Every time some old sports writer - who sees his industry dying before his very eyes - goes on a rampage against bloggers, saying how they live in their mothers' basements and make baseless accusations, I should bring out this article. Because it's honestly about 10 times worse than anything most bloggers write.The article I'm referring to is one by Mark Kiszla from the Denver Post entitled "Ugly Betty hockey in Colorado's future." It's worth a read just to see a sportswriter lose his mind (and wonder how an editor let this thing fly).
Basically Kiszla was mad that the Colorado Avalanche lost game three of the team's series against the Minnesota Wild in overtime last night. He feels the Wild play a dirty physical style. So naturally he used his column to bash not only the Wild - "Let the mugging begin. It's the only way the Minnesota Wild can win." - but also to bash the hell out of the entire state of Minnesota.
Minnesota, the land of 10,000 dead car batteries, has an inferiority about this hockey team. The Wild's style of play is as ugly and obnoxious as the uniforms, which look as if designed by a toddler who randomly pulled two crayons from the box of 64 and began scribbling. This hard truth makes the Wild faithful grumpier than they are after waking up to yet another subzero morning.
Now while it may be true that the Wild's uniforms were designed by two-year-olds, there's no reason to bring that up.
But then Kiszla feels the need to get even more ridiculous. This is my favorite quote from the article.
Anywhere the Wild goes, flowers wilt, the sky turns gray and beauty dies.
Clearly this is an objective sportswriter, by which I mean not objective at all. [Note: Kiszla also once wrote not the best of articles on J.R. Smith]
When you combine Kiszla's hockey article with fellow Post writer Woody Paige's recent incomprehensible rant against the Nuggets - which was refuted by everyone - you've got to wonder what the hell is going on at that paper.
Whatever is going on, it isn't good sports writing, that's for sure.
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