Will the real Richard Justice please stand up...

[Noe]

This may not be a popular topic for the TZ, so forgive me for doing this but we've talked about the media today for quite some time.  The melding of information/media with entertainment/media has blurred the line from journalist to personality.  And as such, it muddies the water as to what you get today in terms of true reporting, analysis and information.  It explains ESPN for sure, but it's filtered it's way down to the local as well so you get more and more the ESPNizing of information dispersal nowadays.  Especially in terms of sports talk radio.  The problems I've had in the recent past was how newspapers jumped aboard this misguided bandwagon and have now provided their own version of the personality that pretends to maintain that journalistic integrity.  By and large, it doesn't.  One only needs to look at the Wilbons, Steven A. Smiths, Kornheiser, et. al. to notice the transformation.  This melding into personality over information has caused a blurred line so much so that Comedy Central's Daily Show Jon Stewart has often remarked how amazed he is how many people in his audience actually believe his show and any other show on his broadcast network are real news media sources.

Yeah, and ESPN and their ilk are (IMHO) one step closer to the Comedy Central parody of real news source than they are closer to CNN as well.  Personality over Information and it is now part of the local scene too.  And you don't have to go too far to see how the infiltration of personality has crept into the mainstream media as well.  Blogging and the internet has created interesting cross melding of personality and real reporting.  Read a column or beat report and then read a blog and you get the full gamut of personality with attempts at reporting.  But the pendulum swing is tilted far to the personality side now in the internet side of the newspaper business now.  Did they have to do it?  I think so, else the audience today for news source would continue to get their pablum from media sources that will get it to them in a personable way.  Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Comedy Central's Daily Show wasn't rated the number one news source for a large audience.  So that leads me to Richard Justice.

I like him.

There, I said it.  He is very good, he is very informed, he is very much a person who straddles the line of information over personality.  The problem is that his desire to try and be a personality cause all the confusion to what he really believes or wants to say.  Far and away, whenever this guy talks baseball, he knows what he's talking about.  He understands and if he were in a media world today that even cared about reporting and journalistic integrity and dispersing proper information, he'd be really good.  Some say the same thing about Kornhieser, so it doesn't surprise me.  So when I listen to Justice's show, it's not bad.  In fact, it's really closer to giving out pertinent information more than anything else I've heard on sports talk radio around here since the days of Trupiano and Breen.  I can forgive the attempts in the blogging world to pander or become a personality for his audience.  Understood, accepted and in some ways something he does as a job moreso as a belief that it's right.  JdJO probably swings over towards thinking it's right and very necessary to put himself in the middle of the story, Justice may do it out of necessity whilest holding his nose.

So I'm going to give Justice just a bit of my benefit of the doubt because I'm hearing fair, informative, well-thought out opinions and also a keen understanding of what the players and organizational men are actually doing and more importantly why.  Time will tell if his show will change and become a laugh track instead of solid information, but for now, he's doing pretty good.

[pravata]

I wont take Justice seriously as long as he makes up conversations and changes his opinions when there is no change in the facts.  He has admitted he has no access to the Astros management nor does he go out of his way to talk to the players.  Furthermore, his opinions are used as source by a number of writers outside of Houston.  This flurry of misinformation makes it difficult to follow what the Astros are doing and the reasons they have for doing it.  I put him firmly in the negative category when judging accuracy of information about the Astros.

[Andyzipp]

The next time he can write a column without refering to himself will be the first time.

[Noe]

I wont take Justice seriously as long as he makes up conversations and changes his opinions when there is no change in the facts.  He has admitted he has no access to the Astros management nor does he go out of his way to talk to the players.  Furthermore, his opinions are used as source by a number of writers outside of Houston.  This flurry of misinformation makes it difficult to follow what the Astros are doing and the reasons they have for doing it.  I put him firmly in the negative category when judging accuracy of information about the Astros.

I agree with what you're saying, I'm trying to figure out the "why" about it instead of dwelling on the "what".  I know the what, everything you said is correct.  Why would a journalist take this path?  I say it's today's environment and when given the proper vehicle to do it, basically, your way (cue Frank Sinatra here), what you choose to do tells me more what you believe and what you're really capable of more than what you are asked to do because market trends dictate how you should do what you do.

