There has been a concerted effort by friends and loved ones to get me to start a podcast. As you might know, I have successfully avoided this. I have nothing against podcasts as entertainment or art form or however people see them. I have something against ME doing a podcast. I suppose this goes back to my brief but still tragic time as the co-host of a radio show. I clearly remember one time when I was arguing with my my co-host whether football was better indoors or outdoors. But that wasn't the bad part. The bad part was that I was taking the "outdoor" point of view ... and I was STILL utterly unconvincing. If you can't go on radio and make a pretty air-tight argument that outdoor football is better than indoor, you probably don't belong on the radio. And I did not. I quit within days. That was 13 or 14 years ago. I haven't come back and will occasionally get a thank you letter for that.
Those friends and loved ones insist that a podcast is not like radio -- it is more controlled, more personal, less pressured and so on. It can be as short or as long as you like. It can be edited. "It's really a lot more like writing," one friend told me. I have not believed a single word that they have said.
But lately, I have to admit I've been giving it more thought. This is in part because one good friend refuses to let it go (and seeing this post will REALLY set him off). But it's also because I have been noticing that I've been having fun conversations with people that probably would be fun for other people to hear. Sometimes I write about these conversations, but I never quite remember everything that was said, and, of course, I don't take notes.
Wednesday -- NDA* -- I had breakfast with the great Michael Schur, executive producer of Parks and Rec and Ken Tremendous of Fire Joe Morgan fame. And the conversation was great. I can say this without hesitation because I had nothing to do with it. We were just talking about sports, and Michael was very funny on numerous topics.
*Name Drop Alert.
I can write about some of what we talked about ... and I will. But I have to admit that I'm not sure I can capture some of the funny immediacy of conversation, I'm not sure reading about it will be quite the same as hearing it. I actually think some combination -- audio (or video) and words -- might offer an even cooler overall experience.*
*Then I hear my own voice on this interview I just taped and think again. I laugh at people's jokes during interviews. Not all jokes -- not the unfunny jokes -- but at the funny jokes I laugh, and it's kind of awful and ...
Anyway, some of the stuff we talked about:
The chains in football: Yes, it's a pretty worn down gag already about how absurd the chain gang is. Twenty-two people crash into each other, an official kind of guesses where he should spot the ball, it's about as imprecise as it can possibly be ... and then they measure the thing to a hundredth of an inch. I mean, it's ludicrous. And as I have pointed out before, what often happens then is that they throw the football across the field and re-spot it ... I say bring the chains back out. Sometimes you will see a center move the ball up a couple of inches before he snaps it ... I say bring the chains out yet again.
But Michael brought up a great point I had never thought about: Chains? Really? That's the measuring device we are using? When was the last time anything was measured by chains? What was that, about 160 BC? "Spartacus, he's about 20 links tall now." Chains. You have to be kidding me. It's so much a part of football we NEVER think about it, but it's absolute ludicrous. This is the most successful sports league in America, and they're measuring with perhaps the least precise measuring tool available. It's like the Flintstones. Seriously: How do they keep the chains in a perfect straight line? If they're not in a straight line, then you might be measuring less than 10 yards. How hard do you pull the chain to make it exactly 10 yards? They couldn't use a tape measure or a laser or something?
We were just imagining someone explaining football to a foreigner and saying: "And then, to be sure they moved the ball 10 yards out, the officials bring out chains to measure the distance?" And the foreigner might reply: "Chains? This is America? Isn't Apple and Google in America? You still use chains to measure distance?"
Louis CK: The funniest stand-up in comedy, and nobody at the moment is even close. This thing goes in cycles. Pryor had it for a long time. Carlin was like the Gary Player of comedy, re-emerging every few years to be the best. Eddie Murphy had his day. Seinfeld was the best in the business for a good while. Chris Rock had the title for quite a few years. There are others. Now, we both think, it's Louis CK, whose ironically named concert film "Hilarious" is sincerely hilarious.
