Since bragging on my Missouri Tigers earlier this month after they beat the Kansas Jayhawks they have done absolutely nothing positive. They have lost three in a row to Kansas State, Iowa State and this afternoon Nebraska.
The win over KU was a fluke. Coach Quin Snyder is certainly shaping his future with the University as he continues to be outcoached by his peers in the Big XII.
Earlier this week, the Kansas City Star's Wright Thompson told this interesting tale of Snyder's perspective on life in the big time world of NCAA Division one basketball and his own job at Mizzou. This article is property of the Kansas City Star.
It's too bad the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch is incapable of such fine journalism. Well, let me correct that. It has several writers who are capable of such work, but their editors don't have a clue that readers would like to read more than the constant attacks on the MU Athletic program. But maybe there is hope for the Saint Louis rag. One of it's editors did have the sense to re-publish the article in Saint Louis later in the week.
Hey Post-Dispatch get your head out of your ass!
January 28, 2006
I'm still here
I haven't written much lately as a very close family member has been recovering from knee replacement surgery. She is doing very well but still I have spent a lot of time looking in on her and making sure she has what she needs. I will write more as time permits, especially about some of the bonehead things observed lately in the local media.
January 16, 2006
How 'Bout Them Tigers!!!
My alma mater, the Missouri Tigers came from behind tonight to beat up on their arch rival Kansas Jayhawks. The final was 89-86 in overtime. Mizzou was down by nine with a minute and a half to go but somehow got it tied and then got a huge break when KU missed two free throws with less than a second left. That sent the game into OT and there were by my count six lead changes in the OT period alone. What a game!
This is the first time in quite a while that Mizzou has won two in a row over the lowlife Jayhawks. Let's hope it's the start of a good streak against those Lawrence losers!
MIZ ZOU RAH!!!
This is the first time in quite a while that Mizzou has won two in a row over the lowlife Jayhawks. Let's hope it's the start of a good streak against those Lawrence losers!
MIZ ZOU RAH!!!
January 15, 2006
...And in broadcast news
As long as I am writing about the media here I want to give out a few awards...
Best television new staff...KTVI Channel 2. They aren't as flashy as channel four and five, but they do the best job of reporting and presenting the news. I have even seen the news staff at two report on issues. (This is rarely seen in television news. (Is that an oxymoron)? In the weather department if their main meteorologist wasn't so bad at predicting the weather the station would be really good. But, they are still better than the products being generated by the other stations in this market.
Worst television news staff KSDK Channel 5. There newscast has turned into a slick presentation of little more than features and puff pieces. In fact yesterday morning, at it's nine a.m. newscast it not only did a promo in the newscast for the Skating competition in town this week, it went so far as to tell viewers where to buy tickets and how much they cost. News? Come on folks why don't you just label this crap what it is. In fact you should call yourself feature center five. The woman who does prime time weather is awful and the Asian woman on Saturday morning isn't much better.
The other two TV outlets that do "local" newscasts are mediocre. The CBS affiliate KMOV puts up a lot of slick, glitzy pieces, but it does have some reporters who know the market and do recognize a legitimate story.
Channel 11 tries real hard, but it is reminiscent of the newscasts I used to put out when I was in journalism school. ..not really very good. But they do try and they have a few people in their newsroom that are good at what they do. And give them credit, unlike the other three they are not constantly interrupting prime time programming with their latest weather technology, to bore the pants off of viewers.
Best television new staff...KTVI Channel 2. They aren't as flashy as channel four and five, but they do the best job of reporting and presenting the news. I have even seen the news staff at two report on issues. (This is rarely seen in television news. (Is that an oxymoron)? In the weather department if their main meteorologist wasn't so bad at predicting the weather the station would be really good. But, they are still better than the products being generated by the other stations in this market.
Worst television news staff KSDK Channel 5. There newscast has turned into a slick presentation of little more than features and puff pieces. In fact yesterday morning, at it's nine a.m. newscast it not only did a promo in the newscast for the Skating competition in town this week, it went so far as to tell viewers where to buy tickets and how much they cost. News? Come on folks why don't you just label this crap what it is. In fact you should call yourself feature center five. The woman who does prime time weather is awful and the Asian woman on Saturday morning isn't much better.
The other two TV outlets that do "local" newscasts are mediocre. The CBS affiliate KMOV puts up a lot of slick, glitzy pieces, but it does have some reporters who know the market and do recognize a legitimate story.
Channel 11 tries real hard, but it is reminiscent of the newscasts I used to put out when I was in journalism school. ..not really very good. But they do try and they have a few people in their newsroom that are good at what they do. And give them credit, unlike the other three they are not constantly interrupting prime time programming with their latest weather technology, to bore the pants off of viewers.
And now a word from our sponsor
This is called the Anti-Post, so it's time to give a report card to the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch.
Overall the paper is still mediocre at best. I would say it is the worst daily in Saint Louis, but then I would also have to say it is the best daily in Saint Louis. (Get it, it's the only daily in the city). It's too bad the Riverfront Times isn't a daily paper. At least it would keep the Post honest.
Design and layout D. The paper changed it's layout and graphics this year to try to boost sagging circulation. But, now the paper looks like a Suburban Journal. (If you don't know what that is...it's not a good thing. The journal is a twice weekly throw away. But, you do have to give the post a B for effort.