It's a fine line and I'd like to think many of the people involved in media today would have integrity oozing out of every pore.  Sadly, I believe they do, they want to do the job they *think* or are told should be done.  I would suspect (and have no way of really knowing) that most of the younger set of journalist are subjected to the personality trends as a staple of what must be done or if not, they soon adopt when in the real world.  Why else would there be an effort to see if an ex-model (swimsuit?) become an anchor for a news media outlet in Texas (and thus yet another reality show).  Is it an anomaly or a snapshot of what is the media today? 

See, I'm of the ilk that would rather go to a baseball game to actually watch a game (so would you).  We don't need no steenkin' train, cap races, cheerleaders, chicken dances and clap sticks (or whatever they're called).  So the same goes with the media we require/need/desire.  We won't get it that way any more, sad to say.  We need to accept that while we will get trains, clap sticks, et. al., we can still get baseball mixed in there somewhere.  Same with the media.  So when I hear/see/read Justice doing his best to provide just the pure information I need, he does it well and accurately.  It's when he's a personality that misinformation and all that other stuff get in the way.  IMHO of course.

Right now he's interviewing GM Tim Purpura and trust me, this is the best information based interview I've heard with Purpura in a good long while.  They're talking about the draft right now and I'm sure they'll talk about Jennings in a minute.  It's solid and I will want to listen what Justice will say after Purpura is off the air of course.  But so far, this is information and solid.

[Noe]

The next time he can write a column without refering to himself will be the first time.

Yes.  I can't stand the melding of personality with news reporting or straight information.  Take the personality out of it and he's pretty solid.  So far from what I can tell from his show, he can be solid... if he wants to be.

Time will tell if he keeps this up.

[Taras Bulba]

Noe, why have you gone insane?

[pravata]

Yes.  I can't stand the melding of personality with news reporting or straight information.  Take the personality out of it and he's pretty solid.  So far from what I can tell from his show, he can be solid... if he wants to be.

Time will tell if he keeps this up.

Thunder sticks.

[Noe]

Noe, why have you gone insane?

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Jeff Kent

[Amy]

Well, I have never heard his radio show, so I can't speak to that.  Is it available on the internet?  If he has decent guests on it and he asks them intelligent questions in an honest pursuit of information, then I'd probably be interested in listening to that.  But what I have read and heard from him through the Comical, ESPN and when I used to hear him on Kornheiser's radio show is that he seems most interested in promoting himself and he will twist the facts or just invent things toward that end.  I've witnessed enough of that from him that I no longer trust anything he says.

[Noe]

Thunder sticks.

After the interview with Purpura, that was honest and informative (on the draft, on Jason Lane, on Jason Jennings, on the MLB landscape), he hasn't taken it apart.  He is mentioning that he is getting hate mail that he's "soft-balling" Purpura.  Justice is answering on-air with "I believe him, he's telling the truth, especially on the draft".  "It's not just about money or saving money with Purpura and McLane... they're going to spend money, they want to spend money...".  This is not the usual, this is fair, even, informed opinions or facts you get from sports talk radio.

And Justice is inviting people to call him if they want to discuss how Purpura is lying... because he wants to tell them the truth to clear it up for them.  Nice!

[Noe]

Well, I have never heard his radio show, so I can't speak to that.  Is it available on the internet? 

Yes.  I'm in Austin listening in over the internet.

1560 The Game

[Noe]

But what I have read and heard from him through the Comical, ESPN and when I used to hear him on Kornheiser's radio show is that he seems most interested in promoting himself and he will twist the facts or just invent things toward that end.  I've witnessed enough of that from him that I no longer trust anything he says.

Like I said, time will tell if it turns into the usual crap sports talk radio.  Right now, he's doing it his way (again, cue Frank Sinatra) and it's about information.