Would you have been better off not being a sports fan?: The question is really more like this -- has being a fan of your professional sports teams brought you more joy or more pain through the years. Michael is, of course a Boston fan, and so if you had asked him the question in 2000 or so -- before the Patriots won any of their Super Bowls, with the Red Sox mired in their 80-plus year slump, with the Celtics actually quite bad and 15 or so years removed from a championship -- he feels sure the answer would have been yes, he would have been better off having his memory erased and his sports fandom surgically removed. Of course, since then the Celtics have won an NBA titles, the Patriots won three Super Bowls and had a perfect regular season and the Red Sox won two World Series and look loaded in 2010. So, he's happy now.
And my teams ... well, my teams have never won anything. Ever.
But, for me -- I would not trade it in. There's something about sports pain that actually makes you feel strangely alive. The moment when Brian Sipe threw the interception, when Elway completed the touchdown pass that tied the game, when Byner fumbled, when Jordan made his shot, when Mesa blew the lead, when LeBron and the team would not go down fighting ... I would have loved if none of those thing ever happened. But they did happen. And they are now parts of my life, indelible parts of my life. Sports loss is not like real loss. You can hold on to it. I wouldn't trade them in ... not for blank and empty days without my teams.
Rob Lowe: Legitimately funny, Michael says.
There was a lot of other stuff about NFL parity, about Jim Harbaugh, about Belichick benching Wes Welker for a series, about Los Angels traffic, and a bunch of other things. I'm forgetting it now. Of course, I wasn't taking notes. I guess it's time to wonder: Maybe it should have been a podcast.
I was once at an NCAA D2 game that went to overtime. On the first drive, the team was 4th and short and went for it. The ball was spotted before the 15-yard line. They brought the chains out to see if it had been a first down. In hindsight, I should have gone to a better school.
ReplyDeletePlease don't do a podcast Joe! I like to read stuff not listen, it takes up so much time and eventually you get lazy and stop actually writing articles just putting up more podcasts and sooner or later you stop being a writer and start being a podcaster.
ReplyDeleteI concur with Jon.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear you as a semi-regular on the SI podcast or guesting with people like Jonah Keri.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been good, for example, for you to hit a number of podcasts after you did the Green story, so the most number of people knew about it.
The occassional pozcast could be a special treat.
Joe, I love your writing. You are by far my favorite writer on any topic and there really isn't even anyone close to taking the title from you. No matter the topic I love reading what you write. I know I'm not alone.
ReplyDeletePlease don't start a podcast. I'd feel obligated to listen and it means that you might not write about those interviews. I'd rather not hear at all about some interviews and miss some funny Ken Tremendous lines than listen to a 30-60 minute interview. At least half of it (and probably much more) will be boring.
I'm sure that you're going to get lots of comments asking you to do a podcast and I know that I could just skip them but I won't be able to not listen. Just keep up with writing as much as possible on the blog.
On another note, yesterday you wrote, "I thought about giving you a blow-by-blow account of the stomach flu but decided that might be stretching our writer-reader relationship a bit." I am quite sure that had you written it we all would have enjoyed it very much. Too bad.
The two writers I read most are you and Bill Simmons or I should say I used to read what Bill Simmons wrote and now he just does podcasts that I don't have the time to listen to. I also always find myself drifting while listening to podcasts and it takes about 3 goes to actually listen to it.
ReplyDeleteForward progress in football is now the most imprecise ruling that the officials make on a continual basis. I think that the refs call holding when it needs to be called and get it right more often than they now do with placing the ball for play. Usually, the placement is extremely liberal to aid the offense. I'm not saying that it is an easy determination but like Joe states, much of college and NFL football has become so high-tech in terms of watching, playing or officiating the sport, but then there they are dragging out and stretching those chains to determine a winner and a loser. Forward progress around the sideline is particularly interesting - If there is even a chance that the ballcarrier came close to getting the ball near the sticks (holding those chains!), it's nearly always called a first down.
ReplyDeleteHow about the forward progress call (or lack thereof) in Sugar Bowl when OSU's Dan Herron was tackled for a safety? In that case, his forward progress seemed to be totally ignored - That was an odd call that I have never heard explained by an official.
