Author Topic: Chronicle Decoder Ring Needed (Read 5415 times)

Limey · « **on:** July 10, 2012, 09:26:29 am »

I'm not sure what this article is about, except for some always welcome Cub-bashing. I don't think Houston fans are staying away because of pride and/or to make a statement about losing; they are staying away because the team is losing and they don't care.

I'm staying away because MLB shit all over the Astros (with the complicity of the outgoing and incoming ownership) and I refuse any longer to support that endeavour with my consumer dollars. The sad thing is that a team of young players fighting for their spot every night can be fun to watch.

jbm · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:36:48 am »

When I read that there was a new writer for the Chron, I was somewhat excited, at least as far as these things excite me. Maybe the writer will improve the editorial staff, provide adult conversation, or better yet, provide insightful writing.

I was disappointed. Not Carlos Lee fat jokes like Soloman, but still pretty lame IMO. Seems like another writer trying to appeal to the commenter crowd. Show them that he is one of them.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:43:25 am »

I think it's about column inches. He's the New Chronicle Sports Columnist, some guy 'coming home' after being somewhere else. Ok.

He admits to following the Astros for two weeks. His 'survey' is based on responses to a tweet he sent out, but none of the responses are the conclusion he's reached, so it must have been predetermined by the concept du jour for this column.

Instead of supporting his conclusion, he freewheels over to tangentially related examples that only serve to fill more space, although it does include Cub-bashing, which is always welcome.

So, to me: waste of time and space. Column filler.

Limey · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:46:12 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on July 10, 2012, 09:43:25 am

So, to me: waste of time and space. Column filler.

So...perfect Chronicle fodder.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:53:20 am »

Quote from: Limey on July 10, 2012, 09:46:12 am

So...perfect Chronicle fodder.

Yep. I guess it hasn't been that way since the Post went down, but it's been meat by-products and vegetable meal for a long, long time.

MusicMan · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:56:32 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on July 10, 2012, 09:53:20 am

Yep. I guess it hasn't been that way since the Post went down, but it's been meat by-products and vegetable meal for a long, long time.

It's people! THE LACKEY RAG IS PEOPLE!!!

Ron Brand · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:59:38 am »

I know a guy who so hated the Austin American-Statesman's rottenness that he subscribed to the Dallas Morning News for years so he could 'get the news.' I still see fairly hard news showing up in the Spaceman a couple of days behind other papers; it's pretty much an understaffed shambles relegated to wet-behind-the-ears people with 'an interest in journalism' and the ability to type a lot of words and sentences based on things they see printed somewhere else.

The 'social scene' stuff has bloomed though, because they've figured out that writing about their friends will get them free admission to shows and parties. La Belle Epoque.

S.P. Rodriguez · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:03:39 am »

I have deleted my link to the Chron's Astros page after two days of their new resident idiot. For whatever reason, they have decided Mills needs to be targeted for termination. Until Bailey, then Solomon, and finally the new d-bag wrote about it, I have not heard nor read any report saying Mills lost the team, was not helping these young players improve, nor any other justification for his termination.

Classic Pinwheel/JdJO media whore-dom. It was a nice break in between the dip-shittery. Alas, all good things come to an end.

juliogotay · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:04:10 am »

I had forgotten about Harvey. Longtime SA Express-News columnist. Went to U of Tx where he, as editor of The Daily Texan, sat in a tree for a while that was scheduled to be removed for the expansion of the Memorial Stadium. Yes, the first expansion that gave us the big shovel on the west side and Belmont Hall. That was a few years before my time on the 40 acres but he was an icon among Texan staffers in my day.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:10:27 am »

Quote from: S.P. Rodriguez on July 10, 2012, 10:03:39 am

I have deleted my link to the Chron's Astros page after two days of their new resident idiot. For whatever reason, they have decided Mills needs to be targeted for termination. Until Bailey, then Solomon, and finally the new d-bag wrote about it, I have not heard nor read any report saying Mills lost the team, was not helping these young players improve, nor any other justification for his termination.

Classic Pinwheel/JdJO media whore-dom. It was a nice break in between the dip-shittery. Alas, all good things come to an end.