[pravata]

After the interview with Purpura, that was honest and informative (on the draft, on Jason Lane, on Jason Jennings, on the MLB landscape), he hasn't taken it apart.  He is mentioning that he is getting hate mail that he's "soft-balling" Purpura.  Justice is answering on-air with "I believe him, he's telling the truth, especially on the draft".  "It's not just about money or saving money with Purpura and McLane... they're going to spend money, they want to spend money...".  This is not the usual, this is fair, even, informed opinions or facts you get from sports talk radio.

And Justice is inviting people to call him if they want to discuss how Purpura is lying... because he wants to tell them the truth to clear it up for them.  Nice!

I heard a short clip the other day where Purpura is explaining the stand they took on slot money; while every other team ignored it.   Did he go into that? 

[WulawHorn]

Funny- I was driving back from Dibol today and figured I'd give Dick Justice the benefit of the doubt.
I liked what I heard in between the static (apparently the bugs will be worked out soon but the signal sucks).

Anyway- I was thinking Dick Justice the columnist sucks compared to Justice the host. Pravata- they did talk about draft pick and slot money, but it was really staticky so I didn't catch what was said. If they had an archive that would be the way to go.

He knows a ton of people, he's had good guests so far- I think he could be a very good radio personality if he keeps this up.

He was giving the the count the benefit of the doubt on some of his moves. He explained that while he didn't agree with them at the time (woody signing and Jennings trade) that the org had thought it out and had solid reasons to do so- he just didn't agree. That's the exact camp I'm in. Since Dick is in the columnist/opinion business I have no problem with him saying here are the reasons, it's defensible, they thought it through- but they were wrong. Talked about Jason Lane as well (I could tell he likes lane and understands why they keep giving him chances).

It's funny- he even referred to his flip flopping problem when giving his opinion. I liked what I heard from him. I like the whole 1560 station so far. When Lance gets re-united with John that was my favorite program of all the locals.  Justice as I've mentioned has been good so far. Was on the way to an appointment yesterday and the cablinasian and John Harris were good. John Harris was on as a guest of John and Lance and that was the best hour of their show imo (but I love college football so I might be biased- but he knows his crap better than any other guy I've heard on TV or the radio talking about his subject.  You bring up any team and I swear he knows their entire depth chart, strenghts and weaknesses and has spoken with someone at the program extensively- a little scary really).

They, for example are doing college football wednesday's where they talk to a beat writer for LSU, A&M Texas, Maybe Tech, houston and Rice. Caught the UT segment and they'd done their homework. They talked the owner of Texags.com and you could tell they knew what they were talking about, and asked some questions that were way more insightful then the run of the mill interview.

Their voices are a little bland, but the content is WAAAAAAY better than all the other local monkeys.

I've got high hopes right now for 1560. Maybe the 4th time is the charm for a sports talk station in houston, as the first 3 are pretty dreadful to my way of thinking.

[Noe]

I heard a short clip the other day where Purpura is explaining the stand they took on slot money; while every other team ignored it.   Did he go into that? 

Yes.  Purpura even volunteered that this summer he was in the commissioner's office talking about the very same thing.  Justice asked him point blank if it bothers Purpura that the commissioner tells every organization to honor the slot money aspects of the draft and yet many of the same teams regularly ignore the mandates on spending outlines like this.  Purpura said "yes, it bothers me a lot", but of course the commissioner (my take) is powerless to make it more powerful of a mandate than just a outline for spending.

Collusion-gate proved that it cannot be done beyond an outline for spending.  So it is somewhat an issue with the other teams and not with Houston trying to maintain a semblence of sanity at this level. The irony is that the MLBPA is not entirely on-board with huge bonus money for draftees.  In fact, they're pretty much in lock-step with organizations using slot money instead to keep the semblence of spending sanity on those who are unproven and to protect the mid-level to lower-level rank and file of the MLBPA.

They even talked specifically about Chad Jones.  It mirrored what you can read in our Bus Ride section of course, but pretty spot on stuff.  Justice threw out a 2.3 million dollar demand by Jones that Purpura did not deny.  Purpura had Jones sloted at third round money, which is around 300K or slightly more.  That is a huge gap.  Justice even asked about the impact of the draft failure and Purpura volunteered that it hurt the organization but since they have the money, that just means that Al Pedrique now has more money to work with to go sign kids off the Academy system.