News Reporting B-. It seems to do a pretty good job of handling local news and several of it's columnist really do know what is happening. Bill McClellan is excellent!
News Editing B. The editing desk seems to be trying to stop the stupid and careless mistakes it has made in the past. But, there are days of sheer stupidity. It appears as if they are short staffed but that's no excuse. Hire some people. You certainly have the cash flow!
Sports Reporting D. The sports staff seems to believe it is operating in a vacuum. The paper leaves much to be desired in game day reporting and layout. The biases of the sports staff persist. As an example the University of Missouri has more alums than all other institutions combined in Saint Louis but it still seems to be enamored with running other colleges game stories above the fold. The Missouri game coverage is then relegated to an internal page. I have written letters to the Post's management complaining of this, but they have yet to reply or explain the bias. Finally, the local columnists seem to take delight in running inside jokes or attempting to be humorous. Believe, me the only thing funny about the Sports section is that management lets these bozos get by with their un-professional efforts.
Sports editing D. The sports editors seem to be in a world to themselves. They have made too many errors too many times. In the Friday paper the editors invented new radio frequencies on which to hear local broadcasts. ACtually, the did not include the whole frequency of a radio station. One mistake is not a big deal. But twice in two lines. Please!!! Not enough attention to detail and too much inconsistency.
Editorials, Entertainment, and the rest of the paper C The editorials are frequently inane but they reflect a management that at times seems confused about what it is doing. You really can't screw up the funny page and the rest of the paper is mediocre.
Final grade C. Like I said it's a really mediocre paper so a C is the perfect grade for it.
Overall the paper is still mediocre at best. I would say it is the worst daily in Saint Louis, but then I would also have to say it is the best daily in Saint Louis. (Get it, it's the only daily in the city). It's too bad the Riverfront Times isn't a daily paper. At least it would keep the Post honest.
Design and layout D. The paper changed it's layout and graphics this year to try to boost sagging circulation. But, now the paper looks like a Suburban Journal. (If you don't know what that is...it's not a good thing. The journal is a twice weekly throw away. But, you do have to give the post a B for effort.
News Reporting B-. It seems to do a pretty good job of handling local news and several of it's columnist really do know what is happening. Bill McClellan is excellent!
News Editing B. The editing desk seems to be trying to stop the stupid and careless mistakes it has made in the past. But, there are days of sheer stupidity. It appears as if they are short staffed but that's no excuse. Hire some people. You certainly have the cash flow!
Sports Reporting D. The sports staff seems to believe it is operating in a vacuum. The paper leaves much to be desired in game day reporting and layout. The biases of the sports staff persist. As an example the University of Missouri has more alums than all other institutions combined in Saint Louis but it still seems to be enamored with running other colleges game stories above the fold. The Missouri game coverage is then relegated to an internal page. I have written letters to the Post's management complaining of this, but they have yet to reply or explain the bias. Finally, the local columnists seem to take delight in running inside jokes or attempting to be humorous. Believe, me the only thing funny about the Sports section is that management lets these bozos get by with their un-professional efforts.
Sports editing D. The sports editors seem to be in a world to themselves. They have made too many errors too many times. In the Friday paper the editors invented new radio frequencies on which to hear local broadcasts. ACtually, the did not include the whole frequency of a radio station. One mistake is not a big deal. But twice in two lines. Please!!! Not enough attention to detail and too much inconsistency.
Editorials, Entertainment, and the rest of the paper C The editorials are frequently inane but they reflect a management that at times seems confused about what it is doing. You really can't screw up the funny page and the rest of the paper is mediocre.
Final grade C. Like I said it's a really mediocre paper so a C is the perfect grade for it.
January 03, 2006
Back to Reality
Happy New Year to you! It was a fine New Years. Nothing crazy. In fact I heard the New Year come in while dozing off when some neighbors shot off fireworks. And then for the first time in years I went to church on New Years morning at eight in the morning on top of it. In the afternoon J&L P and I got together at their house to watch football. Oh yeah, they have the NFL Sunday ticket so I was in hog heaven. I could get real addicted to it. But, that will have to wait until next season now. L cooked up a big old pot of vegetable beef soup and it was awesome! I had three cups of it and then chased it with a sandwich. She can really cook!
The second was bowl game day, so after taking down the exterior lights and working on my car, I watched a lot of football.
And today it was back to reality. I had to go into work again after 17 days off. What a bummer. But, then after all of last months departmental layoffs it was good to be able to go to work. And I also started my weight reduction plan today. No beer for a couple of weeks, a daily workout or walking and very small food portions. And lots of water. It has worked in the past when I have lost in excess of 40 pounds and another time when I shed over 35 pounds. It will work again too (or I will have to go out and buy new clothes). And that aint going to happen. So stay tuned and I will let you know how it is going.
The second was bowl game day, so after taking down the exterior lights and working on my car, I watched a lot of football.
And today it was back to reality. I had to go into work again after 17 days off. What a bummer. But, then after all of last months departmental layoffs it was good to be able to go to work. And I also started my weight reduction plan today. No beer for a couple of weeks, a daily workout or walking and very small food portions. And lots of water. It has worked in the past when I have lost in excess of 40 pounds and another time when I shed over 35 pounds. It will work again too (or I will have to go out and buy new clothes). And that aint going to happen. So stay tuned and I will let you know how it is going.
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