I don't know where all that came from either, but it's in full flower now. I'd be surprised if it was some kind of real sleuthing, since only Levine seems capable of that, but it could have been alluded to on background and then spread through conversation to those less inclined to honor that sort of thing. Or even know that it exists.

Limey · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:13:53 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on July 10, 2012, 10:10:27 am

I don't know where all that came from either, but it's in full flower now. I'd be surprised if it was some kind of real sleuthing, since only Levine seems capable of that, but it could have been alluded to on background and then spread through conversation to those less inclined to honor that sort of thing. Or even know that it exists.

Classic Lackey Rag. Yes, the most pressing thing wrong with this franchise is the manager. Get rid of him for a MTBNL, and all will be well.

Reuben · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:16:20 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on July 10, 2012, 10:10:27 am

I don't know where all that came from either, but it's in full flower now. I'd be surprised if it was some kind of real sleuthing, since only Levine seems capable of that, but it could have been alluded to on background and then spread through conversation to those less inclined to honor that sort of thing. Or even know that it exists.

Wasn't it mainly Bailey, the fan blogger, who's been speculating about Mills (including a dumbass headline that makes it seem as though it's a Mills quote)? That guy is about as un-informed and incapable of "sleuthing" as my cat.

Andyzipp · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:25:17 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on July 10, 2012, 10:10:27 am

I don't know where all that came from either, but it's in full flower now. I'd be surprised if it was some kind of real sleuthing, since only Levine seems capable of that, but it could have been alluded to on background and then spread through conversation to those less inclined to honor that sort of thing. Or even know that it exists.

Bailey started it, but even if he hadn't, it was bound to be a topic sooner or later. There are only so many ways to rehash how much the team sucks. Obviously, the GM isn't going anywhere, and unlike the Drayton years, dumping the hitting coach isn't likely to grab web views.

Mills was a hire of the old GM/old owner, and has a 165-245 record as manager of this team. He has a contract option for 2013. Whether or not he "should" be fired, he probably will be fired before Thanksgiving.

Limey · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:32:13 am »

Quote from: Andyzipp on July 10, 2012, 10:25:17 am

Mills was a hire of the old GM/old owner, and has a 165-245 record as manager of this team. He has a contract option for 2013. Whether or not he "should" be fired, he probably will be fired before Thanksgiving.

Perfect. Bobby Valentine will be available by then.

Andyzipp · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:33:48 am »

Quote from: Limey on July 10, 2012, 10:32:13 am

Perfect. Bobby Valentine will be available by then.

I've seen nothing from the new GM that makes me think he's going to go that route. In fact, the first manager he hires might even be competent.

jbm · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:36:03 am »

I'm not after his head, but I don't get the line of thought that goes: the players really suck so we can't assess Mills' ability.

chuck · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:59:13 am »

Quote from: Limey on July 10, 2012, 09:26:29 am

The sad thing is that a team of young players fighting for their spot every night can be fun to watch.

Don't worry, it's not.

Based on his first column this guy Harvey is a total fucking idiot which means he'll fit in perfectly at the paper. They finally have a beat writer who isn't a complete fuckwit and they go and hire someone who out of the gate appears considerably worse than Dick Justice.

Fredia · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:01:22 am »

wait no one said where to get the ring

jbm · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:06:40 am »

Quote from: chuck on July 10, 2012, 10:59:13 am

They finally have a beat writer who isn't a complete fuckwit and they go and hire someone who out of the gate appears considerably worse than Dick Justice.

I really don't think that is possible. Justice is the gold standard. No one measures up to that pile of crap.

Outlawscotty · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:08:00 am »

You can have him.

http://www.spikesnstars.com/forums/index.php?topic=106926.msg233910#new

jbm · « **Reply #20 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:29:22 am »

That link is dead for me, what did he say?

Maybe I wrote too soon, and he has eclipsed the giant dick as the most pathetic sports writer ever published, or at least read by me.

chuck · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:36:07 am »

Quote from: jbm on July 10, 2012, 11:29:22 am

That link is dead for me, what did he say?

Maybe I wrote too soon, and he has eclipsed the giant dick as the most pathetic sports writer ever published, or at least read by me.