I'll have to check out more of this Louis CK guy, but my first thought is that he would be the equivalent of Larry Holmes compared to Ali, Foreman, Marciano, etc. It's not really a great crop out there right now.
ReplyDeleteJoe I love your work, and I am just nervous about you starting a podcast. Don't turn into Bill Simmons or Dan LeBatard, in which (in my opinion) their writing has significantly gotten worse since they have gotten into podcasts and radio. The writing is what has made you great, and I hope a podcast does not get you distracted.
ReplyDeleteThe comparison between Simmons and Joe is completely absurd. Not only is Simmons a mediocre writer, he's much more interested in his lame pop culture references than well thought out sports columns. I have complete confidence that if you were to start a podcast it would be interesting and enlightening. I don't see how more Joe can ever be a problem.
ReplyDeleteLarry Holmes was a bad man, regardless of era. I'm so happy to see so many people appreciate reading your work that they don't want to see a podcast. I hate be a downer, but I think they're right.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree with the other Brilliant Readers who have commented so far.
ReplyDeleteIt may very well be selfish but I don't think any of us want even the faint possibility of this blog being usurped by something new.
I also think a podcast may result in a 'shattered illusion' effect of sorts. I've never heard you speak so I'm worried that hearing your voice will have that book-turned-movie effect of never being able to go back to how my mind originally imagined things (i.e. your voice and speech patterns, etc.).
Definitely implementing a bit hyperbole here, but really only to a certain extent.
If a podcast results in there being one fewer blog post, book, or column, then please, no podcasts! I'll double what I'm paying for your words!
ReplyDeletedumb question re football chains
ReplyDeletehow does the chain gang member holding the original spot know exactly where to plant his chain? he stands on the sideline at the precise spot, then when called he runs across the field and without any instruments or gps he remembers exactly to the 1/16 of an inch where his post was planted back on the sideline.
an offshoot of football quirk discussion, they need to bring back starter pistols for the ref to shoot when the clock reaches zero.
in fact, there should be a starter pistol shot when the play clock reaches zero
I'm kind of amazed that the NFL hasn't yet moved to a system of putting microchips in both ends of the ball so they can make more precise judgments on where the ball was when a player's knee hit (you'd need a guy watching for the knee to hit and pushing a button somewhere). Seems like it's inevitable given the microscopic level of analysis being conducted for every other aspect of play at this point.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with most of the commenters here; I'd love to have a Podcast. The warning about it affecting your writing is valid -- Simmons' writing has tanked since he started doing his podcasts.
ReplyDeleteBUT, you write about 700,000 words a week as it is. Let's say you started doing a Podcast and cut your writing back to, I don't know, only 5 columns a week on Billy Butler's WAR. That's still plenty of copy for us to enjoy, and the added benefit of the Podcast could be awesome. As long as it's done right.
As much as Simmons' writing has declined, he has mastered the art of the podcast when he focuses on conversations with like-minded people about topics of interest (sports, movies, etc.) If you decide to do a poscast, that's the way to go. Conversations with friends, other writers, whoever is funny. NO ATHLETES! If Tony Kornheiser taught us anything, it's that talking about athletes is infinitely more interesting than talking to athletes.
Anyway, I vote for the podcast. Go get em.
In response to Chrisbid:
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is how they still do it, but when I was in high school they occassionally made us run the chain gang for the junior high football games. What would happen is, there was a little yellow clip that was attached to the chain and could be moved/re-attached anywhere along the 10-yard length of the chain.
At the start of a series of downs, when the chains were set on the sideline, the line judge would line that yellow clip up with the nearest yard line (10, 20, 30, whatever). Then, when we ran the chains out onto the field, the ref would make sure that clip was again lined up with the yard line before the chains were pulled tight. That's how he knew that the chains in the middle of the field were in the same position as they had been on the sidelines.
I vote against podcasts. Words can be read casually and is very enjoyable. Podcasts take the writer out of his element and we can hear the nervous breath and scattered thoughts. Plus, you have to listen in real time and there is no casual feeling to it at all. I love Mr. Posnanski the writer. Don't need a personality or another talking head.
