the validation and forget this whole “wank off” thing – it wasn’t even close to what I have seen in real life!!!!!!
If someone thinks I’m valid because a beat writer says I’m valid, then I don’t need that kind of validation.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 15, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
the handle cptn awesome is taken
this isnt about you Andro. It is validity to the blog. You are one member (and in your eyes the most important).
And once again, I have a big head for saying that everybody should be treated equally.
You really don’t like the idea of equality do you?
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 15, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
For the last time
this is not about equality – it is about courtesy. What is your complex anyway? DK is no better than you and you are no better than DK. If a guest comes on who we all recognize and we thank him – it is courtesy not a freakin’ happy ending!
?
?
For the record, my name was meant to be jokey. I don’t seriously think I’m that awesome, or even awesome at all.
For the record, I do not do androgen.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 15, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
We think you are awesome
and we thank you for taking your time to post on this blog ;0
Blogs
I do think that DK gets some level of credit for wading into the comments…It wasnt like he was walking into a thread that was a DK lovefest, he didnt resort to sockpuppetry (as some newspaper bloggers have done in the past), he logged in with his real name and engaged in conversation. He could have easily made his remarks on his site but he came here.
Considering how many of his peers in the media view blogs with contempt and disdain I think it is a positive trend that someone in his position sees the value of these forums. That said his posting here doesnt change my feelings regarding this site or somehow validate my opinions.
If that makes me a sycophant then so be it…
"Gods don't answer letters"
Amazing how much of what Kraut wrote was just what I was going to say.
I used to work with an older media guy who thought the fans were idiots. What do they know? They’re not in the clubhouse, they’re not at (most of) the games. They don’t see what I see, hear what I hear, they can’t possibly know or understand all the backroom machinations. I’ll tell them what they need to know … etc.
Hard to believe now if you’ve never grown up without an Internet, but that was the attitude of many media types not that long ago, especially in print. They didn’t have to answer to anybody but their bosses and maybe a few fan types who got hacked off enough to scribble invective on a sheet of paper, find an envelope, buy a stamp, mail it and wait three or four days to see if the letter made it into the paper, and seldom get any other feedback for their trouble.
The Internet has gone a long long way toward tearing down that wall. Now if DK or any other writer writes something dubious, it’s dissected by a dozen bloggers and thousands of commenters in 30 seconds. Now the writer can continue to live in an ivory tower and ignore what the reader base is saying, but it’s not wise. And Dejan, I think, gets that better than most old-media types, that the wall is gone, that democracy is invading the newsroom, that today’s fan appreciates, if not demands, interaction, that it’s now PART of the job.
Should we applaud him for that? Well, I kinda side with Jimmy here. I don’t know that DK is just another guy like the rest of us — he has access to sources and information that we don’t and will never have, it’s not at all like two fans on barstools watching a game and kibbitzing the manager’s moves — but if he’s just doing his job right, interaction should be a rather new but now natural part of it. It should get to the point where it’s common for newsroom guys to show up on message boards and chat forums, and when that happens much of the politeness will go away. But for now, and for many of us, it’s still new and novel enough that it FEELS like we should just say “Hey, thanks, cool of you to stop by.”
And when it does go away, that’ll be a little sad, because an extra bit of politeness never hurt anybody.
I should add ...
The “older media guy” I mentioned is a great guy, funny as hell, he’s just old school in his approach to the job.
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