Who’s your columnist #2
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Your comment must be posted by 30 minutes before the Tuesday class.
You must include the URL so that others can read the column, too.
Let me know if you have any questions.
See you in class.
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
If Patriots finish 19-0, rank it among the greatest feats in sports history*
BY TIM SMITH
This article discussed the New England Patriot’s perfect NFL season for 2007. Tim Smith looked at the side that no one wanted to discuss, by bringing up the accusations that the Patriot’s cheated from the beginning.
I like how Smith used a title that brought the reader in on a positive note, but then slapped them awake with the negative. This came as a shock when he compared other sports tragedies with the Patriot’s perfect season.
The asterik was an interesting way to get his point across. After reading the article, the reader realizes why it was placed in the title. Very creative.
URL
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/columnists/smith/index.html?page=1
February 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Even the HOF Doesn’t Have Enough Pitching
BY JIM CAPLE
Caple makes a stat-heavy argument for the induction of more starting pitchers into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. The most shocking number is that no true starter who made his first appearance after 1967 — or born since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier — has been inducted.
However, he only makes the case for two snubs: Burt Blyleven and Jack Morris.
Whether the relative lack of strong candidates is due to a much greater reliance on the bullpen or the live-ball era, Caple argues that starting pitchers should get more Cooperstown kudos. Four closers have been selected in the last five seasons, but no starters have been honored in the last nine (Nolan Ryan, 1999).
The latter half of the article is shot at NFL players for using performance-enhancing drugs. He argues that baseball is shouldering too much of the blame for the infilration of steroids and testosterone boosters in professional sports.
Fair point. But I, the reader, stopped caring by then.
URL: Jim Caple
February 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Santana’s huge contract could be telling sign for future
By Jayson Stark
Jayston Stark’s column this week is actually available publicly, which is great because it displays a lot of the same qualities that I wrote about last week, except that this time you don’t have to have a subscription to read it.
I’ve never really paid a great deal of attention to the mechanics of Stark’s writing before. I read him regularly, and enjoyed his work, but I never really broke down his style. Now that I’ve been reading his columns as much for style as for content, I’m starting to see some patterns.
As with his column last week, this week’s column features a lot of repetition of phrases and words, which really helps drive home his points.
Stark’s first six paragraphs start with almost identical phrases.
He uses the repetition to compare and contrast the effects of the Mets’ deal with Johan Santana on different individuals and organizations.
Stark comments that the Mets’ signing of Santana made for a “great day in the life of Johan Santana,” “a great day in the life of the New York Mets,” and a “great day in the life of C.C. Sabathia, too.”
His analysis is spot on: the Mets and Santana both got what they wanted, and Sabathia–another star pitcher who will be a free agent next year–is probably going to get what he wants (more money) thanks to Santana’s landmark deal.
The repetition of phrases seems to be a favored style of Stark’s. I enjoy it because it makes the paragraphs easy to read, and almost serves the same function as bullet points. Stark uses repetition to get across a number of points in very little time and space, without actually using bullet points and simply listing information.
Also similar to the last column, Stark asks several rhetorical questions in this column, and then goes on to answer them.
At this point I like the rhetorical questions, because they show that Stark is thinking about what his readers want to know, and is in touch with both the reader and the subject.
However, rhetorical questions get a bit gimmicky in my opinion, and I’m not sure if I’ll continue to like that style if he uses it every week.
I’m also noticing with further reading that Stark likes to use a lot of small interjections to make the tone of his writing more casual. There must be a dozen sentences of two words or less in this particular column. It’s an interesting and fun way to make the writing less formal.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id;=3226745
February 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
GIANT UPSET: Manning, New York do the impossible; Patriots can’t complete first 19-0 season
By Mitch Albom
I thoroughly enjoyed this piece by Mitch Albom for the ways in which he draws you in with quotes and recaps from the game last night. The vocabulary and word usage that he writes is impressive and makes the story a fun read.
