The sports writer/reporter you detest the most!

[Marcus Garvey]

Inspired by UNHWildcat's somewhat befuddling post (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36784), I suggest we all name the sportswriter we detest the most.
Rules:
- Only 1 sports journalist. So, if you have a long list, you need to name the one on the top
- Cite why you dislike him.

For me.....

Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/bill_conlin/)
While he does write intelligent columns from time to time, the man is arrogant to a fault. If you've ever seen him on TV (ESPN's The Sports Reporters, or The Great Sports Debate, which aired on PRISM in the 90's) then you'd understand. He had a nasty email exchange a few months ago with a Phillies blogger who only wanted to debate the merrits of Jimmy Rollins' MVP award (http://crashburnalley.com/?p=47). It seemed an intelligent enough topic, but take 1 part intelligent topic, and 1 part Bill Conlin, and you wind up with a cranky old man who embarrasses himself with every word he types:
Bill Conlin Probably Just Shouldn't Use Email At All (http://deadspin.com/sports/bill-conlin/bill-conlin-probably-just-shouldnt-use-email-at-all-325874.php)
It's Important That You Know Bill Conlin's Compensation (http://deadspin.com/sports/bill-conlin/bill-conlin-probably-just-shouldnt-use-email-at-all-325874.php)

The first link is to the Crasburn Alley post that started this. My favorite is how he is able to denigrate bloggers while simultaneously praising Hitler! Excelsior old man!

[jstate83]

Now this I can answer. xlolx

xbowx xbowx xbowx xbowx
Hand's down in my world.


http://nycphoto.interactivenyc.com/archives/photos/2007/BEA/mike_lupica.jpg

[Marcus Garvey]

Now this I can answer. xlolx

xbowx xbowx xbowx xbowx
Hand's down in my world.


http://nycphoto.interactivenyc.com/archives/photos/2007/BEA/mike_lupica.jpg

C'mon, you only followed 1 of the rules. You have to tell us why! xnodx

[NE MT GRIZZ]

Ken Rosenthal from Fox Sports and Herbsteit/Mark May.

I can't stand the way Ken talks about the steroid scandal in baseball.

The two pricks from ESPN shouldn't need any explanation.

[jstate83]

C'mon, you only followed 1 of the rules. You have to tell us why! xnodx

As for him being a writer/reporter, he blather's on for month's about thing's that should have died in day's.
He don't know wether he want's to be a Sport's writer or a Political writer.
He don't do either well.

As for REPORTING, he sound's like a frustrated child when he's trying to make a point.
He will start talking about something and then get so worked up, he can't even make a statement without it comming out like jibberish.xlolx

Have you ever watched him on the Sport Reporter's?
Him sitting there with his little feet dangling 2 inches off the floor, flinging his arms, trying to get his word's out is funny as he!!.

Not to mention he is just about the most pompus, know-it-all in the business today.
he act's like his word is law and if you disagree, MORE FRUSTRATION. xlolx

[andy7171]

Ken Rosenthal from Fox Sports and Herbsteit/Mark May.

I can't stand the way Ken talks about the steroid scandal in baseball.

The two pricks from ESPN shouldn't need any explanation.

Ken Rosenthal used to be a columnist for the Baltimore Sun. I liked him alot.

We are in full agreement with the ESPN duo.

[89Hen]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/09/13/timesselect/rhoden.184.jpg

One dimensional. xcoffeex

[813Jag]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/stephen-a-smith1.jpg

He can't make a point with out yelling. Annoys the crap out of me every time he's on my TV.

[Marcus Garvey]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/stephen-a-smith1.jpg

He can't make a point with out yelling. Annoys the crap out of me every time he's on my TV.

LOL!!! When he was a the Philly Inquirer, I thought he was a mediocre writer. Not bad, but nobody great. But, he was perfect for ESPN and the type of shows they try to shove down our throats (see Mike and Mike and Around the Horn).

What cracks me up is that Stephen A. failed to recoginize why Quite Frankly got piss-poor ratings and blamed the network for moving the time slot around.

But hey, he inspired the 2nd coolest name for a blog ever:
Stephen A Smith Heckling Society Of Gentlemen (http://wordpress.com/tag/stephen-a-smith-heckling-society-of-gentlemen/)

[813Jag]

LOL!!! When he was a the Philly Inquirer, I thought he was a mediocre writer. Not bad, but nobody great. But, he was perfect for ESPN and the type of shows they try to shove down our throats (see Mike and Mike and Around the Horn).

