Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
What does access get traditional sportswriters?
Like most other beats, not much.
Reporting isn’t about the opportunity to write down what people say. Anyone can do that.
It’s not hard to move with the pack in a locker room and record the content-free mumblings of professional athletes. I know, I’ve done it.
And whatever insights access does deliver to sportswriters rarely makes its way to the public, so what’s the point?
Posted on July 6, 2009
By Natasha Julius
Before you enjoy all the fireworks, we’ve prepared the annual Beachwood Reporter Weekend Desk Liberty Tracker. It’s time to see where we’re free, how we’re free and what we’re gonna do about it.
Posted on July 4, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
* The [Fourth of July] Papers 2008: Miss Manners, Kids in America, Well-Regulated Militia, The Redacted Banner.
* The [Fourth of July] Papers 2007: Lead us away from here.
* A loyal Beachwood reader and Wisconsin native passes this on in response to my item yesterday expressing skepticism about generous tax incentives extended to Hollywood by various states, including Illinois:
Posted on July 3, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
I’m not sure I would go so far as to say I was a Karl Malden “fan,” but, well, sort of.
His death, though, reminded me of a piece of dialogue between Malden and Michael Douglas from The Streets of San Francisco that an old college friend used to frequently repeat in machine-gun delivery:
Cop’s son can’t be bad?
That’s not the point!
Then what is?!
Nice.
Posted on July 2, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
“I had all but given up on mainstream coverage of Arne Duncan’s lackluster record ‘turning around’ the Chicago Public Schools, but now a report from a business group long allied with the Mayor on school reform issues has come out slamming the district’s record of achievement,” Alexander Russo reports at This Week In Education.
In fact, Russo says, the report issued by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club concludes that “Chicago Public School reform largely has failed.”
Posted on July 1, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
No column today – many other things to attend to – but that doesn’t mean I won’t take comments on Stella Foster’s column today. I think you know what I’m looking for.
And please note Nos. 13 and 14 added late yesterday to The [Monday] Papers.
Posted on June 30, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
1. The moonwalk.
2. Billy Mays’ best work was for ESPN.
–
Posted on June 29, 2009
By Natasha Julius
Just think how much more time we’ll have to follow the news now that we don’t have to nip off to Argentina to help save a friend’s marriage anymore.
Change Watch
It turns out Change will cost more money and destroy American jobs. Fortunately for those holding stock in the troubled start-up, it turns out Status Quo does the exact same thing.
Posted on June 27, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
“As the music world begins to assess the complicated legacy of the man who crowned himself the King of Pop, there is no denying that Michael Jackson’s climb from humble beginnings amid the belching smokestacks of Gary, Ind., to the top of the charts and worldwide superstardom will rank beside those of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and the Beatles as one of the most extraordinary rags-to-riches stories ever,” Jim DeRogatis writes.
Posted on June 26, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
My favorite quote about the secret briefings Pat Ryan and other mayoral cronies are having with aldermen about the Olympic bid comes from Daley spokescreature Jackie Heard:
“Nothing is out of the ordinary here.”
Indeed.
– via the Trib
*
My favorite Olympic fiasco headline:
“Pat Ryan Scheduled To Insult Our Intelligence Today.”
– via Whet Moser
Posted on June 25, 2009
