Posted in On the DL Podcast
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02/17 2011

DL526: Kornheiser, Feinstein, Snyder, Favoritism. Plus More Deadspin, SB Nation, Bleacher Report

Posted by Dan Levy.

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We try to briefly recap the night in sports, but other things just keep getting in the way.

We got some interesting feedback from yesterday’s show, so we address that and delve a little deeper into intricacies of the homogenous world of sports blogs (and how eventually Comcast will own us all).

We also talk about the fact that John Feinstein wrote on his blog that Tony Kornheiser has asked him not to talk about Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, when “Junior” is a guest on Tony’s show. Per Feinstein, it’s not because Snyder owns the station that airs the show, but more because Kornheiser likes him as a person.

So…which is worse? Is playing favorites because you’re contractually obligated to do so better or worse than playing favorites because you like someone personally? This isn’t just an issue with Kornheiser — thought it is a HUGE concern that he’s telling guests not to rip a guy who ultimately has the power to yank his show off the air — but it’s an issue with all members of the media (and blogs, too.)

Heck, we do it. There have been many times where I’ve decided not to write or talk about a story because it involved a friend and I didn’t want to rip him. Or, conversely, I’ve probably been harder on some people because I am friends with them and I know they can take it. I know for a fact that some bloggers and mainstream writers BOTH have been told to keep their opinions on Bleacher Report to themselves because they have content sharing deals and their bosses don’t want them shitting where they eat.

We all compromise. Listen to the show and I give at least three examples where I had to do it too. So is the Kornheiser thing any different? Should we care more because Snyder owns the only team people care about in Washington and Kornheiser has clearly shown he can’t be impartial about the owner, and by extension, anything that has to do with the team. Or is everything taken with a grain of salt. Several DC media folks are former players or coaches in the town. Do we treat their commentary any differently?

And again, this all comes back to us (meaning blogs, not meaning me and Nick). We talked about the editors SB Nation publicly ripping Bleacher Report as much or more than anyone (note: I’ve done my fair share of ripping too), but both companies have content deals with Comcast and actually share space on some of the same pages. How long before they’re actually handing money back and forth between the two entities? And will the bashing stop then?

Let’s hope not, because it’s important to hold people’s feet to the proverbial fire, be them . But we’re all beholden to someone. It’s just a matter of balancing how much those relationships impact what we say or write, right?

Thanks for listening.

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Posted on February 17, 2011 at 9:40AM

 

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    02/17 2011

    Kornheiser, Feinstein, Snyder, Favoritism….

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