ReplyDeleteOh, and as an amateur local historian, I love the old rods and chains measurment. I like it in football, but agree it is dated and stupid. Some technology could easily replace it.
Sometimes I wish I weren't such a sports fan. I've been a fan since I was little; rooting for the Pittsburgh teams of the 60s, which weren't very good. Then the 70s came, and the Pirates won, and the Steelers won, and the Penguins made the playoffs, and that kind of cemented the deal. On the other hand, if I hadn't been a sports fan, I might have a different career and be married. But since guys seem to freak out when I can talk quarterbacks with them, I'm single and enjoying my Steelers and, for the most part, my life.
ReplyDeleteRe: podcast -- I hardly ever listen to podcasts, just because I don't have time. Like others mentioned above, I fear that you will cut out more blog entries. On the other hand, the idea of these conversations with cool people is enticing.
I would love podcasts from Poz (Pozcasts?). I have a 45 minute drive each way for work and it's a great way to pass the time. Joe, I think you should go on one as a guest and see how you like it. I'm sure Jonah Keri or Bill Simmons would love to do a cast with you.
ReplyDeleteChains are used because the process makes great theater. The crowd is hushed while the crew trots onto the field. The chain is set in place, then the far end is slowly stretched out... did they make it?
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't understand is why broadcasters paint a line on the field, sucking all the dramatic tension out of this act. Didn't these guys go to film school?
I don't read writers like Bill Simmons as much now that he does more Podcasts. I read when I'm supposed to be working; I cannot listen while I'm supposed to be working. And in Bill's case, now 90% of the stuff he writes about is basketball, which I despise. All the stuff he used to write of that I enjoyed is now covered in the podcasts, which I don't listen to. When I'm driving in my car, or snowboarding, or working out... I want pumped-up music on my stereo/headphones, not somebody talking.
ReplyDeletePlease keep writing!
"When was the last time anything was measured by chains?"
ReplyDeleteChains were one of the primary tools for measuring distance in land surveys until well into the 20th century. In fact, the ENTIRE central and western U.S. was painstakingly surveyed and mapped using chains in the 1800s. How tedious must that have been?
Anyway, I'll go along with the others here and vote for "no podcast". I agree with a lot of the reasons given above, so there's no need to repeat them.
Also: While I agree Louis CK is hilarious, do yourself a favor and check out Mike Birbiglia.
The discussion of football chain gangs reminds me of the time Krusty the Clown did stand up and asked What's the deal with phone books? Why do you need TWO? Then Lisa explains it to him and he's like, huh.....makes sense.
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the anti-podcast group. The format doesn't play to your strengths and almost nobody will listen all the way through. It's a waste of your time.
I had to laugh at whoever suggested that Podcasting was more like writing. Come on. You know what's even more like writing? Writing.
Ugh, podcasts. Simmons tried this and all it did for me was make me stop reading (or not start listening) to him. I'd hate that to happen with you. Of course, one of these days someone is going to force me into the 21st century, so it might as well be Joe Posnanski.
ReplyDeleteOf course, you can't achieve on a podcast what you can with writing, in my opinion. Podcasts may be entertaining, funny, informative and so on, but can they ever be brilliant?
@ John 6:36am: I worked the chains a few times at my old HS in rural Ohio in early '70s after graduating. The clip you are describing was not used back then. What did happen is one ref (head linesman?) would come to the sideline and grab the chain link that best straddled the yard line between the two ends of chain. Then we'd take the chain to the spot where ball was and the ref would then place that link back down on the middle of same yardline. Then the chain was pulled tight toward the ball. It all makes sense except on our ragged old HS football field, the yardlines were rarely laid down perfectly straight with the lime spreader or paint sprayer. Hence, the semi-precise measuring was very much hit or miss. Of course, most of the high school teams that were playing were as ragged as the yardlines so it all was wonderfully accepted. We did have an official from our area become a very successful NFL Back Judge in due time. That's more than I can say for any athlete from the area!
