Observer's agenda

I have 2 simple thoughts on this

1. Cam sells newspapers

2. Sooner or later the Panthers have to start doing PR on the #1 overall pick to sell it to the fan base. Seems to me they've already been doing this with reguards to Newton.

 

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2011/04/mock-draft-50-mock-in-the-usa.html

 

I think I am officially convinced that Collin and/or Magnus is:

1. Gantt

or

2. The unintentional source for all of his work

 

Most beat writers are arrogant and far too many are lazy, but the local yokels are a truly special kind of stupid. Admittedly I do not follow others regularly, but when I do look up coverage from one of the other markets while researching, I'm pretty sure I have never come across ones so abysmally clueless about the team or football in general. I was going to say that being one of the newest markets undoubtedly has a lot to do with that, but 15 years has worn that excuse thin.

 

Gantt seems like a dude who's worked hard, climbed the ladder and has now become the lead dog for the Observer's Panther coverage. I don't have any illusions that he gives two shits about what I think of his work, and frankly, if he's doing his work properly, he should have no time to spare to give two shits. I've worked in several newsrooms in markets smaller than CLT, but not by much. The beat writers that do their job, and do it well, are the ones that work hard all the time and understand how to develop a tangible point-of-difference for their readers. For instance, someone in Gantt's position, during the season, is assigned preview features, game recaps, presser recaps, and mid-week features. The main thing I would tell DG is that he should spend more time reading/studying the nuance of the game from true experts, and less time resorting to smarmy shots at his readers. Sorenson/Fowler.....hell, let it rip. They're paid to be opinionated, and if the reader disagrees, all the better. But beat writers, at least the ones I've been fortunate enough to work under, and with, are tenacious and humble. They know their place, and don't cross the boundaries, even if their publisher gives them an online "blog". This is fun to me, the debate. I don't lose sleep over it, frankly, because I'm too busy raising kids and paying bills. But--Collin--for all the shit you administer, and receive, you know the game. You're not a hack, nor are any of the football-savvy folks that post here. My rift with Gantt was unfortunate, but in the end, the short of it was simple: I picked up the ball on the Moose joke, joined in with others on it, and someone did Gantt a favor by telling him personally, "Hey, that Abusive dude from TBR is _________." I pinged him one day about some nonsense, probably Foxy's presser, and he essentially told me to quit trying to be his friend if I plan on making Moose jokes. So, hey, whatever. He's ok to be pissed, and I'm cool knowing that he's a beat writer, not what we would call a "Key Influencer" in the biz.

 

TBR admins,

My sincerest apologies for cockblocking what could have been appointment podcasting action.

Warm Regards,

Asshole with a sense of humor


@daringantt: Just finished taping a podcast with friends at carolinahuddle.com. Gracious hosts. No torches/pitchforks, no one called me bad names -- yet.

 

Yeah we may be the beneficiaries of the poorest coverage out of all NFL fans. I'm not sure it's close.

 

I haven't followed him forever, so I can't say for sure, but Gantt's twitter account deals exclusively with the Panthers so I think it's a stretch to say it's his personal account. I'd guess it was "suggested" to him by the Observer to start one.

Also, I don't subscribe to the print version of the Observer, but does Gantt's blog make it to the actual paper?

 

Gantt and Person are good at what they do. Gantt just, at times, can throw too much of himself into the story. It's a valid critique, one based solely on his style, not any personal issues with the guy. Frankly, I will probably see him at games and camp this year, and down the line. I'm sure we'll chat and all will be fine, until he gives me a Ken Lucas makeover.

 

To your first point: Gantt's twitter is about the Panthers, and anything from driving granny to a doctors appointment to pro soccer. His Twitter, and Person's, is linked up to the Observer's site. They probably chop out anything that's non-Panthers, which would be wise.

To your second point: I have no clue, but my experience is that blogs don't run in daily print form. It may be financial, or just an editorial call, but giving your main beat writer for the team a blog to, essentially, run his mouth and bitch-slap readers that don't like his work, is strange to me.

That said, I would love to hear Brian Billick's thoughts on this, if possible.