Context and sports commentary

The Detroit News' Tony Paul writes a response column:

http://detnews.com/article/20110324/OPINION03/103240458/Ex-Tiger-Marcus-Thames--a-stiff?--L.A.-columnists-wrong-in-many-ways

 

Geez, Marcus Thames is so beloved you'd think he's the second coming of Daniel Nava.

 

This is absurd.

I am not a good golfer. This does not mean I am admitting to being a bad person because I am admitting I can't golf.

 

This nails it. I read Simers occasionally and usually enjoy him. This crosses the line, though, and it has nothing to do with Thames' background. What did anyone gain by how Simers handled this?

 

T.J., of course, eats that shit up.

 

I'm very familiar with Simers' style. And he's a dickhead. He's a very successful dickhead, but that doesn't make him any less of a dickhead. And Simers doesn't care. He enjoys being a dickhead. Which is why I don't get why people jump to his defense. He's a dickhead. You know he's a dickhead. He knows he's a dickhead. Let him own it. And let it be written on his tombstone.

TJ Simers
Successful Sports Columnist. Dickhead.

 

It's not like this is the first time Simers has written something like this.

I thought the column was hilarious.

 

Several years ago, I asked a friend of mine to introduce me to Simers. He said, "If you meet him you'll never want to read him again. He's that much of a dick."

 

Do you think anyone in Detroit gives a fuck what Tony Paul thinks of TJ Simers?

There is nothing worse than when writers write about what someone else wrote.

Hack 101.

 

If you don't like Simers' schtick, I understand that. He's definitely not for everyone.

But after reading Tony Paul's column, I'm just embarrassed for him (Paul).

 

It would be a mistake not to post the follow-up column.
See, the thing with TJ, he always shows up in the locker room. The very next day.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers-20110323,0,2631554.column

 

So?

If Thames says nothing, Simers gloats in the next column.

If Dodger PR preps Thames to play along, as was clearly the case here, Simers gloats in the next column.

If Thames punches him in the nose, Simers gets another week's worth of columns and a juicy settlement.

Life's all upside when you're Max Mercy.