ReplyDeleteJoe, as far as a regular podcast goes, I might listen/watch one once in a while but I far prefer your written words to those spoken. I listened to your interview w/Richard Deitsch of SI about the shooting in Tucson and the death of 9yr old Green girl. It was a nice interview and touching but nothing like your written piece on the same subject.
Also, Joe's voice isn't quite what I expected it to be given his photos. That's often the case with people that you hear but don't see...Like those deep, sexy voiced FM radio gals that turn out to be often much less attractive in person than your desired image of them.
The other great thing about using a chain is that it is transparent. As soon as the chain is in place along the sideline, every player can see the first down marker. It might be set an inch more or less than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, but its position is visible to all.
ReplyDeleteYou could introduce a more accurate system, but it's difficult to imagine a measurement system that has the transparency, speed of setup, and reliability of the humble chain and sticks.
Sometimes simpler is better.
Just so long as it doesn't detract from your writing. You're a busy guy, and I'd hate to see you go all Rick Reilly—whom I grew up idolizing in the 90s and into the new millenia, until he joined ESPN and started doing television and subsequently quit caring about good writing—because you spread yourself too thin. I mean that as no disrespect toward Mr. Reilly. But it did happen. I used to devour everything he wrote. Now, I can hardly bear to get through a column. Would hate to see it happen to my newest favorite SI back columnist.
ReplyDeleteAnd besides, your storytelling ability is simply incredible.
That said, I'd be interested to see how a few podcasts went. I'd listen.
So what the heck, man. Go for it.
You have time to do a podcast?
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for podcasting, mostly b/c I just want more Joe Poz in my life.
ReplyDeleteBut look at Simmons as an example -- when he started podcasting, the amount he wrote went WAY down. If you do start a podcast, I predict the death of this side-blog and a major lowering of volume of content on the SI blog. It's just a fact of life -- even the most prolific have only so many thoughts in their heads.
On the other hand, I imagine podcasting is much less time-consuming than writing epic blog posts, so if this means more JoePoz (as it has meant more Simmons), then I'm fine with it. So +1 under "to podcast."
Please keep writing. Podcasts have a purpose, but they shouldn't be used in substitute for a written piece. The dumbing down of America must stop. We need to keep America reading.
ReplyDeleteNo, but seriously, I'd rather keep reading your masterpieces, Joe. You're the best.
I don't understand all the podcast hate. Why would a once a week podcast hurt anything. I think the style that Joe writes and the style needed for podcasting are different enough that one wouldn't effect the other. I'm not sure all the sabremetric stuff would translate well to an hour long podcast, but a fun conversation about various sports topics with Ken Tremendous would be a fun listen.
ReplyDeleteAn hour-long podcast?...UGH!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like the anti-Pozcast comments are coming in from Bizarro World. "I would HAVE to listen, but I would hate it!" And do you think Joe could stop writing even if he wanted to?
ReplyDeleteDo what you think is best, Joe, but I would enjoy Pozcasts in concert with the writing, and don't see why one would dilute the other.
Count me in with the anti-Podcast group. Why change what is already great? And things will change with Podcasts, there's no doubt. I love your writing, Joe. Reading them is far easier than listening to a Podcast would be for me. I really have no interest in Podcasts and would be sad to see things go down that route...
ReplyDeleteIts funny - when I saw the Swanson pyramid of greatness, I immediately thought of the Wooten post. I have seen Poz and KT reference each other on twitter, so I knew there would be some connection, but a podcast with the two of them would be amazing.
ReplyDeletePoz hooking up with amazin avenue and ken tremendous is so cool. All of my favorite things converging.
Why does a podcast have to be that time consuming? It's not like you'd have to do one every other day or something. The presentation and material you get from a podcast is so different from what you get from a written post that it's worth exploring, in my opinion at least. Perhaps you could do a podcast once every couple of weeks, or even just one a month? It'd be cool to hear something like you and someone else insightful and funny like Jonah Keri just dishing out rapid-fire thoughts back and forth for 45 minutes once every few weeks, you know?
ReplyDeleteI vote no. You're such a tremendous writer, and I'd hate to see less output here. Simmons at ESPN used to write a lot, now he just throws crappy podcasts up every day or 2 and an article about every 2 weeks.