I think the link is meant to direct you to a piece written by someone named Buck Harvey, different person. Since he is a sports columnist at a Texas paper I do not doubt that he is a moron but he is not as far as I can tell directly relevant to the idiot the Chronicle recently hired.

Outlawscotty · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:39:10 am »

You are correct; my mistake, sorry.

Limey · « **Reply #23 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:49:54 am »

Quote from: Outlawscotty on July 10, 2012, 11:39:10 am

You are correct; my mistake, sorry.

The irony that you misdirected us to a thread in which you were having trouble posting links, made my nipples explode.

Outlawscotty · « **Reply #24 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:55:04 am »

Quote from: Limey on July 10, 2012, 11:49:54 am

The irony that you misdirected us to a thread in which you were having trouble posting links, made my nipples explode.

So how did you get there?

juliogotay · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:59:07 am »

Quote from: chuck on July 10, 2012, 11:36:07 am

I think the link is meant to direct you to a piece written by someone named Buck Harvey, different person. Since he is a sports columnist at a Texas paper I do not doubt that he is a moron but he is not as far as I can tell directly relevant to the idiot the Chronicle recently hired.

And I think Buck Harvey is the tree-hugging Texas-ex rather than this Harvey.

roadrunner · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2012, 12:25:49 pm »

His first column about the Longhorns and Aggies was equally terrible. It's like the Chron takes a step forward with Levine and then 6 steps backwards with this guy. I will cry the day Levine leaves for bigger and better things. Every other hack over there is a joke.

Taras Bulba · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2012, 02:03:30 pm »

Quote from: Ron Brand on July 10, 2012, 09:59:38 am

I know a guy who so hated the Austin American-Statesman's rottenness that he subscribed to the Dallas Morning News for years so he could 'get the news.' I still see fairly hard news showing up in the Spaceman a couple of days behind other papers; it's pretty much an understaffed shambles relegated to wet-behind-the-ears people with 'an interest in journalism' and the ability to type a lot of words and sentences based on things they see printed somewhere else.

The 'social scene' stuff has bloomed though, because they've figured out that writing about their friends will get them free admission to shows and parties. La Belle Epoque.

Don't get me started...
Every day you get: See Pam LeBlanc doing yoga, See Pam LeBlanc doing pilates, See Pam LeBlanc climb a tree and/or Michael Barnes attends a swank party at a local gay icon's palatial estate, or Mike Leggett recounts yet another tale of squirrel hunting in East Texas. Every. Day.

Duke · « **Reply #28 on:** July 10, 2012, 03:51:27 pm »

Quote from: Taras Bulba on July 10, 2012, 02:03:30 pm

Don't get me started...
Every day you get: See Pam LeBlanc doing yoga, See Pam LeBlanc doing pilates, See Pam LeBlanc climb a tree and/or Michael Barnes attends a swank party at a local gay icon's palatial estate, or Mike Leggett recounts yet another tale of squirrel hunting in East Texas. Every. Day.

Don't forget my personal favorite - Kirk Bohls!!! I knew the boy when he was a genius.

MRaup · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2012, 09:14:23 am »

Quote from: Duke on July 10, 2012, 03:51:27 pm

Don't forget my personal favorite - Kirk Bohls!!! I knew the boy when he was a genius.

If you knew Kirk Bohls when he was younger and didn't kill him, I'm afraid that makes us mortal enemies now.

Ty in Tampa · « **Reply #30 on:** July 11, 2012, 09:24:57 am »

Quote from: MRaup on July 11, 2012, 09:14:23 am

If you knew Kirk Bohls when he was younger and didn't kill him, I'm afraid that makes us mortal enemies now.

"Are you Sarah Connor?"

Duke · « **Reply #31 on:** July 11, 2012, 09:31:58 am »

Quote from: MRaup on July 11, 2012, 09:14:23 am

If you knew Kirk Bohls when he was younger and didn't kill him, I'm afraid that makes us mortal enemies now.

Feable attempt at sarcasim. He was never a genius. His "9 things and a prediction" is crap.

austro · « **Reply #32 on:** July 11, 2012, 07:29:54 pm »

Quote from: Duke on July 11, 2012, 09:31:58 am

Feable attempt at sarcasim. He was never a genius. His "9 things and a prediction" is crap.

Hey, that's a "crazy prediction". As if there were any doubt.