What cracks me up is that Stephen A. failed to recoginize why Quite Frankly got piss-poor ratings and blamed the network for moving the time slot around.

But hey, he inspired the 2nd coolest name for a blog ever:
Stephen A Smith Heckling Society Of Gentlemen (http://wordpress.com/tag/stephen-a-smith-heckling-society-of-gentlemen/)
If it wasn't for that Allen Iverson situation with his wife. I probably wouldn't have to see him on my TV.

[FCS Preview]

Man, it's close...

http://nycphoto.interactivenyc.com/archives/photos/2007/BEA/mike_lupica.jpg

Lupica

or

http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/stephen.jpg

Stephen A. Smith


too close to call...

[Thunderstruck84]

There are a lot of options but I think I'll have to go with Skip Bayless, it really speaks to the state of the business that someone like him can make a living, and a good living at that, being as conceited and ignorant as he is.

Um, you could also throw in arrogant, misinformed, stereotypical, stubborn.......

[GeauxLions94]

Man, it's close...

http://nycphoto.interactivenyc.com/archives/photos/2007/BEA/mike_lupica.jpg

Lupica

or

http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/stephen.jpg

Stephen A. Smith


too close to call...

It's kind of like choosing between lobster or cracked crab. Why can't we choose both?

Reason why I dislike ...

Lupica - Is he still on Sports Reporters? Haven't watched that show since Schaap died.
S.A.S. - "OBSESSIVELY LOUD AND KNOWS JACK-DIDDLEY SQUAT OUTSIDE OF HOOPS!"

[bench]

I would volunteer Woody Paige if he took himself seriously, but since he doesn't, I don't either. He's an idiot, but he's like the college buddy we all had who could argue about everything and manage to always be wrong, but who was also intentionally or unintentionally funny enough that you just laughed him off.

[Go...gate]

Since he is technically an announcer, I will go with Billy Packer.

Pure announcer? Stuart Scott.

[griz37]

Billy Packer is a great choice. I hate the fact that he is crammed down our throats each March. He brings no joy to his announcing, he is the anti-Vitale. As far as columnists, I can stand Jay Mariotti from Chicago.

[poly51]

Kieth Olbermann. Terrible sportscaster and a worse political commentator.

[FCS Preview]

It's kind of like choosing between lobster or cracked crab. Why can't we choose both?

Nice use of a "Trading Places" quote. Rep for you! :D

[GeauxLions94]

Nice use of a "Trading Places" quote. Rep for you! :D

xthumbsupx

[GeauxLions94]

Kieth Olbermann. Terrible sportscaster and a worse political commentator.

He's still on the air. xeyebrowx

[Gil Dobie]

Mike Lupica (sp), and Mitch Albon (sp) and I don't care how they spell their name. xlolx

[Peems]

I don't really detest any sports writer. I don't care for Skip Bayless or Pat Forde really.

[Syntax Error]

Kieth Olbermann. Terrible sportscaster and a worse political commentator.Not a sportscaster. Politics ------------------>

Olbermann is great as a poli commentator

[T-Dog]

I'd have to go with Skip Bayless because he sounds like he just wants to start crap. He's downright laughable to hear.

[Big Dawg]

I'd have to go with Skip Bayless because he sounds like he just wants to start crap. He's downright laughable to hear.

Yeah he gets on my nerves

[Fresno St. Alum]

Skip Bayless. I don't even think he believes half of the stuff he says, he just says it to be a d!ck and to keep his spot on First Take

[Cleets]

Pete Prisco..!!! What a joke
Of CBS and CBS.Sportsline.com

He is no longer a beat writer covering a specific team... he's an NFL analyst and article writer for CBS covering what is supposed to be the "entire" NFL...

Yet:
in a 16 week season 8 of his articles were about the Colts
and half of those were about Peyton Manning

(there's 32 Quarter Backs out there and 32 teams)

In 2005 he called Peyton the greatest QB of all time (at that point he had ZERO super bowls) and was 2 for 6 in the playoffs lifetime...

