Chicago NewsMedia Watch 3/7/05

[Hangar18]

I had made a reference to Mike Kiley taking the day off on Saturday,
because there was not a story from him on the cubs. Well, he came
back Sunday with a VENGEANCE. His 2 stories were PUFF/Propoganda
pieces for the ages. With the Chicago Media Desperate for a new Cub
Hero to mytholigize, and talk around baseball circulating that Nomar
is a Jerk and Introvert, Mike Kiley comes out Sunday BOTH Guns Blazing,
trying Furiously in his Yellow-way, to shed some "truth" onto Nomar.

He also does a puff piece yesterday on Moises Alou, writing a story about
how the Blue-sheeped fans gave him a rousing ovation (that was worth a story?)

Yesterdays Cubune also featured a story about the Upcoming Cub Renovations, and Architecture critic Blair Kamin falls down on himself to say these are the best renovations ever. He Criticizes stadiums that try too hard to design and mimic an urban stadium (note how he Does his best KILEY impersonation, and DOESNT NAME the stadiums hes criticizing) and
talks highly of the new building adjacent the park. One thing I will note,
is the Cubs copy the SOX and will build a small concourse that will now
ring the entire bleachers (a good idea), but copying the SOX wasnt
mentioned in this piece.

As of SUNDAY, the standings were CUBS 63, SOX 46

Today, the SOX actually outstory the Blue Corporation 2-1
the Cub-Times however gives the Cubs the Gratuitious color picture,
as well as the Propoganda piece. Knowing that Latroy Hawkins
has come off as a jerk with a big mouth who rarely talks to the media,
Kiley TRIES HARD to paint Hawkins as a guy who "speaks his mind",
instead, telling us the story how his "momma" took no guff and
how that molded him. Mike Kiley again does his best 3rd-Person-Media
-guy-impersonation, and DOES mention that Media Circles identified
him as a "malcontent" (note how HE NEVER CALLED HIM A MALCONTENT, instead writing fluff pieces on other players last year to take the heat
off of Hawkins) I like how Kiley acknowledges that his "NO More Media Tirade" was a "stinging rebuke", but Kiley DOESNT mention that the Media
let him get away with it, and never called him or the cubs out on that.
You and I know what wouldve happened had he been a SOX player.
Kiley never Acknowledges the Media (INCLUDING KILEY HIMSELF) never
Barbecued him for that, and then Quickly changes gears and talks about
the quiet clubhouse and how all teams are gunning for the cubs,
completely getting away from what COULDVE been written about last yr.

Id File this garbage piece under "Backpedaling/Propoganda".
Im not buying what Kileys trying to sell me here. What a terrible "writer"
this guy really is. Hes the Mike Murphy of print media.
Cubune:
2 cub stories
2 sox stories
Cub-Times:
2 cub stories
2 sox stories

CUBS 67
SOX 50

[Baby Fisk]

Not sure how over-the-top they are, but these analyses are strangely compelling.

[cheeses_h_rice]

Yeah, every one who builds a concourse in their stadium is "copying the Sox."

[Clement's beard]

Is there a point to the media threads? The Cubs copied the Sox in their bleacher concourse design?

[HebrewHammer]

Originally Posted by Clement's beard

Is there a point to the media threads?

Only to demonstrate the blatant Pro-ScRubs media bias.

[Clement's beard]

Originally Posted by HebrewHammer

Only to demonstrate the blatant Pro-ScRubs media bias.

So you actually THINK that the Cubs stole this idea from the Sox? Do you REALLY BELIEVE that?

[HebrewHammer]

Originally Posted by Clement's beard

So you actually THINK that the Cubs stole this idea from the Sox? Do you REALLY BELIEVE that?

Troll,

When did I ever mention the renovations on The Urinal? You asked what the point of these posts are and I told you. Isn't there a Cardinals or Astros message board you should be trolling at?

[Hangar18]

Originally Posted by Clement's beard

So you actually THINK that the Cubs stole this idea from the Sox? Do you REALLY BELIEVE that?

The White Sox were one of the first teams in BASEBALL to have a concourse
where you can walk around the Entire park, including the Outfield.
The SOX concourse is widely regarded as one or the ONLY things they did
right, when they designed that park at the time (which is why im mad
theyre putting that playpen over the concourse)

Dont think for a moment, the CUBS dont see whats happening 8miles
south as far as the concourse goes, theyre trying to mimic it, same
with the "restaurant" theyre going to put in CF, where the "batters eye"
is, fans will be able to sit above the restaurant apparently, very
Fan Deck-esque, dont you think cubby?

[Hangar18]

best part about his "piece" .........
was how he said these improvements were "much Needed"
so that the cubs could "compete with teams financially with stadiums
that are newer". last i checked, the cubs were 100 Million
in Payroll and showing No signs of being poor ...........

[Clement's beard]

Originally Posted by Hangar18

The White Sox were one of the first teams in BASEBALL to have a concourse
where you can walk around the Entire park, including the Outfield.
The SOX concourse is widely regarded as one or the ONLY things they did
right, when they designed that park at the time (which is why im mad
theyre putting that playpen over the concourse)

Dont think for a moment, the CUBS dont see whats happening 8miles
south as far as the concourse goes, theyre trying to mimic it, same
with the "restaurant" theyre going to put in CF, where the "batters eye"
is, fans will be able to sit above the restaurant apparently, very
Fan Deck-esque, dont you think cubby?

Do you have concrete evidence they "copied" the Sox on this? If not, you're being just as irresponsible as the media you love to slam for the exact same thing: "Lazy journalism".

[HebrewHammer]

Originally Posted by Clement's beard

Do you have concrete evidence they "copied" the Sox on this? If not, you're being just as irresponsible as the media you love to slam for the exact same thing: "Lazy journalism".

I don't think its accurate to accuse Hangar of lazy journalism or to say the ScRubs are "copying" from U.S. Cellular, but the concept and design are similar. I still want to know why the ScRubs are changing their ballpark, seeing as how its the best field in the MLB.

[Clement's beard]

Originally Posted by HebrewHammer

I don't think its accurate to accuse Hangar of lazy journalism or to say the ScRubs are "copying" from U.S. Cellular, but the concept and design are similar. I still want to know why the ScRubs are changing their ballpark, seeing as how its the best field in the MLB.

You know as well as I know that the park needs to be expanded. This also results in more $$, which the Trib always finds more ways to make.

[Cubbiesuck13]

Originally Posted by Clement's beard

Is there a point to the media threads? The Cubs copied the Sox in their bleacher concourse design?

I enjoy the media watch. I don't even live in Chicago and I can see the bias just reading the newspapers on-line. It's funny how no one believes me when I say there is an unofficial count of the stories. Keep 'em coming Hangar and thanks for doing it.

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by Hangar18

The White Sox were one of the first teams in BASEBALL to have a concourse
where you can walk around the Entire park, including the Outfield.
The SOX concourse is widely regarded as one or the ONLY things they did
right, when they designed that park at the time (which is why im mad
theyre putting that playpen over the concourse)

Dont think for a moment, the CUBS dont see whats happening 8miles
south as far as the concourse goes, theyre trying to mimic it, same
with the "restaurant" theyre going to put in CF, where the "batters eye"
is, fans will be able to sit above the restaurant apparently, very
Fan Deck-esque, dont you think cubby?

No one is saying that the Cubs' idea is innovative, I don't think. These types of features are in many ballparks.

[HebrewHammer]

Originally Posted by Clement's beard

You know as well as I know that the park needs to be expanded. This also results in more $$, which the Trib always finds more ways to make.

It needs to be torn down, weren't pieces of it falling off as recently as last year?