Paging TBN sports editor: this is Exhibit A of why I won't subscribe to TBN

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Yesterday I posted this.

Mr Josh Barnett, TBN sports editor, responded and provided his email address for future contacts, which I appreciate - thanks Josh! ( jbarnett@buffnews.com) Kudos to him for being here and opening a dialogue.

He also made the reasonable point that we're comparing an excerpt of the Gleason article with a full article by Pollock, and kindly provided me with the full text of the Gleason article for fair comparison. 

 

Someone else, down thread, tagged me with a "complete overreaction" without having the facts.  I pride myself on being nothing if not factual.  So I did what I like to do when my ox gets a touch gored: I wrote up my initial reaction, then slept on it.  Now I'll report back in.  I told Mr Barnett that I would respect the paywall, but I hope a couple of quotes are fair use.

 

I wrote:

And yet here is Gleason, making assumptions that enable him to attack the character of a beloved Bills player.  Beane even said "we don't have the cap space for him to retire at the moment", which clearly implies a problem on the Bills side.  But hey, let's not confuse ourselves with facts.  You can print such "rush to judgement", negative coverage abusing professional athletes if you choose, and I can choose not to pay for it.

 

1) The lead text in Gleason's TBN article (which read as a character attack in the "teaser" on Two Bills Drive) was preceded in the article by a funny Ryan Fitzpatrick anecdote about Wood.   The analogy is to an embarrassing "wrong turn" heading from the tunnel to the other team's sideline, a minor momentary faux pas.  As such, it is clearly NOT a character attack on Wood.  The teaser did NOT present the complete story.

2) The teaser quote, "made Wood look like another petty professional athlete", does fairly represents the viewpoint Gleason conveys in the full article and amounts to a character attack on Wood.  Gleason places full responsibility for the press conference debacle on Wood, putting full responsibility on Wood to cancel the event if there was a problem.  The sole gesture towards assigning the Bills some share is to say "it was odd for them to put together a grandiose display for him...in the first place".  He never follows that thought: if the Bills did something odd, do they have some responsibility for the ensuing PR101 mess?    He appears to disbelieve that the Bills might be on the wrong side of a contract dispute because "(the Pegulas) have never been accused of being cheap", ignoring that player finances operate under different rules due to the NFL Salary Cap.  He refers to Wood as a lucky man, and several times references his career earnings and his wealth.  He never quite refers to Wood as ungrateful,  It seems clear that Gleason believes Wood IS petty to stiff the audience of his presser for fear of risking $4.3M prorated signing bonus seems clear - he should be grateful to be wealthy and relatively healthy and not sweat the small stuff.

 

After reflection, Gleason's article does read to me as a character attack on Wood as "petty" for putting a risk to $4.3M of the last money he'll ever earn in his profession ahead of a scheduled celebration and for not expressing immediate gratitude for how lucky and wealthy he is.  Wood IS lucky - he could easily have left the Jags game on a stretcher with an ambu-bag breathing for him, never to raise his arms.  When a guy is torn from the profession he loves, it seems reasonable t might take a while for his luck to process and his attitude be gratitude.  And if Mr Gleason were told he needed to retire from his profession then learned right before his retirement bash that 10% of his lifetime earnings might be at risk if he misspoke, whether he'd regard that as "petty"?  It'd be totally fair to ask why he didn't do his due diligence and figure that out sooner, and to assign him significant responsibility for the ensuing debacle.  But call him petty and imply he's ungrateful?  C'mon.

 

In contrast, Pollock's Olean Herald article pulls no punches in asking why the details weren't addressed well before the presser, scheduled 2 weeks ago, and places responsibility on Wood/his people for that.  He also acknowledges that " the Bills end up looking bad just because the press conference was such a disaster" and ends " What’s certain is, Monday’s retirement press conference was an embarrassment to everybody involved."  I agree completely.  It's a much more nuanced and balanced view.

Gleason is entitled to his opinion.  I think his article follows a pattern I've seen from Gleason (and Sullivan) before the paywall arose: they take a situation where the full facts aren't out, choose a perspective that paints someone in a bad light, spin it, and expand it into a full column.  Gleason does include a few caveats which come across as half-hearted because they are followed by that notorious discounting word "but", well-known for its business meaning of "you can downgrade everything that preceded me".  It's too bad - I can remember when both Sullivan and Gleason wrote hard-hitting columns based on good analysis and the full picture as known, and I might disagree, but I had to say "he had a point".  They still write hard-hitting columns, but in the absence of good analysis and the full picture, they've become something else.