This year he pouts after the Colts lose and then picks the Chargers to win in New England... (come on... whatever)

he's not a credible writer he's a FAN of a team and a Player... who writes articles about his favorite player and favorite team..!!!!!


xlolx

[Ivytalk]

Howard Eskin of WIP sports talk radio in Philly. No further comment necessary.xsmhx

[Seahawks Fan]

Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, WFAN. Mad Dog routinely disparages the players of bygone eras, and once said he would like to see Babe Ruth face David Cone (really). xlolx

[BlueHen86]

Howard Eskin of WIP sports talk radio in Philly. No further comment necessary.xsmhx
Agreed, I listen to WIP at work.

Until Howard comes on; and then I find something else to listen to.

[BlueHen86]

I also can't stand Billy Packer.

[nwFL Griz]

Not a sportscaster. Politics ------------------>

Olbermann is great as a poli commentator

Seriously? You're telling me you don't know that Olbermann started out at ESPN?

And I'll agree poly 51 he was a terrible sports guy and an even worse political commentator.

[89Hen]

Olbermann is great as a poli commentator

Politics ------------------>

[Seahawks Fan]

Agreed, I listen to WIP at work.

BlueHen, is Jody Mac on WIP these days? I miss him on WFAN.

[jstate83]

It's kind of like choosing between lobster or cracked crab. Why can't we choose both?

Reason why I dislike ...

Lupica - Is he still on Sports Reporters? Haven't watched that show since Schaap died.
S.A.S. - "OBSESSIVELY LOUD AND KNOWS JACK-DIDDLEY SQUAT OUTSIDE OF HOOPS!"


yep.
He even host's when the other guy is not present.

He's gotten worse since Schaap died. xsmhx
Hate to hear him or the reporter from the Boston Globe that wanted Jason Kidd's wife slapped.
neither can get out a complete statement that makes sense.

[Gil Dobie]

Seriously? You're telling me you don't know that Olbermann started out at ESPN?

And I'll agree poly 51 he was a terrible sports guy and an even worse political commentator.

Olberman still appears on NFL telecast xoopsx

[OB55]

Current active-

1) Phil Simms as a commentator

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/09/13/timesselect/rhoden.184.jpg as far as writers go.

[Seahawks Fan]

Current active-

1) Phil Simms



Why? xconfusedx xconfusedx

The man knows what he is talking about.

[BlueHen86]

BlueHen, is Jody Mac on WIP these days? I miss him on WFAN.
Not that I know of. I haven't heard him in a while.

I miss him too, he was one of the more 'sane' and knowledgeable hosts. Unfortunately, sane doesn't mean ratings.

[Seahawks Fan]

Not that I know of. I haven't heard him in a while.

I miss him too, he was one of the more 'sane' and knowledgeable hosts. Unfortunately, sane doesn't mean ratings.


How true. The voice of reason on the FAN is Richard Neer and he is relegated to Saturday and Sunday mornings.

[bandl]

How in the hell has this a$$-clown not been mentioned??? xconfusedx xsmhx

http://www.jimrome.com/home.FeatureItemMap.Single.Image.1201642699045.jpg

[BlueHen86]

How in the hell has this a$$-clown not been mentioned??? xconfusedx xsmhx

http://www.jimrome.com/home.FeatureItemMap.Single.Image.1201642699045.jpg
I like Jim Rome.

Even so....I loved it when Jim Everett tuned him up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNgqQVHI_8

[TheValleyRaider]

How in the hell has this a$$-clown not been mentioned??? xconfusedx xsmhx

http://www.jimrome.com/home.FeatureItemMap.Single.Image.1201642699045.jpg

Because it's harder to hate on a guy who we actually see get his butt kicked on-air xeekx xlolx : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cqcLdz5llo

[TheValleyRaider]

I like Jim Rome.

Even so....I loved it when Jim Everett tuned him up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNgqQVHI_8


Because it's harder to hate on a guy who we actually see get his butt kicked on-air xeekx xlolx : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cqcLdz5llo

Great minds, 86. Great minds...

[BlueHen86]

Great minds, 86. Great minds...
Agreed.xthumbsupx

[bandl]

Because it's harder to hate on a guy who we actually see get his butt kicked on-air xeekx xlolx : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cqcLdz5llo

Tell me that Frank Caliendo doesn't do a perfect imitation of Rome.... xnodx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s8BZjcP3qU&feature=related

[bodoyle]

1-10) JAY MARRIOTTI aka eddie munster!
20) Screaming A Smith - makes no sense, just a fad
21) Jim Rome - makes no sense just a fad with lemmings who follow him.

[BlueHen86]

Tell me that Frank Caliendo doesn't do a perfect imitation of Rome.... xnodx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s8BZjcP3qU&feature=related
LOL.

