My Thoughts Regarding Will Leitch’s Appearances on Best Damn, Costas Now

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For those of you that don’t sleep like me and happened to be up late last night, Will Leitch, author of God Save the Fan and Editor of the web site Deadspin.com, appeared on Fox Sports Net’s The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

Unlike many, I personally don’t find Deadspin to be anything special nor do I think much of Leitch. In fact, I think Leitch is a hypocrite. But I recognize Deadspin’s popularity and the fact it has become the most read sports blog on the Internet. Moreover, I respect what Leitch has been able to accomplish and fully support his efforts especially as it pertains to all bloggers.

Leitch’s appearance on Best Damn served several important purposes, mainly presenting himself, the blogosphere and bloggers in a favorable light. Best Damn’s Chris Rose began the segment by asking Leitch what role blogs served and why they have become so popular.

Leitch spoke of the professional media having access to players and coaches for decades, getting an opportunity to see a glimpse of the inner world of sports the fans seldom, if ever, had a chance to see. Leitch believed that disconnect between the professional media, players and coaches left fans without a voice. As a result, fans became bloggers and for the first time, had an opportunity to present their opinions in a public forum.

Rose then asked Leitch about recent photographs being made public of Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinhart while enjoying time off at home with a host of young ladies. Rose expressed his personal dislike of Deadspin posting the photographs, asking Leitch if publishing them was necessary and if it served any newsworthy purpose.

To Leitch’s credit, he didn’t respond to Rose by asking him why Fox Sports posted those same photos on their web site April 1 (click here for the Fox post). Leitch explained the photographs tied into rising speculation among those covering the Cardinals if Leinhart was serious about being the franchise player he was drafted to be.

While I don’t believe that’s why the images were posted at Deadspin, I do support their right to do so. I also question the hypocrisy of Rose for asking the question considering Fox posted them on their web site. For that matter, its obvious Rose didn’t know Fox had posted the images because if he did, I doubt he would have asked the question.

Best Damn co-host John Salley made a very interesting point, highlighting the fact bloggers, and not the print media, have become the more popular way for fans to obtain sports news, opinions and the opportunity to interact with other fans. Rose made the point that print media was suffering as a result of the growing popularity of blogs.

Towards the end of the interview a clip was shown of Leitch appearing Tuesday night on Costas Now in which he was attacked by author Buzz Bissinger. The highlight of the 20-second clip was Bissinger telling Leitch he was “full of shit.”

I was a big fan of Bob Costas and had become a regular viewer of Costas Now, but have since stopped watching the show after comments he made at a Make-a-Wish luncheon in March in which he disparaged bloggers. Bill Baer wrote an excellent article regarding Costas’ comments at his blog, Crashburn Alley, which you can view by clicking here.

I did a search of the Costas Now program from this past Tuesday and came across this article posted at the New York Times.com, which goes into great detail regarding Bissinger’s attack against Leitch. Suffice it to say we can add Bissinger’s name to an ever-growing list of professional journalists who have total disregard for bloggers.

Bissinger made specific note of articles and comments he came across from various blogs, making light of what he perceived as “poor writing skills, lack of journalistic ethics and absence of credentials.” In other words, Bissinger used the same tired excuses other professional journalists have been using of late. Bissinger went on to say, “I think blogs are dedicated to cruelty, they’re dedicated to dishonesty, they’re dedicated to speed.”

The self-righteous tone and apparent ignorance of his profession’s shortcomings is a clear indicator the professional media is petrified of bloggers. What’s even more interesting are the points Bissinger used to attack bloggers are the same reasons bloggers have become the preferred choice of readers over the professional print media.

Bissinger apparently only searched for blogs that posted articles in support of his argument. Granted, there are blogs that step over the line but the vast majority of bloggers take their work and responsibilities very seriously. This perception among the professional media that bloggers are a bunch of mindless, beer-swilling, poorly-educated slugs devoid of original thought or the ability to form a coherent sentence is becoming laughable.

I’ve visited hundreds of blogs and virtually all of them take the time to post well-researched and thought-provoking content. While bloggers like you and I may be deemed “amateurs,” most exhibit a respect for the subject and the profession just like any other professional journalist.

Marcus Hayes, Bill Conlin, Stephen A. Smith, Roy Exum and Bob Costas are some of the prominent names in the professional media that have expressed their dislike for bloggers. I’ve written two articles addressing this subject, All Bloggers: Stop Writing Immediately! and Print Media vs. Bloggers. This growing rift between bloggers and the professional media continues to expand, just as the popularity of blogs continues to expand.

Will Leitch’s appearance on Costas Now and Best Damn proves the blogosphere is gaining prominence in the national media. In addition, it’s beginning to prove what bloggers have known for some time, and that is blogs are out-distancing the print media in readers. Perhaps Leitch’s appearance on Best Damn is an indication the media is starting to understand a good working relationship with bloggers is essential in maintaining their presence on the Internet.

As opposed to engaging in these attacks against bloggers, perhaps professional journalists will come to learn that a partnership with us is far more beneficial considering our spectrum of influence grows by the day.