 

It's too bad, and it's too bad that The Buffalo News is enabling them.  I think there's actually some news that might be important being missed - I'll take that up elsewhere.

 

Flame On, Fellow Wayfarers!

Edited January 31, 2018 by Hapless Bills Fan

[Beast]

It sure seems as if there are more than a couple bitter journalists/radio personalities in Buffalo.

[JoshBarnett]

I am said chap. Email is jbarnett@buffnews.com. 

 

Josh

[FitzShowUsYourTitz]

Agreed.  I saw the title and 1st couple lines and chose not to even click or read that article even though I do subscribe.  Instead I read this article from Olean Time Herald:   Pollock: An embarrassing press conference for Eric Wood’s exit.

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/pollock-an-embarrassing-press-conference-for-eric-wood-s-exit/article_8714c8f2-055f-11e8-8211-bb9c1da6528d.html

 

A MUCH better read/journalist as are most articles that come out of Rochester and Syracuse etc.  Wondering if the BN will ever get it before they go out of business.  

[Hurricane]

Just don't read it..

[H2o]

D*ck reporting. The guy has a debilitating neck issue that won't allow him to play football anymore. If the guarantee was in his contract, it was in his contract and good for him. This was surely unforseen and hopefully he can use the money wisely so it takes care of him the rest of his life. A sh*t reporter taking a shot at player who's body wont allow him to play the game he loves though? Yeah, how much more f*cking petty can you get than that? @$$hole

Edited January 31, 2018 by H2o

[White Linen]

9 minutes ago, JoshBarnett said:

I am said chap. Email is jbarnett@buffnews.com. 

 

Josh

 

I find it very respectable that you would answer the poster.  

[Nick the Greek]

2 minutes ago, Hurricane said:

Just don't read it..

I won’t. I’d have to pay in order to do so. 

 

I havent read read a Tim Graham article in months, and it feels GOOD!

[plenzmd1]

Funny, I never click on a column written by Gleason, Sullivan, or Harrington. Harrington last week was all over GR,on Twitter, snarkily saying they "tanked" by not sending PHAM on the last road trip. You could just tell he despises the radio guys, especially Jeremy White for espousing the tank, and regularly making better points than Harrington on the matter. And while Jeremy stays out of the fray and keeps it somewhat classy, Harrington is just so small and petty he airs his dirty laundry like a scorned 13-year-old on Twitter. God bless @JoshBarnett for having to deal with these 4 clowns, especially Graham and Harrington on Twitter. 

 

I have to imagine he is regularly embarrassed, not by their opinions, but how petty and small they are social media.

Edited January 31, 2018 by plenzmd1

[stony]

4 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

Funny, I never click on a column written by Gleason, Sullivan, or Harrington. Harrington last week was all over GR, snarkily saying they "tanked" by not sending PHAM on the last road trip. You could just tell he despises the radio guys, especially Jeremy White for espousing the tank, and regularly making better points than Harrington on the matter. And while Jeremy stays out of the fray and keeps it somewhat classy, Harrington is just so small and petty he airs his dirty laundry like a scorned 13-year-old on Twitter. God bless @JoshBarnett for having to deal with these 4 clowns, especially Graham and Harrington on Twitter. 

 

I have to imagine he is regularly embarrassed, not by their opinions, but how petty and small they are social media.

I always found it revealing how Harrington has the moment Lindy snapped at him quoted in his Twitter bio.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

29 minutes ago, JoshBarnett said:

I am said chap. Email is jbarnett@buffnews.com. 

 

Josh

 

Thank you for popping in here to share and solicit opinion from time to time.

May I consider you emailed? 

 

I really would like to subscribe and support a newspaper covering my team, and I hear you have some interesting coverage, but I simply can't justify paying for this sort of yellow journalism.  The guy has a right to his opinions, but within the bounds of known facts.  A bit of balance, please, esp. when doling insults.

 

22 minutes ago, Hurricane said:

Just don't read it..

 

I don't. 