[bandl]

These two always cracks me up... xlolx

Sean "Do as I say, not as I did as QB" Salisbury vs. John "I'm an egghead who could sleep snuggly in the jockstrap of any offensive lineman" Clayton

http://image.gawker.com/assets/images/commenter/110000/117070_160.jpg

http://www.joesportsfan.com/mediaspace/clayton_files/johnClayton.jpg

I love when Clayton rolls his eyes and acts like a 8-year old punk when Salisbury picks on him on the air xnodx

[nwFL Griz]

Olberman still appears on NFL telecast xoopsx

D'oh...I forgot about that! Of course, I don't watch the sunday night game at all unless the Broncos are playing.....

[Marcus Garvey]

These two always cracks me up... xlolx

Sean "Do as I say, not as I did as QB" Salisbury vs. John "I'm an egghead who could sleep snuggly in the jockstrap of any offensive lineman" Clayton

http://image.gawker.com/assets/images/commenter/110000/117070_160.jpg

http://www.joesportsfan.com/mediaspace/clayton_files/johnClayton.jpg

I love when Clayton rolls his eyes and acts like a 8-year old punk when Salisbury picks on him on the air xnodx

JoeSportsFan (www.joesportsfan.com)refers to Salisbury as "Senor Angry," because he always seems to be under the impression that he's in an argument with his viewers.

The best part about him is how he has a new "MVP" every week. Hell, sometimes he names 2 different players as the leading MVP candidate during the same show! If he were to select the player for the Madden NFL box, there would be 17 different guys on it.

[nwFL Griz]

How in the hell has this a$$-clown not been mentioned??? xconfusedx xsmhx

http://www.jimrome.com/home.FeatureItemMap.Single.Image.1201642699045.jpg

Dude, Rome is hilarious! I don't take him serious, but I do enjoy his radio show.

[bandl]

Dude, Rome is hilarious! I don't take him serious, but I do enjoy his radio show.

I also enjoy watching his show, but only because he sucks so much. xrotatehx

[nwFL Griz]

I also enjoy watching his show, but only because he sucks so much. xrotatehx

Either way, it's still funny, right? :D

[bandl]

Either way, it's still funny, right? :D

No doubt. xnodx But I always have to resist the urge to put my foot through the TV screen after his show is done. xmadx

[CollegeSportsInfo]

This one is easy for me to narrow down:

Dan Shaughnessy and Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe. Both are total homers who take that to the next level by excluding UMass any chance they get. Luckily the internet allowed me to easily read other newspapers and not have to learn about last nights Swampscott vs. Marshfield scores.

I do feel bad putting Ryan on the list with his the death of his son, so my focus is on DS.

[813Jag]

1-10) JAY MARRIOTTI aka eddie munster!
20) Screaming A Smith - makes no sense, just a fad
21) Jim Rome - makes no sense just a fad with lemmings who follow him.
Marriotti is such a punk. Mike Wilbon is a clown as well as Jason Whitlock.

[Marcus Garvey]

Marriotti is such a punk. Mike Wilbon is a clown as well as Jason Whitlock.

I rather like Whitlock. Getting banned from ESPN for calling Scoop Jackson a clown is a trait I admire.

[GeauxLions94]

Gotta put in votes for honorable mention...

Chris Berman - change his catch phrase to "He Should Just Go Away!"

and Dickie V ... not having you on the air for college hoops for part of the season was "AWESOME BABY!"

[813Jag]

I rather like Whitlock. Getting banned from ESPN for calling Scoop Jackson a clown is a trait I admire.
Scoop Jackson is nothing more than a fan that writes articles. His blatent cheerleading led me to hate Slam! magazine.

[Peems]

Gotta put in votes for honorable mention...

Chris Berman - change his catch phrase to "He Should Just Go Away!"

and Dickie V ... not having you on the air for college hoops for part of the season was "AWESOME BABY!"

Those guys aren't really sportswriters especially Berman. If you can get past Dickie V's accent and enthusiasm he is really a great commentator. The only problem I have is how much he loves Duke. Dukie V as they say...

[jstate83]

How in the hell has this a$$-clown not been mentioned??? xconfusedx xsmhx

http://www.jimrome.com/home.FeatureItemMap.Single.Image.1201642699045.jpg

He might be a Jungle Clown, xlolx, but Rome don't pull no punches about what he do.
He let you know before you appear that you may get clowned.

