Gone fishing? Not yet, but it’s tempting
William Houston is a bitter man. First he gloats about predicting the results of the Kessel trade, then he puts down Darren Millard and starts an all-out attack on James Mirtle.
about 2 years ago
Karina
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Yes, William Houston DOES say that he enjoys the work of Don McLean and then absolutely trashes Mirtle.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions
hahaha, brain fail
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
IS THIS REAL LIFE?
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
this accurately depicts my reaction
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
My response, submitted at Mr. Houston’s blog.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Any guy who says he enojoys the work of Doug McLean has absolutely no credibility whatsoever……
Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking at next year since 1967
Or...
Anyone who writes:
…hackneyed piece of twaddle
That calls for a slapping
by WendelMadeMe on Apr 14, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I support the use of funny-sounding words in quasi-journalism.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Apr 14, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
The dead giveaway was calling Mirtle a “statistics wonk”, as if that’s a bad thing and not exactly what Toronto’s MSM needs. Do you think maybe he’s bitter because he was packaged off to “early retirement” to make room for fresh blood like Mirtle? Ethics much, Bill?
I’m not saying the piece Houston ripped on was immune from criticism—we trashed Cox for the exact same failing a day earlier—but to single out Mirtle for something that virtually every sportwriter in Toronto does on a weekly basis reeked of “bitter old has-been”.
Seriously, Houston’s almost as sad as Murray Chass, whose name I couldn’t remember but quickly found by googling “washed-up New York Times baseball columnist”
yeah
this definitely reads like someone who is bitter about “early retirement”. People here were calling for Mirtle to be held accountable for not naming names in his article, but to attack with such vitriol… clearly he has an axe to grind.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
And what did Millard do to him…..He might not be the best at hosting the show but hes certainly not irritating OR unlikable. The guy is the only sane person on their panel.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking at next year since 1967
And what are the odds he’s buddies with MacLean somehow? 95%? 99%?
by The '67 Sound on Apr 14, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Millard is a hockey genius compared to kypreos and maclean
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Apr 14, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
he is a blessed man for being able to stay calm and rational while sharing a studio with those 2
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
i always laugh when kyper thinks he has an argurment won then millard decides to bring logic into the equation.
Bruuuuutal
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Apr 14, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Bringing logic to an argument with Kypreos is like bringing an A-bomb to a knife fight. It’s just so totally above and beyond what’s needed to win that you end up feeling sorry for the poor bastard about to be destroyed.
Resident Capologist
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutal.
/the big early with don and gord
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Apr 14, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, where’s Cox Bloc when you need ’em?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
This column in one sentence
It’s always embarrassing when Grandpa starts wetting himself in public, isn’t it?
by Godd Till on Apr 14, 2010 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 9 recs
Brilliant.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Or like when your grandpa starts using racial slurs that he thinks were ok back in the day but now you’re like, “grandpa, you can’t say that about Jewish people!”
by theothervatican on Apr 14, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I suggest taking advantage of the Youtube embedding in the comments.
I certainly did.
Vance
BanginPanger.com
DoubleEdgedSabres.com
Among the relative newcomers to the hockey media, I enjoyed the work of Doug MacLean on Fan590 and Rogers Sportsnet.
I stopped here.
but it got even MORE outrageous and entertaining after that!
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
at first i read a comment from “Sean M” and thought that was dgb, then i read a little more…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Apr 14, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Three thoughts:
1. Interesting to see him rip Mirtle so thoroughly. Tough to think that’s not at least a little personal, considering one guy was pushed out the door at the Globe and the other found a way in. Still, this feels like what a “media watchdog” column should be, if all these guys weren’t friends.
2. I don’t think his core criticism of Mirtle — that he used an anonymous source to report gossip instead of either naming names or just spiking the story — is fair. I’ve complained about the same thing myself recently, so even though I like James and I’m sure he has a good reason behind what he wrote, I don’t think Houston’s out of line there.
3. That said, everybody in the sports world uses anonymous quotes. Cox had his helicopter story a few days ago, and of course there was Simmons with his Kaberle “scoop”. If this is the start of Houston taking them all on, then great. If it’s just him picking on a rookie to score a few cheap points, then he’ll deserve all the scorn he’ll get.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Apr 14, 2010 2:38 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think his core criticism of Mirtle — that he used an anonymous source to report gossip instead of either naming names or just spiking the story — is fair
Ugh. I was trying to say that "I don’t think his core criticism of Mirtle is unfair.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Apr 14, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
that’s the point I got, and that’s true – had he emphasized that point instead of using it to support his idea that Mirtle is not yet ready to be a reporter, it would have been more reasonable.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 14, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, the rest of it was just bizarre. I doubt “crystal clear” would make the top 100 examples of hackneyed sports writing this week.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Apr 14, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, at least Mirtle avoided using arcane, impossibly technical language like “saucer pass”.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Apr 14, 2010 2:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
His (very small) valid point got lost in his mean-spirited vitriol at a younger, hungrier and frankly better reporter whom Houston apparently perceives as having pushed him out the door. Your point #3 is bang on.