 

But Josh Barnett (thank you for standing up, Josh!) has been here before to explain why there's a paywall and ask what content we'd like to see (pay for). 

 

Feedback.

Edited January 31, 2018 by Hapless Bills Fan

[plenzmd1]

4 minutes ago, stony said:

I always found it revealing how Harrington has the moment Lindy snapped at him quoted in his Twitter bio.

I don't follow him(or any of the other 3 jokers) , his tweet just pooped up as it was either retweeted or liked by someone I follow.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

26 minutes ago, Fred Marchibroda said:

Agreed.  I saw the title and 1st couple lines and chose not to even click or read that article even though I do subscribe.  Instead I read this article from Olean Time Herald:   Pollock: An embarrassing press conference for Eric Wood’s exit.

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/pollock-an-embarrassing-press-conference-for-eric-wood-s-exit/article_8714c8f2-055f-11e8-8211-bb9c1da6528d.html

 

A MUCH better read/journalist as are most articles that come out of Rochester and Syracuse etc.  Wondering if the BN will ever get it before they go out of business.  

 

I agree with you, very thorough and balanced article from Pollock.  He calls it what it was - embarrassing - and points out that there appears to be blame to go around all sides.  This is a standard of coverage I *would* be willing to pay for, especially if it included x's and o's analysis, in-depth features on some athletes, scouting on future opponents etc.

[Thurman#1]

 

The article seems reasonable to me. Gleason said a lot of good things about Wood. 

 

You say that Gleason attacked Wood's character. I disagree. Looked to me like he was attacking Wood's decision and actions in this case. Here's a quote from the article:  

 

"It's important to consider the source in what evolved into one of the more bizarre hours along One Bills Drive in recent memory. For nine years, Wood stood before the masses and answered questions that were much tougher than the ones that would have been raised had his news conference gone off without a hitch. Because he was so late, and his behavior was so out of character, he invited more questions."

 

That's not attacking his character. Just the opposite, really. Nor did he do so in the rest of the article. What portion of this article attacked Wood's character?

 

But the team has plenty of cap. $30 mill for 2018 right now, pretty much exactly in the middle of the league. 

 

Fair enough that you don't like the article, everyone's got a right to an opinion. 

 

Edited January 31, 2018 by Thurman#1

[BringBackOrton]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Paging that chap who is a TBN sports editor and kindly comes by here from time to time asking for input about the sports coverage.

This article (behind the TBN paywall) is Exhibit A of why I will not pay to subscribe to TBN, despite the chance to feed my Bills fixation.

We don't even know what Woods press conference was all about yet for sure - the team having no cap due to rollover?  the team wanting Wood's bonus returned if he retires, even if it's a "forced retirement" due to injury?  Wood saying he would like to retire but not understanding the financial implications attached to that word 'retire' by the CBA?

 

And yet here is Gleason, making assumptions that enable him to attack the character of a beloved Bills player.  Beane even said "we don't have the cap space for him to retire at the moment", which clearly implies a problem on the Bills side.  But hey, let's not confuse ourselves with facts.

 

You can print such "rush to judgement", negative coverage abusing professional athletes if you choose, and I can choose not to pay for it.

If anyone has his contact info, feel free to email this (or provide it to me and I'll email).  Enough is enough.

 

So you won't pay for coverage because they post articles you won't agree with sometimes?

 

Well, I'm not sure they expect customers like you, anyway.

[FitzShowUsYourTitz]

11 minutes ago, jmc12290 said:

So you won't pay for coverage because they post articles you won't agree with sometimes?

 

Well, I'm not sure they expect customers like you, anyway.

 

I wholeheartedly disagree.  He says Wood took ANOTHER wrong turn in ANOTHER EMBARRASSING moment and then went on to call him another PETTY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE.  This is Eric Wood, not (fill in the blank).  The article is even more embarrassing then the press conference.  And that says something.   

 

Just my .02

[JoshBarnett]

Yes, you can consider me emailed. ... 

 

Since I have been accused by some that I only come here to promote stuff, I appreciate that other recognize that I am here to take criticism and feedback, too ... 

 

I have said this before, but it bears repeating: We have a staff of multiple people covering multiple areas of the Bills, including X's and O's, in-depth features, scouting on future opponents and myriad other topics. I am sure you can pull a particular piece from any of them that you don't like or agree with -- and there are pieces from other outlets that I think are really good that you might love too -- but I think we are the most thorough and complete of any outlet covering the Bills on and off the field ... 