Something I did not know.  The budget for what they spend is about slotting money for the draft and also for the Academies.  Now that the money is available, the Academy venue now becomes more viable to sign more players.  So when Justice says it is not about McLane mandating that money *must* be saved, he's telling you something very important to understand.  He reacted indifferent to a e-mailer telling him that it is indeed about "Uncle" Drayton pulling the money strings on "puppet" Purpura.  He told the guy on-air that it was simply not true.  They have the money, had it slotted for the spending, any changes has a ripple effect and then changes what can be spent at the Academies (for example).

Now they have a windfall for the Academies and Purpura volunteered that Al Pedrique has the money to do more.  They have to identify who and where they should go to fill the gaps left from the failure in the draft with that windfall.

[strosrays]

Funny- I was driving back from Dibol today and figured I'd give Dick Justice the benefit of the doubt.
I liked what I heard in between the static (apparently the bugs will be worked out soon but the signal sucks).

A high concentration of mobile homes can interfere with a radio signal.

[WulawHorn]

Yes.  Purpura even volunteered that this summer he was in the commissioner's office talking about the very same thing.  Justice asked him point blank if it bothers Purpura that the commissioner tells every organization to honor the slot money aspects of the draft and yet many of the same teams regularly ignore the mandates on spending outlines like this.  Purpura said "yes, it bothers me a lot", but of course the commissioner (my take) is powerless to make it more powerful of a mandate than just a outline for spending.

Collusion-gate proved that it cannot be done beyond an outline for spending.  So it is somewhat an issue with the other teams and not with Houston trying to maintain a semblence of sanity at this level. The irony is that the MLBPA is not entirely on-board with huge bonus money for draftees.  In fact, they're pretty much in lock-step with organizations using slot money instead to keep the semblence of spending sanity on those who are unproven and to protect the mid-level to lower-level rank and file of the MLBPA.

They even talked specifically about Chad Jones.  It mirrored what you can read in our Bus Ride section of course, but pretty spot on stuff.  Justice threw out a 2.3 million dollar demand by Jones that Purpura did not deny.  Purpura had Jones sloted at third round money, which is around 300K or slightly more.  That is a huge gap.  Justice even asked about the impact of the draft failure and Purpura volunteered that it hurt the organization but since they have the money, that just means that Al Pedrique now has more money to work with to go sign kids off the Academy system.

Something I did not know.  The budget for what they spend is about slotting money for the draft and also for the Academies.  Now that the money is available, the Academy venue now becomes more viable to sign more players.  So when Justice says it is not about McLane mandating that money *must* be saved, he's telling you something very important to understand.  He reacted indifferent to a e-mailer telling him that it is indeed about "Uncle" Drayton pulling the money strings on "puppet" Purpura.  He told the guy on-air that it was simply not true.  They have the money, had it slotted for the spending, any changes has a ripple effect and then changes what can be spent at the Academies (for example).

Now they have a windfall for the Academies and Purpura volunteered that Al Pedrique has the money to do more.  They have to identify who and where they should go to fill the gaps left from the failure in the draft with that windfall.

He also mentioned something about asia- I didn't hear it other than that they are getting a crackle, late crackle start- taiwan crackle prospects, and then I gave up.

[Noe]

I like the whole 1560 station so far.

FWIW - I never said this, so it's your own opinion and does not mirror mine.  I was talking specifically about Justice's show, which is really good in terms of information.  Perhaps those who wish to be entertained will find it either boring or a bunch of blah, blah, blah.  That's fine, I'm simply looking for at least one show (not an entire station or group of stations) that pays attention to information.  No one else there has to do this.  The other types of shows are fine with me because it's for other people who need/want this sort of stuff.

For all I know, Justice will change his show and start to pander.  At which point, I'll have the same opinion of his show as I do about his blog and the shows that other folks have in the Houston area (and here in Austin).

[WulawHorn]

FWIW - I never said this, so it's your own opinion and does not mirror mine.  I was talking specifically about Justice's show, which is really good in terms of information.  Perhaps those who wish to be entertained will find it either boring or a bunch of blah, blah, blah.  That's fine, I'm simply looking for at least one show (not an entire station or group of stations) that pays attention to information.  No one else there has to do this.  The other types of shows are fine with me because it's for other people who need/want this sort of stuff.

