a reporter's reporter

[Alma]

when it comes to sex, pro sports are a small part in an overall "twisted culture." the difference between the average pro athlete and the average sportswriter/fan is opportunity. passing judgment on consenting adults is a slippery slope.

I agree.

You should read his blog on the exotic dancer interview.

 

[jgmacg]

this is an interesting thread...it's tough for me to follow because i don't know all the background.... jmac, are there other threads about canzano this week? also, it does seem odd that henryhect would post this thread at 3:35 and at 3:40 mizzougrad would post a glowing review of a long interview. maybe i read slow.

i don't know much about canzano, but i like him whenever i've spoken to him in a press box... we all have our priorities/passions.... i'm passionate about racial issues. the interview with canzano makes it seem like he wants to be some sort of morality police. this might not be true, but that's how the interview comes off.

when it comes to sex, pro sports are a small part in an overall "twisted culture." the difference between the average pro athlete and the average sportswriter/fan is opportunity. passing judgment on consenting adults is a slippery slope.

Mr. W -

The other thread I referred to is the one concerning the Oregonian's investigation of its relationship to the Blazers. It's still on the front page of the J-board I expect.

And I hope that you, unlike some others here, understand the spirit in which I posted my rhetorical question last night about the complex relationship of race to sexuality in complicated moral stories like these. I'm genuinely curious about it, and value your insight. Thanks.

jgm - last night you made a statement about the NBA, that you now are on record as saying you know nothing about.

Your feigned interest now is ponderous at best.

Huh?

 

[jason_whitlock]

jmac, leave boom alone. he's smart sometimes and then other times he can't follow simple logic.

boom: the guy isn't debating the nba. he's asking questions about journalism. jmac has a deep interest in journalism, the good and the bad.

jmac, there was nothing wrong with your question. it's a reflex reaction for some whenever race is brought up in a way that makes them uncomfortable they throw down the "race card" cliche.

 

[blondebomber]

The anecdote of the blonde screams to me of a Jayson Blair/Mitch Albom lede of convenience. Maybe the Oregonian was happy with the sourcing on this, but in today's newspaper world the notion of a reader simply trusting the paper to be rock-solid in this regard is obsolete. It read as if it were made up.

 

[jgmacg]

jmac, leave boom alone. he's smart sometimes and then other times he can't follow simple logic.

boom: the guy isn't debating the nba. he's asking questions about journalism. jmac has a deep interest in journalism, the good and the bad.

jmac, there was nothing wrong with your question. it's a reflex reaction for some whenever race is brought up in a way that makes them uncomfortable they throw down the "race card" cliche.

He's been dogging me on this thread, but you're right. I think it'll be best if I just don't respond for a while.

 

[awriter]

Then on what basis can you make a statement like this?

playthrough -

While I'm aware of the special circumstances in Portland given its history, does it bother anyone else that stories of this kind are so often written by white journalists about black players?

Sorry, Boom - that's not a statement, it's a question.

And again, you've cut and pasted very selectively. Here's the sentence preceding the question:

And I'll append one last thought for you both, largely rhetorical, and hope that perhaps Mr. Whitlock can check in at some point later with his no doubt avid thoughts.

While I'm aware of the special circumstances in Portland given its history, does it bother anyone else that stories of this kind are so often written by white journalists about black players?

Additionally, Boom, the troubled history of the Trailblazers franchise is an issue to which Canzano refers in the interview. In fact, it's why he thinks of himself as a "watchdog."

Why would you criticize him for being a watchdog? Isn't that a basic part of our job?

 

[jgmacg]

Then on what basis can you make a statement like this?

playthrough -

While I'm aware of the special circumstances in Portland given its history, does it bother anyone else that stories of this kind are so often written by white journalists about black players?

Sorry, Boom - that's not a statement, it's a question.

And again, you've cut and pasted very selectively. Here's the sentence preceding the question:

And I'll append one last thought for you both, largely rhetorical, and hope that perhaps Mr. Whitlock can check in at some point later with his no doubt avid thoughts.

While I'm aware of the special circumstances in Portland given its history, does it bother anyone else that stories of this kind are so often written by white journalists about black players?

Additionally, Boom, the troubled history of the Trailblazers franchise is an issue to which Canzano refers in the interview. In fact, it's why he thinks of himself as a "watchdog."

Why would you criticize him for being a watchdog? Isn't that a basic part of our job?

I didn't criticize him for anything. The quotes around "watchdog" are unironic. I put the word in quotes because it was used in the interview. Sorry if that gave the wrong impression.

 

[awriter]

jmac, leave boom alone. he's smart sometimes and then other times he can't follow simple logic.

boom: the guy isn't debating the nba. he's asking questions about journalism. jmac has a deep interest in journalism, the good and the bad.

jmac, there was nothing wrong with your question. it's a reflex reaction for some whenever race is brought up in a way that makes them uncomfortable they throw down the "race card" cliche.

The problem is there is absolutely no evidence -- none -- to suggest that Canzano is a racist.

 

[henryhenry]

Has anyone else ever had to file and FOI?
At my old paper I had no idea what an FOI was.
Since I have been at my current stop, I've filed a handful. I average about one a year.
Most of them have been filed against county school boards to release the names of job applicants.
I filed one against a college - seeking coaching applicants. The college told us to step off and while my EE thought we would win a legal fight over the matter (the college is a public institution) the company didn't think the matter was big enough to foot any legal bills so we let it drop.

selena roberts wrote about a clemson booster club last year - using the figures obtained from the club's public filing -

not a lot of sportswriters are comfortable with public records - and i don't mean reverse phone directories -

 

[jgmacg]

jmac, leave boom alone. he's smart sometimes and then other times he can't follow simple logic.

boom: the guy isn't debating the nba. he's asking questions about journalism. jmac has a deep interest in journalism, the good and the bad.

jmac, there was nothing wrong with your question. it's a reflex reaction for some whenever race is brought up in a way that makes them uncomfortable they throw down the "race card" cliche.

The problem is there is absolutely no evidence -- none -- to suggest that Canzano is a racist.

There really is no "problem." Please note - yet again - that the question I asked, as an aside, and defined as "rhetorical," was phrased very carefully, and in no way states, hints or indicates that I was talking about Canzano. I was asking if anyone shared my discomfort about "stories like these."

 

[Claws for Concern]

Solid and true responses by Canzano. Great interview.

 

[jason_whitlock]

jmac, leave boom alone. he's smart sometimes and then other times he can't follow simple logic.

boom: the guy isn't debating the nba. he's asking questions about journalism. jmac has a deep interest in journalism, the good and the bad.

jmac, there was nothing wrong with your question. it's a reflex reaction for some whenever race is brought up in a way that makes them uncomfortable they throw down the "race card" cliche.

The problem is there is absolutely no evidence -- none -- to suggest that Canzano is a racist.

no one came close to calling canzano racist. not even close.

now i am calling this post of yours simple-minded, but that doesn't mean you're simple-minded. you follow?