 

Given that you don't subscribe, you also are judging one paragraph in a 1,000 word column and comparing it to a full column from elsewhere. Would reading the whole thing change your mind? Maybe, maybe not. But I will extend that offer. Send me your email and I will send you the full text, although someone has posted another portion of it ... 

 

Thanks, Josh

 

 

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Paging that chap who is a TBN sports editor and kindly comes by here from time to time asking for input about the sports coverage.

This article (behind the TBN paywall) is Exhibit A of why I will not pay to subscribe to TBN, despite the chance to feed my Bills fixation.

We don't even know what Woods press conference was all about yet for sure - the team having no cap due to rollover?  the team wanting Wood's bonus returned if he retires, even if it's a "forced retirement" due to injury?  Wood saying he would like to retire but not understanding the financial implications attached to that word 'retire' by the CBA?

 

And yet here is Gleason, making assumptions that enable him to attack the character of a beloved Bills player.  Beane even said "we don't have the cap space for him to retire at the moment", which clearly implies a problem on the Bills side.  But hey, let's not confuse ourselves with facts.

 

You can print such "rush to judgement", negative coverage abusing professional athletes if you choose, and I can choose not to pay for it.

If anyone has his contact info, feel free to email this (or provide it to me and I'll email).  Enough is enough.

 

"another wrong turn". that's fantastic arse hat.  He needs a swift kick in the nuts. should be embarrassed to print such wordings

 

Show some etiquette. Bills drafted Wood and he is going to retire a Bill.
Thats respect earned

 

and Josh thank you.

 But that's enough for me in that particular writing exercise.
Speaking to this article only. Not your publication.

Edited January 31, 2018 by 3rdand12

[Mr. WEO]

6 minutes ago, JoshBarnett said:

Yes, you can consider me emailed. ... 

 

Since I have been accused by some that I only come here to promote stuff, I appreciate that other recognize that I am here to take criticism and feedback, too ... 

 

I have said this before, but it bears repeating: We have a staff of multiple people covering multiple areas of the Bills, including X's and O's, in-depth features, scouting on future opponents and myriad other topics. I am sure you can pull a particular piece from any of them that you don't like or agree with -- and there are pieces from other outlets that I think are really good that you might love too -- but I think we are the most thorough and complete of any outlet covering the Bills on and off the field ... 

 

Given that you don't subscribe, you also are judging one paragraph in a 1,000 word column and comparing it to a full column from elsewhere. Would reading the whole thing change your mind? Maybe, maybe not. But I will extend that offer. Send me your email and I will send you the full text, although someone has posted another portion of it ... 

 

Thanks, Josh

 

 

 

Thanks Josh.

 

This is how things go here too often, unfortunately.

 

It's been pretty widely accepted that Wood and/or his people created this debacle and it was avoidable.  Why shoot a messenger for pointing that out?  

 

Keep up the good work and thanks for being a stand up guy.  I'll keep reading.

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

26 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

The article seems reasonable to me. Gleason said a lot of good things about Wood. 

 

You say that Gleason attacked Wood's character. I disagree. Looked to me like he was attacking Wood's decision and actions in this case. Here's a quote from the article:  

 

"It's important to consider the source in what evolved into one of the more bizarre hours along One Bills Drive in recent memory. For nine years, Wood stood before the masses and answered questions that were much tougher than the ones that would have been raised had his news conference gone off without a hitch. Because he was so late, and his behavior was so out of character, he invited more questions."

 

That's not attacking his character. Just the opposite, really. Nor did he do so in the rest of the article. What portion of this article attacked Wood's character?

 

But the team has plenty of cap. $30 mill for 2018 right now, pretty much exactly in the middle of the league. 

 

Fair enough that you don't like the article, everyone's got a right to an opinion. 

 

When Beane said they don’t have any cap

space, he wasn’t referring to their 2018 cap space, which isn’t available until the new league year in March. He was referring to the 2017 league year cap space which they had already rolled over to 2018. They didn’t anticipate a suddenly retirement in January that would cost cap space. He is welcome to officially retire. He just can’t do it until March.