ReplyDeletere: Podcasts
ReplyDeleteI just recently discovered your work, and would like to hear you in audio form. I'd love to hear you be a guest on Jonah Keri's show. jonahkeri.com I listen to tens of hours of podcasts every week and would definitely put you in my weekly rotation if you were to host your own show.
re: chains
I've also often thought the chain process is silly. Have you ever noticed how often we seem to have disputes about whether a player crosses the goal line, but somehow there is not nearly as many times when there is a dispute about whether a player crosses the first down marker. Surely the first down marker cases are more common. I guess since the stakes are lower there, they just don't get scrutinized as much.
My grandpa once shared an idea he had (or heard someplace else) that there should be no chains in football. Instead, you should just have to cross two of the 5-yard markers to gain a first down. For instance, if you get the ball on the 20, you have to cross the 30-yard line for a first. If you get the ball on the 24-yard line, you still would just have to cross the 30-yard line. So sometimes you'd need just a hair over 5 yards for a first down, and sometimes you'd need a hair under 10 yards for a first down.
Joe, you're one of the greatest writers in America. It's possible that you're also one of the greatest Podcasters in America, but it seems unlikely. Even if you are, writing is a much better talent to have.
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear you talk with Bill James or Ken Tremendous, I'm sure they would be interesting listens. Maybe once every month or two you could do a Podcast when there really is someone special (aside from you of course!), but add me to the list of people who would hate to see those Podcasts come at the cost of any of your writing.
You do so much for your audience already, I wouldn't ask you to spend more of your time and energy on us BRs. If it's a "this or that" situation, please continue just to share your incredible writing with us.
Podcast! Podcast! Podcast! Everyone clearly loves and prefers your writing first and foremost, but I think the assumption that a podcast would take away from your writing time and ability is an unnecessarily pessimistic view.
ReplyDeleteIf you aren't fully committed don't do it. Why not go on Jonah Keri or something and test it out. If you like it then yes, I would love a Pozcast.*
ReplyDelete*Please don't call it a Pozcast.
I vote no as well. I used to read Simmons all the time, then he started doing podcasts, quit writing and now his writing sucks. I love this blog, I read everything you write, I'd just like to see it continue at the high level it currently operates at
ReplyDeleteOh please Lord, no podcasts. Podcasts are a pointless waste of time. They are inferior to written pieces in every way--someone talking in a live broadcast can't craft his thoughts the way a person writing can, podcasts demand more bandwidth for someone accessing Joe's website on a mobile device than written columns do, and as noted above, people who read this blog at work won't be able to follow it anymore. The Bill Simmons example is well taken. I used to read Bill Simmons' columns regularly. I have never listened to one Simmons podcast and I have no plans to.
ReplyDeleteJoe, your audience will drop sharply and your product will suffer. Please, no.
I have yet to encounter a podcast that was as satisfying as an article. The Bill Simmons example is perfect - terrific columnist, but his podcasts are awful. Please resist the urge.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if Louis CK is the funniest stand-up because I more or less stopped watching it a few years back. I think Comedy Central kinda killed it for me. So many of their comics sounds exactly the same that you can peg what type of comic it is in like the first few seconds of their act.
ReplyDeleteThat said, Louis CK's show "Louie" on FX is one of the best comedies I've seen in a while. It's wonderful. If anyone who is unfamiliar with Louis CK (and who wants to familiarize themselves), the entire first season of "Louie" (in addition to a few stand-up specials) are on Netflix instant watch.
Got to say no to the podcast for several reasons.
ReplyDeleteFirst is what should probably be called Simmons syndrome. Everyone can tell that as soon as Simmons started his podcasts his writing quality and quantity decreased. This isn't limited to Simmons either. Several writers in various interests I have (sports, video games, computers) all switched to doing podcasts in addition to their writing, and it killed their writing, again both quality and quantity. One of the hidden killers of podcasts for me at least is simply the number of topics. Whereas a 2,000 word post from you may touch on half a dozen topics, or going back to the Simmons example, comments on everything from sports to entertainment to politics. Whereas podcasts generally focus on just a couple of topics, while other ideas may come up they are rarely elaborated on.