Mr. Albom uses great catch phrases and metaphors to hold onto the readers attention. All the while he seems to be very neutral and non-biased throughout the entire peice. His writing speaks for itself rather then his opinions and thoughts bleeding through his writing.
URL: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/COL01/802040365/1082
February 4th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Tom Boswell’s article discusses the return of baseball to the nation’s capital. He discusses how no one really knows what the turnout will be once the Nationals return to Washington D.C. He gives both alternatives to what could happen to the new team in a city that has not had professional baseball around for a long time.
I like the metaphors that Boswell uses in his article and the imagery that he presents to the reader. It captures the excitement and challenges of having a new baseball team. Boswell’s writing is very well written.
Find it at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51431-2005Apr13.html
February 5th, 2008 at 4:49 am
Blame Pats for this loss
by Gene Wojciechowski
Gene Wojciechowski writes about how the Patriots missed the chance to make history by losing the game to the Giants and that they have no one to blame but themselves.
Wojciechowski says that the Patriot’s vaunted offensive line deserted Tom Brady when it mattered most and led to him getting sacked five times.
Wojciechowski also mentioned how Tom Brady did not play at the level that he had been playing at, and that Eli Manning outplayed him.
Overall I agree with this article, although I think that the Giants should get more credit for having such a dominant pass rush then so much for the Patriot’s O-line having a meltdown.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id;=3228923&sportCat;=nfl
February 5th, 2008 at 8:25 am
“Synder’s Power Play”
This article discusses Jenkins’ view on Dan Snyder and why she believes he treats the “Redskins as his personal game of collectable action figures.”
This article very opinionated and I liked that. It made me realize that I would LOVE having a column because like Jenkins, I’m not too shy to voice my opinion.
I also enjoy Jenkins’ writings becuase she often uses examples that everyone can relate to. For example, when comparing Snyder’s view of the Redskins she use the example of “how kids stare at their food and see a face in it…”
Here is the URL:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/25/AR2008012503432.html
February 5th, 2008 at 10:47 am
A Life-Changing Turn of Events
BY MICHAEL WILBON
Be sure to read this article, it is heartfelt and bleeds of creative, intelligent writing. Wilbon was supposed to cover the Super Bowl this past weekend and was unable to due to a heart attack.
The outcry of support for him from fans, athletes and various other celebrities is something he shows gratefulness toward. In particular he mentions how players like Kobe Bryant, and Jeff George, whom he has been extremely critical of at times, were able to put that aside and extend a hand of courtesy and concern.
Truly a great article; which includes a link if you want to wish Wilbon a speedy recovery.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103759.html?sub=AR
February 5th, 2008 at 10:48 am
The “World’s.” Joe Posnanski explains that in sports putting world before anything and everything all of a sudden makes it the best.
The Giants are now calling themselves “world champions” and baseball has the world all stars. it just makes the title better.http://www.kansascity.com/180/story/475648.html
The world’s fastest man is another title he spends time on. Greene from Kansascity who went on to be the world’s fastest man.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Super Bowl 42 was one of the biggest Super Bowl history. In this article by Peter King he does a good and concise job analyzing how Eli and the Giants knocked the Patriots off of their run to be only the second undefeated team in NFL history.
King does a good job of analyzing how the Giants defense stepped up and put pressure on Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, something every other opponent they have faced all season has been unable to do.
King also takes a look at the 2007-2008 football season and addresses different topics that have been points of focus this season such as Eli Manning proving us wrong and progressing to the SpyGate scandal.
King keeps the article brief, but also touches on important topics and does a good job covering the game at the same time.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/02/04/Giants/index.html
February 5th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Manning was cool down the stretch and made huge plays to bring the championship to New York. I have to agree with Clayton that mentally he showed up and had the perfect scenario in front of him down 4 points with 2:19 to play. Eli Manning got away with a few interception opportunities to lose the game, but stuck with it and played hard and showed the mental edge as Clayton points out.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id;=3229427
February 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am
‘Free fallin’ out into nothing’
By Bill Simmons
As a die-hard Patriots’ fan, Simmons is completed dejected as he writes this column.
