Definitey: the Dugout still rocks.  And make no mistake—I think the FanHouse people still do a really good job.  It just seems like FanHouse has decided that they want those people to do less and less, and the professionals to do more and more.  Maybe that makes business sense, but it certainly changes what the whole operation seemed to be about in the first place.  I mean, there’s a reason the word “Fan” is in the title.

Is Jay Mariotti nationally acclaimed for anything other than being a douchebag?  I did hear that he might be up for a prestigious award—Biggest Douche in the Universe.  Apparently, you’re only allowed to win it once, so Jon Edwards (the “Crossing Over” guy) is out of the running.  Good luck Mariotti.  You deserve it!

Anyway, I found it amusing that they claim that Mariotti provides “commentary and analysis.”  I’d agree with the commentary, but I don’t think he could spell the word analysis, let alone provide it.

Well, let’s notice that the format of such shows is geared to get people amped up. The stock in trade of the big media is quite often to rile folks up, by saying inflammatory things. Thats why these jokers take untenable or ridiculous positions and stubbornly defend them.

Maybe Mariucci is a db, but possible he’s far less a db than his role demands he play.

I prefer an interesting discussion among knowledgeable folks that need not be contentious, and can be as long or as short as interest dictates, unlike the time-constrained stuff we see on TV etc.

One good thing about blogs is that it is at least possible for folks that talk sense to rise in the regard of fellow bloggers, and for the ranters and ravers to become the object of the derision they deserve.

Will mainstream “pro” media guys catch on to playing on blogs with insight and evidence? We’ll see.