The second reason is that I usually read your columns on my android. Streaming podcasts is usually just too slow, and I'm rarely doing anything that would make listening easier than reading.
Finally its just faster to read articles. While it might take me 10 minutes to read an epic 4,000 word post on the willie mays hall of fame, it might take nearly half an hour or more to listen to you go through and explain it all, possibly even longer if you are having a conversation with someone. In the time it would take me to read your article and comment on it, I would probably still be waiting for the payoff in a podcast.
But at the end of the day its up to you, but i would suggest maybe limiting it to one a week, but give it a try maybe you'll love it and I'll be honest if you do doit, I'll probably make time to listen to it.
Only do a podcast if it's with Ken Tremendous :P
ReplyDeleteJoe, if it means your writing is reduced by even a single word, much less a single column, I'm opposed to podcasts, or Pozcasts, or whatever. I'm sure you'd be wonderful at them, but reading your writing is a highlight of my day, and I don't want that experience diminished at all, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI fear that with all of these comments about how Bill Simmons' podcasts are horrible (I have never listened to one) and how it has been detrimental to Simmons' writing skills, naturally Joe will take up the challenge and show us greatly satisfied readers that he can continue to write better stuff than most any American writing today and meanwhile produce the greatest possible podcast series in history. How long would that be in podcast history terms - 3-5 years?!
ReplyDeleteJoe, seriously, you probably should consult your wife and two girls about this! How many hours are in your day? Most of us mortals are limited to 24 and we sleep 6-8 of those...
Joe,
ReplyDeleteNote that any time anyone asks the internet "Should I do X?" the internet *always* says yes. You should never ask about anything you don't actually want to do.
I already voted No and commented above but want to add one other thing, Joe. Go with your first instinct...you haven't wanted to do a Podcast per your own gut. Don't do it just because others are putting that in your head. Generally when people do things they don't fully have their heart in, just because others want them to do it, they aren't happy.
ReplyDeletei'm with everybody else who says no to the podcast. please don't change a winning formula.
ReplyDeleteAmazing the vitriol about podcasts. Sounds like the same rhetoric people who don't use Twitter have about that.
ReplyDeleteAnything can be good or bad, depending on how it's done.
Joe does not strike me as the kind of person who would sacrifice his writing for podcasting, especially after his experiences doing a radio show.
Count me as someone who enjoys the Simmons podcast a great deal and would love to hear a podcast by Mr. Posnanski. I think the sentiment expressed above regarding the sacrifice of the column quality or blog quantity are valid, but i trust that Joe would be able to manage.
ReplyDeleteJoe, I started reading your blog a couple of months ago. It is the only sports blog I read (I read one music blog as well) and while I am a baseball fan, I don't read it because I care about Brian Bannister's pitches or why Yuniesky Betancourt is still in the league. I read them because you are a beautiful writer, and I love the pictures you paint in my mind, and the way you place words so they just feel like thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAs a father of young children, I can say with some certainty that you don't have time to do everything.
You are a beautiful writer. Be that.
You don't need to be a podcaster too
I agree with Jeff that you should go on a podcast or something similar as a guest. Jonah Keri has been excellent since he started podcasting; Bill Simmons is often entertaining; bloggingheads.tv should really have you argue with someone about the hall of fame; Baseball America is excellent; I'd love to hear you talk with Dave Cameron on Fangraphs radio; I've heard the Sound of Young America a few times and you might fit on it; and Judge John Hodgman should really resolve any mundane dispute that you have.
ReplyDeleteThere's no rule about how frequent podcasts have to be, so the argument that it will detract from Joe's work a la Simmons is only valid if Joe was planning on shifting over to podcasts nearly full time, which he clearly is not. If you have some interesting things to say, or people to talk to, that audio just works better for, then heck, go for it.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite podcasts (the Pod F. Tompkast by Paul F. Tompkins, who I think is the only serious competitor to Louis CK today) only update once a month, because their creators are busy doing their usual thing, and the podcast is a side project. And I do think it'd be interesting to hear you and Ken Tremendous bounce off each other every so often, or even make guest appearances on other podcasts (like the Sklar Brothers' Sklarbro Country). My vote is why not?