He cannot believe that the Patriots didn’t win. He thought it was a lock.
He writes about how we not live in a world, where Eli Manning out-gunned Brady in the Super Bowl, and Tom Coughlin out-coached Bill Belichick.
He talks about how the crowd was pretty much split on who they were rooting for. He knew the game was doomed from the start when Brady took the time to shake hands with Pat O’ Brien.
Simmons goes on to say that he will forever be haunted by the chants of “18-1”. “18-1”. “18-1”.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080204
February 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Burress makes good on bold prediction
By Woody Paige
Woody Paige’s article for this week praises the New York Giants as the best team in football over the New England Patriots. Their upset win was a shock to many, except for the NY players themselves. Paige said that they deserved the victory.
Eli Manning played better that older brother Peyton did last superbowl. This year, Eli passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns, while Peyton passed for 247 yards and a touchdown. These back-to-back MVP brothers will go down as the first Family of Football.
Tom Brady and the Patriots will become a footnote in football history. Their almost perfect season was put to an end during the last minutes of the game.
“We finally made something happen in the fourth quarter,” Manning said.
http://www.denverpost.com/paige
February 5th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Leonard Shapiro wrote an artice about how Spygate simply won’t go away, and the NFL is just going to have to deal with. Shapiro suggests that due to the timing of the leaked information about the Senator digging up more dirt on the Patriots’ cheating scandal, the NFL is going to be hurt by this. Shapiro writes about what effects this spygate couyld have on the league. His main point is that no matter how much the NFL wants this go away, it won’t.
I agree with the points he’s making at I think it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out. The main idea of interest to me that Shapiro writes about is this is a big story no matter what the NFL wants to believe
February 5th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Ready, Aim ‘Fire on You’
By Chris De Luca
De Luca reflects on the White Sox offseason acquisitions in his article. He said that the additions of a free agent class including Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera would normally be considered a great offseason. But the expectations are so high that there has been some disappointment on not signing big-name free agents.
One of the White Sox top offseason priorities was finding a center fielder. They were in serious talks with Torii Hunter before the deal fell through in the last minute. Then the team shifted their focus on re-signing former White Sox Aaron Rowand. Once again, they were unsuccessful.
In the article, White Sox GM Ken Williams said that “we’re not done yet,” in regards to the team’s offseason acquisitions.
It will be interesting to see how the White Sox fill the rest of their roster. However, it remains to be seen whether the club will pursue more veteran free agents or shift their focus on their farm system.
Link:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/758641,CST-SPT-deluca25.article
February 5th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Mike Wise had a very busy week this past week. Wise wrote four different articles on three different sports and surprisingly, none involved the Super Bowl!
Wise’s first article from February 1st chronicled Alex Ovechkin’s 4 goal 1 assist game against the Montreal Canadians. Wise really is one of the few local journalists who provide quality hockey columns, so take advantage.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013104141.html
Wise’s second article was about Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Sloan, the longest tenured coach in any professional sport has quietly distiguished himself as one of the NBA’s all-time great coaches and has led the Jazz to 19 consecutive winning seasons.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020103655.html
Wise’s third article was one that was near and dear to my heart as he wrote about former Redskins wide receiver finally making the hall of fame.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/02/AR2008020202405.html
Wise’s final article was about the Wizards needing a healthy Gilbert Arenas to compete in the playoffs.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020302605.html
February 6th, 2008 at 11:16 am
This week Jason Whitlock discussed the Super Bowl, specifically the lack of credit that the Giants are getting for the win.
I like where Whitlock went in this article because it seems like everyone is so quick to ignore the Giant’s accomplishment in order to pay insult to the Patriots.
As Whitlock says, the Giants played great and they should get the credit for the win. The Patriots had a great season but in this game the Giants were the better team.
Read the article here:
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/474308.html
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