Nats beat writer asks blog readers to send him to spring training

Once again, go back and read the blog. He's offering those who "donate" (as you like to call it) more than what is available for free on the blog. Therefore, it is paid product and not charity. Sorry.

 

Smasher's right here despite attempts to draw him into a phony argument.

Yes, Zuckerman is offering something for the readers who help pay for his spring training trip, just like the guy on the No. 7 train who plays a nice song on his guitar when I throw a dollar in his beat up old guitar case.

The problem is that it all comes across as a sympathy play just as much as a sales pitch for a good product. I wonder if readers gave money because they think they're going to get great value for their dollar or as a show of support for someone whose reports they've come to like?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess, and, again, I don't blame the guy for doing this to try and keep his baseball writing career alive. But please don't tell me it's not a little bit pathetic.

 

1. No, he's not right.
2. The "phony" argument is one he started.
3. You clearly haven't read the initial post which indicates the extra things he's providing to subscribers.

The other option, of course, is that you're a sockpuppet or a troll. I suppose that's possible, too.

 

1) I've read the entire thread, including about the "extra" things he's providing to subscribers.
2) Please show me where Smasher "started" a phony argument.
3) I understand peoples' compulsion to defend a fellow journalist and I also understand why they become indignant toward anyone who would question his methods.
4) I still get to question his methods, so deal with it.

 

Does this count?

 

The guy got fucked by his employer and has gone into business for himself. He's providing a product. Some for free, more for pay. I think it's fucking brilliant, ballsy and hope he makes enough to light cigars with hundred-dollar bills. I tip my freaking non-Nationals-loving cap to him.

And, as far as I'm concerned, anybody that's got even the slightest problem with it is either trolling, jealous or just an assjockey in general.

So deal with it.

 

No. Smasher responded to an incredibly stupid post by Mizzou. Next.

 

I think it's pathetic but understandable; another sad indication of where the profession has gone. Get over yourself. I'm entitled to my opinion.

 

Please. He took that post and ran with it. And has been running with it ever since. It takes two to argue and he's been all over the "You're going to hell for paying for Nats content instead of giving it to charity."

 

Yeah, "pathetic" is exactly the word. Guy has a service to provide and, apparently, a good number of people willing to pay for it. What's the difference between this and any other start-up business?

But if you want to believe otherwise, go for it. I'm done with this stupid fucking nonsense.

True. Regardless of how stupid it is.

 

I explained that earlier but I guess you were too caught up in your blind defense of anything a reporter might do to keep working.

 

Smash's argument: The sportswriter is clearly a charity. And there are so many more worthy charities.

My argument: It doesn't matter if it's a charity or not - it's simply a choice of how you spend your discretionary income. If you choose to spend on the sportswriter rather than a video game, that doesn't make you a bad person.

Nor does spending on the sportswriter rather than Haiti. Nor does spending on Haiti rather than the sportswriter.

The very fact that different people spend their discretionary income on myriad different things is what keeps the American system going.