For all I know, Justice will change his show and start to pander.  At which point, I'll have the same opinion of his show as I do about his blog and the shows that other folks have in the Houston area (and here in Austin).

That's why I threw in the disclaimer of so far. I fear what you are talking about in the future- I heard him make reference to in the future, when he feels more comfortable with the format, he will have less interviews and guests and more of you.  That made me cringe a bit.  Right now, though, how he's stariting I like it.

I got the sense that the drivetime show 2-6 is going to be like this as well- so that's why I have high hopes now. They were talking about all their guests, and they'd done their homework on the guests they had on- good first imprestion- other than that I have a hard time, right now, keeping their voices distinguished. Kinda like the DoRay factor on the astros broadcasts.

[Noe]

That's why I threw in the disclaimer of so far. I fear what you are talking about in the future- I heard him make reference to in the future, when he feels more comfortable with the format, he will have less interviews and guests and more of you.  That made me cringe a bit.  Right now, though, how he's stariting I like it.

I got the sense that the drivetime show 2-6 is going to be like this as well- so that's why I have high hopes now. They were talking about all their guests, and they'd done their homework on the guests they had on- good first imprestion- other than that I have a hard time, right now, keeping their voices distinguished. Kinda like the DoRay factor on the astros broadcasts.

Justice is starting to distance himself from his blog nation as we speak.  Example:

SportsJustice blog on Jason Jennings

If you read the responses he's getting, his audience is perplexed and flinging shit all over the place like a bunch of excited monkeys flinging feces at each other.  I like that some have decided to actually quote JdJO in response to Justice in order to bring him back into the fold.  It's very interesting to see Pinwheel have to deal with his newfound desire to do things his way now, including his blog.  He needs to get rid of his blog and go with a forum instead so he can really interact with these clowns properly.

But then of course, JdJO would be just another monkey with crap on his face wondering what happened.  Let's just see how long it takes for the masses to bunge cord Justice back into the fold.  Hopefully Pinwheel will hold his own and keep doing the job of being fair, balanced, even handed, and keep making information the prime reason he's in business and not making up stuff, making himself the center of the story and posting outlandishly misinformed opinions on his blog (see: JO, Jd) for the entertainment of the masses who want to call people names and say stupid things to hear themselves talk/type.

[WulawHorn]

Hopefully Pinwheel will hold his own and keep doing the job of being fair, balanced, even handed, and keep making information the prime reason he's in business and not making up stuff, making himself the center of the story and posting outlandishly misinformed opinions on his blog (see: JO, Jd) for the entertainment of the masses who want to call people names and say stupid things to hear themselves talk/type.

I don't disagree with the vast majority of what you are saying Noe- but I have a two part question and cut out the part specifically about it.  Question 1- do you think that Richard Justice's job is parsing out information in a fair, blanced and even handed way? and 2- do you think richard justice thinks this is his job?

My suspicion would be Justice doesn't believe this to be his job- he believes his job is to move the needle and generate readers and emotions.

I'd rather he do his job the way you mentioned, he appears to be trying to do that on the radio at this very second, but I don't know that he believes his job to be information passing.

I think until the reader/listener and the pundit get their expectations in order there is the potential for problems.

[Amy]

I don't disagree with the vast majority of what you are saying Noe- but I have a two part question and cut out the part specifically about it.  Question 1- do you think that Richard Justice's job is parsing out information in a fair, blanced and even handed way? and 2- do you think richard justice thinks this is his job?

My suspicion would be Justice doesn't believe this to be his job- he believes his job is to move the needle and generate readers and emotions.

I'd rather he do his job the way you mentioned, he appears to be trying to do that on the radio at this very second, but I don't know that he believes his job to be information passing.

I think until the reader/listener and the pundit get their expectations in order there is the potential for problems.

