Do I believe MSG is a potential landing place for Mike Francesa if he leaves WFAN? Yes.
Was it fun observing the spirited discussion generated by my post Tuesday night on this subject? Yes.
Did I properly label the aforementioned post as informed speculation? Yes.
But the more I think about it, is this really a road newspaper reporters should be traveling? Why should blogs have different standards than the newspaper?
Reporters who do what I did in that post are trying to have it both ways, aren't we?
I don't know. I'm learning on the fly here. What do you think?
I'm going to stop blogging cold turkey for a few days to give myself more time to reflect quietly, to cleanse my journalistic spirit and to house train poodles.
Please continue to goof off at work and read our other sports blogs religiously. Tell your boss I said it's OK.
Comments (35)
Neil,
Please don't let Mike & the Mad Dog be the (roundabout) reason to make you stop the blog. You have a very entertaining style on the blog, a little more snarky than I imagine you can get away with in the newspaper column.
It's fun for us to read, and I hope it stays (becomes?) fun for you to write. Keep up the good work.
If Francesa goes to MSG, then he would have to end Mike'Up The Francesa Sports Final on WNBC 4, right?
As long as you put enough qualifiers, like you did in your Francesa/MSG post, I think that this is exactly what blogs are for. You took pains to make sure you were clear that you were speculating. The newspaper is for the final cut--the blog is for thoughts and other bits that are interesting, but not quite print-worthy.
The blogs humanize the writers. The papers will exist forever in microfilm and digital memory and are supposed to accurately reflect the facts. Blogs are more of an informal connection that gain notoriety for three things: rumors, reliability, and accessibility. It's the nature of the beast, and there should be enough room for both of them.
GaryC: thanks for the kinds words. i'm not stopping the blog, just taking a break!
Dennis: i assume so
Neil, I've got a lot of experience training dogs. A little birdie told me you have some poodles that need training, and I'm in the training business - I've trained a Dog - and I own horses. I'm in the horse business because I own horses and horses are really just big dogs. Neil, don't talk to me about poodles either, get a real dog. Do you think Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera would buy a poodle? That's not a GQ dog. This is a classy organization and it shouldn't be brought down by poodles; and if you have to get a poodle, at least make sure it's properly groomed. There should be no facial hair, like in the days when old yeller roamed the hallowed grounds of the old west. Old Yeller was a great, not good, great dog Neil - you have to remember that I'm the expert here. I own dogs. I work with a Dog. I own horses which are like big Dogs. Listen to me.
Neil relax you are not covering watergate here, it is ok to speculate and have a little fun... Your comments are reminscient of when Mike came back on the air after meeting Leon Hess for the first time (Mike had reflected and committed to taking a new approach to his work)
Come back to us neil please!
Thanks, Shawn. I'm not gone, I'm just chillaxing and reflecting!
Any article of any sort that has the words, 'industry sources' and 'couldn't be reached for comment' should be fair game for dissection. Be it blog, print, video or whatever.
Yeah Neil,
Your time is so much better spent writing love letters to that bigoted racebaiting schmuck Craig Carton and his egotistical, insincere, self-promoting pal Norman.
After all, that's why you went to Cornell, right?
Neil - check out this link: http://ballhype.com/static/blogdome_atlas/
I think it will help you in your decision to continue in your current direction...KEEP IT UP!
Mark: That's hilarious! Thanks for sharing. I'm honored to be included.
you better blog about mike/dog friday show. you owe us that
Doug: On the Giants beat there was an offseason. On this beat, there isn't one. So whenever I take vacation, inevitably important stuff will be going on that I am unable to deal with.
Neil... your last post is disheartening. Fire back! Your legion of fans implore you.
Neil,
You're the BEST! enjoy the vay-kay!
Rest assured, the bigot and the blimp will be there when you get back.
Neil, you're entitled to a vacation for sure. But, most of your loyal readers are checking out your blog from their jobs. Its hard to hear how you "need a break from blogging" or time to "contemplate" when we're all working and are not blesed enough to be tv/radio sports critics for newsday or a a beat reporter.
You blog the stuff that isn't in the paper. hence the idea of the blog. its more causal. the newspaper is a formal dinner.
Neil,
Come on man. Mike and Chris garner about 20X comments than anything else you bring up, and you're not blogging today? Did you make a promise to somebody that you wouldn't blog today? Would it kill you to post something about today's Mike and Chris?
Jonathan: I'm on vacation and unable to blog today! Holy cow. I know it's hard to believe based on my posting pace, but I blog as a hobby and am not paid for it. My job is writing newspaper columns. Another able member of the Newsday sports staff has been monitoring the show and will write about it for the Saturday paper, I'm sure.
Although from what I hear the boys did not have much to say on this subject, certainly nothing that contradicts what I wrote on June 22 or what Mike F. said on the air June 27.
Sara: Believe me, I fully understand and appreciate that my job is better than cleaning the bathrooms at Penn Station or covering the Yankees or some other job that involves real work.
Neil,
I suppose there is a fine line between commenting on this very post several times and being able to blog. As for pulling the "I blog as a hobby and am not paid for it" card, I am certain you would not do this if you didn't think it gave you additional exposure. I just don't understand why you can't at least update this important story on this day (the date that you said Mike and Chris may have already split by).
Give the guy a break, already. He's on VACATION. Means he has no "duty" to listen to WFAN or any other station.
If you were a vacationing garbage collector, would you be compelled to empty out somebody's overflowing trash?
VACATION, people. Look it up in the dictionary if you must.
Uh Neil....
A/Why are you reading these comments?
B/More importantly, why are you responding?
A wise man told me not so long ago that I needed to get out more.
You'd be wise to heed that advice.
;)
Neil, they did mention how they had talked Thursday. And, they laughed about not making it to year 20.
I was at FanFest today, and the boys seemed to have some great chemistry
Has Mike or Chris or Mark Chernoff or Les Moonves or ANYONE publicly and specifically said since my June 22 story that the boys definitely will be together as of Labor Day and that my story thus was not accurate? If that has happened, I am not aware of it.
Jonathan: I said it was possible they had done their last show together. My main point was that there was a good chance they would split by Labor Day. Even if that doesn't happen, didn't Mike F.'s monologue June 27 pretty much confirm my original story no matter what happens here on in???
Neil- you did a great job with your story. By the way I met Chernoff today (and Eric Spitz) and they are both jerks. I wish you luck Neil dealing with him.
But Neil...we've never found out WHY? What is the cause of the friction? Does it have something to do w/Boomer and his $3mill paycheck or is there some issue or issues between mike and chris that has all of a sudden come to a head?
Every partnership has its ups and downs, and theirs have had plenty, but something must be the root cause for this one. ANY idea??? I mean it can't stem from on air sports related arguments. What made them not talk for 6 weeks??????
Hey Best, my accountant and I want to thank you. Now lose my phone number ok? -handwave-
Neil- Other people are writing your stories:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spwfan0712,0,3791552.story
when are you back from vacation?
John: soon
Show was awful yesterday. Awful.
RIP Bobby Murcer.....horrible day