[AvengerRam]

I hate sportswriters. I also generally hate commentators.

Why?

Well, at the risk of sounding immodest, its because, for the most part, I know as much about the game as they do, and have as good or better insight. Heck, its really not such a big self-compliment. Virtually everyone who posts here could say the same thing.

Sportswriting/commentating has become a lost craft. Rather than taking the time to develop relationships with the coaches and players so that they can provide real inside information, most of them take the same information we have access to, and either spin some inane "angle," or speculate in the hope of guessing right so they can say "see, I scooped that story." (John Hadley is the worst when it comes to this latter tactic).

Take ESPN's reaction to the Randy Moss incident this weekend. On the one hand, they refused to show the "mooning" on Sportscenter or NFL Prime Time. I guess they thought that made them somehow the residents of the moral high ground. But, at the same time, they can't stop talking about it. In other words, out of one side of their mouth they talk like they're above promoting Moss' antics, while out of the other they are making the story 10x bigger than it ever needed to be.

The same thing happens locally in St. Louis. Why do we constantly need to hear Bernie Miklasz talking about himself in his articles - defending himself against moronic (and, sometimes, not so moronic) critics. Instead of doing that (and patting himself on the back in the process), maybe he could actually give us a story, an insight, or even a single fact that enhances our knowledge of what's going on with the team.

The only one I really like is Jack Snow. The reason is, he doesn't try to constantly prove to us what a big "insider" he is (though he probably has as much or more access to the team as anyone) or try to get the "scoop" on some big story that probably will never happen (has Marshall retired yet, by the way, Hadley?).

No, he just is a big fan, who knows the game of football and the team and can share his own experiences. When we cheer, he cheers. When we yell "damnit," he does too. He's optimistic and always hoping for the best - just like (most of) us.

Here's to you, Jack Snow. The rest of them can go become insurance salesmen for all I care.