Shorter Matt Moore: Ricky Rubio is too big for ya, don'cha know?!
Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm takes exception to our post criticizing the use of unnamed sources in articles where sports writers use "sources" to bolster their own opinions. His even-keeled piece is entitled "The State Of Minnesota Is Now The Edge Of Madness"
In the post Moore says the Wolves "didn't look themselves in the mirror" before they walked into the draft room and picked the best player on their board. You see, Rubio is special and because of this, he has a scary agent and handlers who can get what they want.
We are then accused of waging a jihad (yes, a jihad) on "sources who are widely respected not only by fans and media, but by the GMs themselves, under the guise of wanting transparency. Transparency which would, of course, eliminate their ability to siphon any information whatsover from GMs who honestly hate anyone involved in the media on a general basis." In other words, ESPN wouldn't have enough content to fill a 24/7 news cycle. Moore then lets us in on the dirty secret of access: "I talk to guys that are on the inside. Me? I’ve landed on the surface with a rock hammer and tried to chip my way in. And I can tell you from my very limited experience? GMs HATE most media members." Guess what, so do most press secretaries but they sure know something useful when they see it. (Also, we did this under the guise of wanting transparency? Did you even read the whole post?)
Let's make this very clear to Matt: No one here is blaming the New York media for this mess. What we are doing is marveling at the idiocy of it all; basking in the warm glow of a 24/7 media machine that doesn't shine this way all that often but when it does (as is it with Favre), it is fueled by ready-made story lines and whispers from unnamed and unaccountable sources. For a guy who just wrote a post dressing up this issue with claims of "jihad" and "shadowy enemies", I don't think you're in the position to say that Wolves fans are the ones on the edge of madness.
That being said, we encourage our readers to head on over to Matt's excellent and entertaining site to read his whole post. Are we misrepresenting his argument? Does he have a point? Are both of us just a little off? Does this site really speak for the entire state of Minnesota? If so, can we also speak for the liberal media as well? Should Hoopus even be running a back-and-forth argument with another site or is that just to silly? What say you?
(Ed Note: I moved this off the front page because it is kind of silly and is more about an exchange between two sites than the Wolves.)
over 2 years ago
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If we accept this argument, then
a player’s having “star power, fan hype, professional employment, and capable handlers” constitutes “unique” conditions that make a player unfit to travel to Minnesota. If only we had looked in our mirrors and discerned that before the choice was made, we’d all be a little happier.
You’re being a little too soft on that argument, if anything.
Also, I hate that the site uses the word “paroxysm.” That’s some of my all-time favorite vocabulary, and I hate when trolling dorks use my favorite words.
Well...
…I don’t think Matt is a trolling dork (I’ve never met the guy) but I do think he is beyond way off with this piece. Beyond the dork thing I completely hear what you’re saying.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
I could go on
Quoting the various assumptions and exaggerations within that text would be a little too easy. It’s not like I want to cut up every line of the thing and explain why each one is sloppily written and based on provisional assumptions, in logical terms. That could take some serious time.
It's lazy work...
and really reinforces the whole “facts not in evidence” thing that infuriates us all so much.
I’ve left a message for him.
BTW:
I’ve moved this off the front page. This is a back-and-forth between two sites that really doesn’t have much to do with basketball.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
Simply idiotic...
I may be off-base here, but his argument is basically that we should have passed on Rubio’s because has a good agent, etc and it’s Minnesota. Therefore, Kahn should have just let Rubio slide on by twice because there was never a chance to get him. Kahn should have just thrown his hands up and taken lesser value players because we are “Siberia.” Following that logic, we should just fold because we will never get another player with star power.
I have no idea of whether Rubio will ever play for us. I hope so, but they guy will have value regardless. I read a report somewhere where the Rockets offered Battier and Brooks for him. For your standard #5 pick, that is pretty fair value. Rubio is not the standard #5, however. He will command more than that. So, whether he plays or not, he still is an asset.
Yep..
…..and you deal with your assets in a reasoned and even keel manner. The road to Rubio for any NBA team runs through the Wolves. Whether he plays here or not, as long as they keep that thought in mind, things will work themselves out.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
Here's my problem
with his article. He conveniently dodges the fact that none of the primary assertions SNP references are substantiated. We just get a bolded “they are true”. Huh?
These same assertions, which amount to Rubio would rather be in NY than MN, are incredibly self-serving to NY. And could be concious or subconcious attempts to poison the well with Rubio and MN fans so that “Rubio to NY” rumors become self-perpetuating. (Not that it matters – they have zero trade assets.)
So why is it irrational to want someone, anyone on the record here before declaring as fact that Rubio won’t play in MN?
Because it doesn't fit..
….the ready-made story line and it’s not entertaining. Also, by taking a view that unnamed sources are to be avoided as much as possible and never substituted for personal opinion, I am taking direct aim at the one thing that makes journalism like this possible: access. Our readers can decide on their own about whether Matt wants in on the action or not. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying access is a bad thing, but it certainly does seem like the only thing in a lot of these examples.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
And another thing...
How much of his argument really boils down to the last line about Minnesota and Cleveland should just go bowling together. Gee, stereotype much? We should just realize that we are hicks who live in a cow town in flyover country and everything will be fine. We’ll just accept that fact and drive to the local bowling alley in our large pickup trucks and drink a few Buds and everything will be better. Really, that is our place.
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