At least he's honest about it.
I used to die laughing when he would get on his WNBA/RACE HORSE comparison's.
xlmaox

And I'll never forget when he reemed The Viking's and Nebraska's football coaches for using baited field's for duck hunting. xlolx
Havn't watched or listened to his show in age's.

[Syntax Error]

Olberman still appears on NFL telecastI stand corrected!

[AZGrizFan]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/stephen-a-smith1.jpg

He can't make a point with out yelling. Annoys the crap out of me every time he's on my TV.

I agree completely. A loudmouthed blowhard.... xcoffeex

[blackfordpu]

LOL!!! When he was a the Philly Inquirer, I thought he was a mediocre writer. Not bad, but nobody great. But, he was perfect for ESPN and the type of shows they try to shove down our throats (see Mike and Mike and Around the Horn).

What cracks me up is that Stephen A. failed to recoginize why Quite Frankly got piss-poor ratings and blamed the network for moving the time slot around.

But hey, he inspired the 2nd coolest name for a blog ever:
Stephen A Smith Heckling Society Of Gentlemen (http://wordpress.com/tag/stephen-a-smith-heckling-society-of-gentlemen/)

Whats wrong with Mike and Mike?

[furpal87]

My only complaint about Vitale is his total blindness to any negativity about college basketball and especially the coaches, especially if the coach has been around along time. He never has been negative about Knight or Eddie Sutton who both have a lot more warts than he cares to admit. He loves the game and is great for it, and I do miss him. He's so much better than Packer(the announcer I detest the most), Also, read his weekly column on ESPN, without the yelling it really shows some knowledge. As for a writer, I'd say Bayless.

[Marcus Garvey]

Whats wrong with Mike and Mike?

It follows the ESPN philosophy of people arguing for the sake of arguing. The on-air personalities don't even necessarily believe what they're arguing, rather doing it for the sake of the show.

[mlbowl]

Not on a national level...but Peter Kerasotis, sports writer for Florida Today (my local paper), is a bag of douche!...because of him, I've renamed Florida Today...Florida Gators Today

[813Jag]

Not on a national level...but Peter Kerasotis, sports writer for Florida Today (my local paper), is a bag of douche!...because of him, I've renamed Florida Today...Florida Gators Today
You share a problem with most of Florida excluding Tallahassee and Miami. The Tribune is very pro Gators. xnonono2x

[DuckDuckGriz]

I absolutely cannot stand Steven A. Smith either.

And I CAN'T believe that no one has mentioned the high-pitched weasel that is JEREMY SCHAPP. I don't care how great his dad was - this guy makes every report he does sound like a Dateline hidden investigation.

[ChickenMan]

http://espn.go.com/photo/2006/0824/pg2_a_gumbel_195.jpg

Bryant Gumbel

[mlbowl]

You share a problem with most of Florida excluding Tallahassee and Miami. The Tribune is very pro Gators. xnonono2x

Kerasotis takes the cake though...I usually buy the Orlando Sentinel cuz I really really really really really really can't stand that guyxnodx

[GeauxLions94]

http://espn.go.com/photo/2006/0824/pg2_a_gumbel_195.jpg

Bryant Gumbel

Ding! Ding! Ding! We Have A Winner ... I Mean A Loser!

[813Jag]

Kerasotis takes the cake though...I usually buy the Orlando Sentinel cuz I really really really really really really can't stand that guyxnodx
That's why I don't like to listen to Gator radio broadcasts. Mick Hubert and his "Oh My!" grate my nerves. I remember listening to the Gators Bball game against Oregon last year driving home from Ft. Lauderdale. That guys voice made me almost drive off the road many times.

[bench]

It took eight years to surface, but this is fabulous: Chris Berman goes ballistic (http://deadspin.com/351147/chris-berman-is-somewhat-perturbed-with-the-help) on the MNF set. Headphones are a must if you're at work.

[Marcus Garvey]

And for you Mike Lupica haters (which is anyone who's read his crap or seen him on TV in the last 12 years or so), here's another gem:

Mike Lupica's Body Count Continues (http://thebiglead.com/?p=4386)

[ngineer]

Howard Eskin in Philadelphia. The pontificator from on high who is interested only in himself and stirring the pot so he can be in the middle of the controversy. Azzole of the first order.xnonono2x

[LacesOut]

Dick Vitale. He almost has killed college hoops for me. I WILL NOT watch a game he does.