[AvengerRam]

Well, here's my recent Q&A with everyone's favorite Author of Ram Disdain, Bernie Miklasz:

AvengerRam:

Not too long ago, you were using terms like "anarchy" and "helter skelter" to describe the Rams' front office, and asking "I wonder who's minding the store."

Yet, despite whatever unrest you may have perceived, the front office has managed to:

Restructure Faulk's contract
Sign Dexter Coakley
Sign Chris Claiborne
Sign Roland Williams
Sign Mike Stone

and

Re-sign Orlando Pace

I guess its easier to throw stones than to retrieve them, but maybe its time for a bit of a retraction on your part, don't you think?

Bernie:

David,

To answer your question, I'm glad to see a more aggressive approach.

Zygmunt in particular seems to be dealing with a greater sense of urgency -- and with good reason, since he's locked into a power struggle with Martz, and has to show the owners that he still has a fastball.

I'm sorry if my writings about the Rams' front office mess offended you. If anything I'm guilty of understating the magnitude of the problem.

For future reference, there's no shortage of media folks in town who will spoon the company line to you, and you can absorb it and live happily ever after, content that the Rams are the perfect organization, and that there's nothing but sunshine and blue skies overhead at Rams Park.

Cheers,
Bernie

I'm sure the front office is thrilled that Bernie has decided - upon being prodded to do so - to give them credit.

Then, Bernie contradicts himself...

First, he tells us that he's "understating the magnitude of the problem," and then throws out his stock line that he's not one of the media types who "will spoon the company line to you."

So... which is it, Bernie? Are you giving us the complete story, or are you understating it to stay closer to the "company line"?

I suppose I could ask that question of Bernie himself, but I already know the answer. He is neither a "shill" for the Rams, nor is he a noble conduit of the hard facts. He is simply whatever it is convenient for him to be at any particular moment. If he wants to build a relationship with Martz or others in the Rams organization, he'll do a puff piece. If things are slow, he'll stir things up by screaming "the sky is falling" when, in fact, its merely a bit of rain.

The only surprising thing in Bernie's response was his referring to me by my first name. I'm not certain how he even knows what my name is, as I don't recall mentioning it on his or the PD boards. Perhaps he looked it up from my registration information - which would be an odd thing to do. Also, one has to ask why he would use my first name, when he does not typically respond to other questions in that way. My theory: he was trying to make me uncomfortable by subtly saying "hey, I know who you are." If that was the reason, that tells me that I got to him a bit. I'm glad.

The point of all this is - don't believe everything you read. Bernie, and his like, are not "journalists." They are storytellers. And while their stories may be "based on a true story," they may not actually be the truth.