Blogs and Buffalo

This post has nothing to do with Buffalo Blogs, which are growing and getting better. This has to do with how they are similar in attitude. Blogs aren't like New York City, which feel they are better then everyone and give off this mystique, say like the New York Times. But Blogs are the upstate city that are small, cheap, and have a chip on their shoulder, that always feel like, hey we deserve some respect. This especially applies to Sports Blogs. This post stems from the Stephen A Smith's comments about blogs came out and spread like wildfire. It has since been spread around and made fun of and broken down by so many blogs, thats its not worth posting all the links.

This is just like if someone came out and said, "hey you know what what, Buffalo sucks" The exact same response would happen on numerous Buffalo blogs, ripping this said person apart on why they are wrong and they have no credibility. Its something that bothers me on several levels. I guess I understand the need to stand up for yourself. But wouldn't it be easier to just ignore it and go whatever Stephen A, you're an idiot and its not worth posting what you said. Just like posting something someone said about our fine region, isn't worth my time. But it goes to something else, its easy. Posting this and ripping it apart is an EASY post. Like my Canisius results posts, they are easy but fun to do. Blogs won't get the due respect they crave and want, unless they stop with the easy posts. Easy editorials are a main reason for the decline in paper quality, and it applies to blogs as well.

Which brings about another issue I have, Deadspin . A blog I have been reading for years. Its where I found BFLOBLOG. I loved it because it had all these crazy sports stories, and later on funny comments on these stories. But its turned into something else of late. It still has all my favorite aspects, but its turning into a self promoting machine and its rather annoying. The commentators are also getting annoying and they feel like Jim Rome Clones. Spouting off inside lingo and deadspin is my life attitude . The Deadspin offshoots, Withleather and Kissing Suzy Kolber, are better reads now in my opinion.

It criticizes ESPN at every turn, but yet, a lot of the material they draw upon is ESPN. Which makes me think, what would they write about if ESPN didn't exist? I personally don't watch much ESPN. I'll turn on sportscenter from time to time. But if I need highlights or whatever, the internet has everything I need. Picking on the big guy is easy, theres no hard work involved there. (Ironic because I am doing the same thing right now) Sure there needs to be some outside watchdog, but its just overkill at this point. Its just that I know the site is better then that. I'm getting off track here, but its that Deadspin and other blogs out there are just like Buffalo, in that if anyone takes a shot at blogs or a certain blogs, its not dismissed as some silly uninformed comment, but a declaration of war. People we can all work together to complement each other. Just like Kevin's post about the Buffalo News and their blogs. If we all work together, we can accomplish more and have more complete coverage of an event.

In a year, if ESPN is smart, they will form a parternship with Deadspin and the so called "underground", for better cross promotion and not have to worry about creating their own scene. Because in the end its all about money and Gawker will take the cash and Espn would love the cool factor. This of course will kill Deadspin, and have it full of mentions of ESPN Shows, which it already does, and Will Leitch will have his own piece on sportscenter about whats going on in the blogosphere. But lucky for us we have the internet, where something is always ready to take anothers niche.