by The '67 Sound on Apr 14, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I would agree somewhat as well, but calling him a “statistics wonk with limited journalistic skills” was unnecessary and contradictory to his whole premise. If Houston is taking Mirtle to task for not revealing his sources and therefore, being less opinionated, then wouldn’t statistics and quantifiable stats actually work in his favour?
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
Yeah. That came across as clearly personal. I wonder what the back story is.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Apr 14, 2010 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Any reason to think it’s anything more complicated than old guard resenting new guard?
by The '67 Sound on Apr 14, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Not necessarily.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Apr 14, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if he’s just picking on Mirtle because he was the model for the new Globe Sports on being more statistical and in-depth with other metrics. I don’t know if it saves costs or not, but being a bigger web presence with a “unique” take on hockey was Mirtle’s introduction by the Globe and Mail if I recall correctly.
I don’t want to give Houston too much benefit of the doubt because I strongly disagree with his article, but he sounds rather bitter about the Globe Sports’ new direction and taking it out on Mirtle. In any case, Houston is being a petulant child and giving a bad name to bloggers, which I find most ironic.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
either that or he cant get it up anymore
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Apr 14, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
This.
The Luck of the Irish Leaf: Because when the Irish are short on luck, at least there's tons of booze.
If we’re calling people out for poor journalistic practices it seems appropriate to call out people who’ve been doing it long enough to make it the status quo instead of taking a cheap shot at a rookie.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Well, yes and no. Mirtle’s in the big leagues now. He earned his spot, and he shouldn’t get a pass now just because he’s the new guy.
Like I said, if this is just the first shot in Houston’s crusade against bad sportswriting and anonymous sources, then OK. But we all know there are plenty of guys who are just as guilty (and let’s face it, way, way more guilty) of those sins than James is, so if Houston is going to pick his spots then the hell with him.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Apr 14, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
On the plus side, that comment by “F*** you” was on the mark in its brevity and colourful description.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
I had to step out of the office to deal with that one. Too funny.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
Is it just me, or does anyone else see an irony in a site called “Truth and Rumours” calling someone out for an unamed source?
It’s also a shame that Houston has personalized this. It’s one thing to critique someone’s work, but this one crossed the line. I hope an apology, or at least some sort of caveat/correction is forthcoming.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I agree re. irony, and think the odds of a correction/apology are somewhere between slim and none.
by The '67 Sound on Apr 14, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Noted, and I agree the primary sin here is the personalization of the issue. Calling James “cowardly” is really too much. Won’t be holding my breath for an apology, though.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Anyone else hear Abe Simpson’s voice in their head?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
yes, completely. Also – “yell at a cloud!” Gold!
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Apr 14, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
We can’t bust heads like we used to, but we have our ways. One trick is to tell ‘em stories that don’t go anywhere – like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so, I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ‘em. Give me five bees for a quarter, you’d say.
Now where were we? Oh yeah: the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn’t have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones…
The Luck of the Irish Leaf: Because when the Irish are short on luck, at least there's tons of booze.
“the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. "
I love that part of the rant
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Apr 14, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
One of Abe’s highlights, for sure.
The Luck of the Irish Leaf: Because when the Irish are short on luck, at least there's tons of booze.
*revs chainsaw*
Who attacked Mirtle?!
BTW, this comment is full of win: “Who are you? I want to fuck your face.”
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Just stopping by to say thank you for posting this, since somehow I missed the whole thing. I have my rebuttal up over at HW. While it is not my best work, I feel I got my shots in. This guy needs to find someone to buy his Depends for him and go live in a cabin while his bowels eat themselves inside out.
http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2010/4/14/1422770/55-gallons-of-ink-for-mirtle
Anyway. I’m going back to my corner.
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
an old hack jealous of the new media an his lack of place in it. although i bet ppp readers are helping his hit count today. maybe he’s getting the hang of it?
heh
Yeah, he’s picked up hits but it’ll be a one-time bounce while his name gets smeared through the mud.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
Tasteless and disgusting post. Mr. Houston should be ashamed of stooping so low.
If his canoe is so much more welcoming, I suggest he get extensive use out of it and stop writing. The sports journalism/blogging world does not need his kind.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
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