Lynn Hoppes: Keep your passion alive

At least the writing was an improvement from Garry Howard's.

 

Lots of good ideas here.

If sportsjournalists.com, ever had an election of any kind I'd vote Frank Ridgeway president in a heartbeat. Almost always a voice of reason around here.

Alas, it's all talk. Not just from him, but from everyone. In a few days, this thread will be on the second page of the journalism forum and no one will think of it again.

Why jump on Hoppes? Whatever he wrote, I really don't think he's the enemy in this case. Besides if you havent notice, sportsjournalists.com is bigger than APSE.

APSE is a contest.

sportsjournalists.com -- for all its flaws, and there are dozens -- is a focus group, sounding board, job page, etc. People come to the site. Even those who claim they don't, do.

If we're serious about helping out our former journalists and saving this cursed business, we have more power to do something about it than APSE. I cant remember the last time I visited the APSE web site, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

It's somewhat sad -- and typical of many in this business -- to point to someone else and have them solve the industry's problems. Meanwhile the most popular thread on this site is an argument regarding Erin Andrews' clubhouse behavior.

 

SF - i can respect your opinion. but, my point is that in 2008, APSE is an "institution" that hands out awards and hosts seminars.

if folks here are looking for some type of leader, that person is going to have to lose their day job and make a living from folks paying dues.

 

From Day 1, I have always thought that, too.

But BTExpress and SFExpress are right there, perhaps an inch back.

 

i'm a huge fan of joe williams.

 

Also long on equanimity and perspective... if not SportsJournalists.com tenure.

 

That's certainly an interesting idea that would take a lot of money, among other things.

Of course, now is the worst time to hope for such a thing; I don't know that they're going to be beating off new dues-paying members with a stick.

As for the other, I maintain the commissioner's group, the liaison with AP and SJI are much more important than to just write them off, but we can agree to disagree.

 

Jealous?

 

Not jealous. Relieved.

Although anyone who ranks Hoppes highly should talk with people who have worked directly under him.

When it comes to top-notch sports editors, most of them have been bumped up to higher levels or gone into other roles. (I'm not referring to Fanin in particular.)

 

Interesting thread. My first reaction was to consider how the power company rep might react if I offered a dose of my passion in place of $170.

But the thread has gone so far beyond that. It deserves some serious discussion. I don't know that I can find the words, but I'll try.

I understand every perspective, and there's no right or wrong position. What I got from the column was the same sort of reflection you might see at a funeral. It's almost as if Lynn is having a conversation with himself. He's searching for his own answers, worrying about a guy he knows. In doing so, he reconciles and opts for rationale that says the fallen are going to a better place. He's trying to convince himself that things are just fine. It's called human nature. He shouldn't have to apologize for that.

In this case, though, the dead are still among us. And it's only natural for them to interject. As we wipe away the tears, strengthen our resolve and head back to work, there are people who are still perched on the funeral pyre wondering what they're supposed to do. It's easy to tell them to dust themselves off and head back out there. But these are people who've had their hearts plucked from their chests.

To use yet another analogy, it's like I was just hit by a car, and Lynn has walked up to suggest I stand. But he's not reaching out with his hand. Hey, I'm hurt. I want to smack him. Then I remember that he didn't create the problem. In fact, he's just trying to deal with an unwelcome situation for which he doesn't even know the solution. Sure, he's a well-known editor. When it comes to the state of our industry, though, he's no different than anyone else. He's just someone trying to pave a road to someplace he's never been.

By the way, I'm lobbying for Joe Williams to consider me as a running mate for that APSE spot. Just don't tell anyone that the whole of my newspaper editor career lasted seven rocky months.

 

Happy to serve in Frank's cabinet with Stallion and the Express brothers. 8)

See more wisdom and compassion and sobriety (!) on this board about the predicaments facing our business than I have heard, in total, from bosses or bosses' bosses across nearly three decades.

 

see, i told ya he wouldn't ask his dog to serve him a beer.