I'm starting to wonder if most sports "journalists" believe disseminating accurate information to be their primary job anymore.  I'm confident Alyson Footer is on that page.  Perhaps JdJO deludes himself that is the job he is doing, but is just spectacularly bad at it.  It seems to me that even a lot of those who are more in the analysis/commentary role are completely off the tracks and have lost all touch with journalistic integrity.

[WulawHorn]

I'm starting to wonder if most sports "journalists" believe disseminating accurate information to be their primary job anymore.  I'm confident Alyson Footer is on that page.  Perhaps JdJO deludes himself that is the job he is doing, but is just spectacularly bad at it.  It seems to me that even a lot of those who are more in the analysis/commentary role are completely off the tracks and have lost all touch with journalistic integrity.

I like the use of journalistic integrity. It should apply for an opionion columnist as well as a news gatherer and relayer.  JDJO used to piss me off something fierce when he was the beat writer and he editorialized. This is not doing your job.

His opinions are still unfounded crap, but if he has a stupid and wrong opinion that doesn't bug me if it's on the opinion page. When he dos it without journalistic integrity that is wrong- like his various mickey mouse shit storms he tries to stir up regarding race and then copping out with "some people say"

[Noe]

Question 1- do you think that Richard Justice's job is parsing out information in a fair, blanced and even handed way? and 2- do you think richard justice thinks this is his job?

No offense, but I think I've been saying pretty much what I need to say on this for this entire freaking thread.

Plus, it's starting to scare me that some of you may think I'm some sort of sage wise man sitting on top of a mountain ready to dispense wisdom to you.  Here is the extend of my own wisdom dispensing "what do you think?  Okay, cool!".  I am a nobody that should never be elevated beyond that.

[MusicMan]

Noe, why are you shattering people's carefully-constructed illusions?

[T. J.]

Noe, why hast thou forsaken us?

[Andyzipp]

Noé, if you ranted about Richard Justice, and no one was around to hear it, would you still hate Denny Walling just as much?

[Noe]

I will not answer any of your questions without my wiener here to comfort me.  Sorry.

[Andyzipp]

Detachable Wiener

[pravata]

No offense, but I think I've been saying pretty much what I need to say on this for this entire freaking thread.

Plus, it's starting to scare me that some of you may think I'm some sort of sage wise man sitting on top of a mountain ready to dispense wisdom to you.  Here is the extend of my own wisdom dispensing "what do you think?  Okay, cool!".  I am a nobody that should never be elevated beyond that.

Starting to scare you?  You have a high scare threshold.  I been scared for awhile now.  Justice posted this opinion in his blog, "Lane has been sent back to the minors and doesn't figure in the plans for 2008."  I have seen it noted elsewhere that this is likely the case.  That he is now, officially, out of options is a factor.  He'll probably be back in Sept for his farewell tour though.

[ValpoCory]

Yes.  I'm in Austin listening in over the internet.

1560 The Game

I'm sure Cabrera's a Brave on this, but what the hell is a graphic of Dallas-legend Roger Staubach, a Dallas Stars goalie, and DQ doing on a Houston sports radio website?   That's like having Texas Rangers fans (Emily Jones, John Rhadigan, etc.) on the FSNSW Astros postgame shows acting like they are Astros fans. 

[ybbodeus]

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Jeff Kent

Who knew that Jeff Kent channeled Benjamin Franklin?

[dirty steve]

I'm sure Cabrera's a Brave on this, but what the hell is a graphic of Dallas-legend Roger Staubach, a Dallas Stars goalie, and DQ doing on a Houston sports radio website?   That's like having Texas Rangers fans (Emily Jones, John Rhadigan, etc.) on the FSNSW Astros postgame shows acting like they are Astros fans. 

the only thing i could think of is if maybe they are angling to get girls broadcasts in Houston airwaves for next year.  i hate it that 610 has VY on their banner, but at least they carry UT broadcasts for the large horn fanbase in the Houston area.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'm sure Cabrera's a Brave on this, but what the hell is a graphic of Dallas-legend Roger Staubach, a Dallas Stars goalie, and DQ...

Yeah but it's not Marty Turco, it's fuckin' Ed Belfour. He's won a cup. So it's three guys with championships, two are legends and one's a billionaire.