Some NHL Teams Don’t Want Bloggers Anywhere Near Their Players

There’s this odd misconception in the world that blogs are only written by fans. It’s hard for people in the media who get paid to do their job (and, by and large get told what teams/topics to cover) to understand that people who write blogs are not necessarily doing so while wearing a jersey with their faces covered in temporary tattoos of the team’s logo. Sometimes, independent media is certainly nothing more than a fan’s ramblings, be it everything from mindless homerism to insightful criticism and commentary.

More often than not (at least more often than in the past), independent media is borne out of a need for fans to get more from their local coverage. Certainly in the case of the NFL or many successful MLB teams, there will be more “fan blogs” than independent media sites looking for a different angle of coverage. Traditional media gravitates to what’s popular, which is why there is usually no lack of coverage for the major sports. It’s difficult for an independent site to get recognized and credentialedREAD MORE

DL383: The Weekend That Was With Andy Hutchins, Plus Clint Dempsey & Tim Howard Talk About US Pressure

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First, Andy Hutchins hops on (from what sounds like the back of a truck) to talk about the weekend. Andy is the weekend editor at The Sporting Blog — as well as writing a ton during the week — so we talk about the big storylines from Saturday and Sunday.

Andy feels the Celtics are the biggest story, so we briefly discuss that. We then talk about Rafael Nadal, and if at some point it becomes ridiculous when an athlete falls to the ground after winning what seemed like a pretty easy match. Come on, he won in three sets and was never challenged in either of them. Does that really warrant laying on the ground? Sure it was a culmination of triumph after a tough yet, but doesn’t it show just a little lack of respect for the opponent, and the moment?

Maybe that’s my biggest issue with it…the crowd was just politely applauding. It wasn’t an Oh My Gawd moment, so Nadal’s “I’m overwhelmed by my own greateness” moment seemedREAD MORE

DL381: Near Perfection, Junior Retires, Stanley Cup Finals

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Two shows today. This is the first. We talk about the perfect game that wasn’t, but still could be. How long until we have robot umpires?

We also talk about Ken Griffey Jr.’s retirement. More on that at TSB, including a look at his Top Ten moments.

Plus, the Stanley Cup finals were totally overshadowed last night, but man alive this is a great series.

Thanks for listening, check out show two in a bit with Don Povia from HHR and Blogs with Balls.

DL376: Flyer’d Up Bandwagon, The Graying Line of Media & Dead Animals On My Lawn

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We start with some talk about the Flyers making it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but in no way do we gush like we have in the past about the Phillies. We’re unabashed bandwagon hoppers this year.

Oh, we’re having a mayoral bet with Kevin Kaduk of Yahoo’s Big League Stew. What should be ask for from Chicago? We’re putting up some TastyKakes. And for the record, I hope the Flyers win, but do not expect them to do so.

PRINT’S NOT DEAD

We talk about the Dwayne Bowe story that’s circulating from ESPN the Magazine about a chicken in every pot, or in this case, a woman in every room. Should this get him in trouble with the team? Is his “bad judgement” as Nick put it the fact that he was a part of this or that he told the media about the clandestine situation that has been going on for FIFTY YEARS? And that’s our question: when did this start to become news? Hasn’t this kind of thing happened since professionalREAD MORE

DL375: I Want Phil Jackson’s Big Chair

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We talk about NBA, NHL and MLB. But mostly we talk about how I want Phil Jackson’s huge chair.

Oh, and as per my post at Sporting News, what announcer would you want to do the commentary for a video game of your life? Must be alive and a sports broadcaster.

Leave in the comments.

DL372: On Military Burials, Playoff Series & New ESPN Megadeals

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We talk about my wife’s grandfather’s funeral. Have you ever heard Taps played by a uniformed man with a horn at a funeral, then watched two other soldiers fold up an American flag and hand it to someone you care about? It’s an amazingly powerful moment.

We ask two questions about sports today: would you rather see a short series with close games or a long series with blowouts that lead up to a competitive culmination? How much power does “game seven” have? Plus, if you’re a fan of a team, do you embrace bandwagon jumpers, especially if your sport is looking for fans?

Last, we tackle the Deadspin rumor about Bill Simmons new contract.

DL370: Greg Wyshynski Of Puck Daddy Talks Playoffs, Canada, Injuries and More

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I love the “and more” tag at the end of headlines. But this show with Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy is seriously one big “and more”. I love talking with him — it’s the two guys from Jersey thing — no matter what we discuss. This time, it’s mostly about hockey, with very little heavy lifting for those not following the action. It’s actually a decent primer for those who may want to start paying attention now. So get on it and listen. You’ll sound smart if you say whatever he says.

We talk about the timing of having a kid in the next few days (him, not me) and what his schedule will be like. He likens himself to a player that knocks up his wife after the season. Something about a small window, but I didn’t probe. Wait…

We talk at length about the pending Winnipeg situation and get into the deep-roots of Wyshynski’s total anti-Canada stance. It’s amazing how much he hates Canada.

We also talk a lot about theREAD MORE

DL364: We’re Back In the Saddle Again

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Hello faithful listeners. We’re back. We talk about some things today. Won’tcha come join us?

In today’s show, we talk about: • The media horde during situations like the Virginia lacrosse murder • Sports! Including hockey playoffs and the NBA. Well, it’s probably most about baseball, let’s be honest. • TV! Namely a conversation using my Press Coverage column at TSB as a launching point about CNN asking viewers and readers to submit iReports, most egregiously during the investigation of the Times Square car bomb. How about this idea? Tell your fans to get the hell to Jersey, there’s a car that could explode. • I forget to ask Nick if he has anything else and it turns out he has TWO things!

Good to be back. Kevin Kaduk of Yahoo is scheduled for tomorrow. Will Leitch slated for Thursday to plug his new book.

DL362: NHL, Legal Analysis of Roethlisberger Case & Pulit…SURPRISE!

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All apologies for the short recaps this week. Eh, be happy there’s a show at all, because frankly, I’m not. I just want this boy to show up already.

Anyway, We talk about three things today.

First, Nick and I discuss the NHL! We talk about why shootouts in sports are okay in certain instances, and then talk about how the Devils and Flyers are playing zero games on national TV when, as Nick points out, every other series has at least three games on national TV. Make sense? Does everyone hate these two teams that much?

COURT REPORT:

Neil Jacobs, a Washington, D.C. defense attorney and our legal analyst, joins the show to talk about Ben Roethlisberger’s situation. Would he, as a defense attorney, eat the prosecution alive with the circumstantial nature of this case, and is that why the prosecutor can’t do much more than come out with a presser talking about Ben being a bad guy and “if he were my son, I’d tell him to grow up.”

We also get someREAD MORE