NO PODCASTS. NO, PLEASE NO!! YOUR WRITING IS TOO VALUABLE!
ReplyDeleteDon't do a podcast. It will cheapen what you do.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of the written word is it can be savored, mulled over, slowly chewed and enjoyed like a tender piece of steak right off the grill. A podcast is here, and then it's gone.
I went back and re-read two or three times your final few paragraphs about Katie the Prefect. If that had been a podcast it wouldn't have been the same story (and I wouldn't have replayed the audio two or three times).
Don't do it.
Count me firmly in the "do a podcast camp." I listen to podcasts in the car (45-minute commute each way) but there are only a few different ones that I enjoy so when I run out I am forced to turn on the actual radio.
ReplyDeleteLike others, I would not want it to result in your writing less, Joe, so I would suggest limiting it to one podcast per week. But I think a weekly podcast with an interesting person would be terrific. I would love to hear you talking with Rob Neyer or Michael Schur or Bill James or (had there been such a thing as podcasts then, Buck O'Neill). Or maybe you could just talk with Chris Russo about Springsteen and never even mention sports. I'd love to listen.
Every time I watch football and they measure, I don't understand how they don't have a laser. It makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteMust be a union thing. [No, seriously, it is probably a union thing.]
Doing what someone else thinks will be for good you when your heart isn't in it rarely works out . . . "Tell your boss exactly what you think of him and his job", "Running a second-hand books store will be right up your alley", "Ask that girl out; the worst she can say is no", "You should buy that purple suit; you'll look great in it".
ReplyDeleteYou're a written words guy, Joe. The best what am. You doing a podcast (even tho' I've no idea what a podcast is) would be like Secretariat pulling a sulky around the Meadowlands. Interesting but obviously wrong.
— Graphite
A coupla points, nothing to do with football, on the chain thing.
ReplyDeleteThe length of a cricket pitch is one chain.
River water will be OK to drink as long as it has tumbled over rocks and become aerated for a distance of one chain. (My wife's grandmother passed on this piece of folklore when we were wondering whether to tap into the creek at the back of our five acres for drinking water. As she was brought up on a farm around the time of WW1 and was healthily in her late eighties when she gave her opinion, she seemed a credible source.)
I like podcats a lot. But you're an excellent writer and sometimes that doesn't translate into speaking. No podcast for you!
ReplyDeleteI have never listened to a podcast. But, Joe, you should do whatever you feel like. Try it and see what happens. You have standards. If the podcast thing doesn't work, stop.
ReplyDeletePut a freaking GPS in the ball.
ReplyDeleteBoom! Problem solved.
Besides, the chains aren't even the most entertaining part. The most entertaining part is watching a line judge run in for a spot and clearly not run in a straight line, as evidenced by the perfectly straight yellow line put up by the networks.
Mr. Posnanski, if you start a podcast I will download and listen to every installment. I like podcasts, and I'm sure I would like hearing your point of view. Yet, at the risk of repeating what many have already said, I would be very disappointed if recording a podcast distracted you from your excellent writing and blogging efforts.
ReplyDeleteJoe, I love your writing, especially about baseball...as a college student, I look forward to taking a break from my studies when you post new articles. I would love if you had a podcast; as a previous commenter said, if it doesn't work out, you can just stop. I say try it!
ReplyDeleteHave worked the chains in my son's Pop Warner games.They ask for volunteers, so it's no sinister chabce to help his team out. The guy who marks where the ball is spotted for 1st down is key, because the guy holding that spot on the chain walks out onto the field looking back over at his spot for where to put his stick on the measurement.
ReplyDeleteThe job I would want is the official who marks the beginning of a drive with a stick. Nobody cares, and the stat guy upstairs has that spot anyway. You stand there for the whole drive and no one bothers you at all.
Agree 100% about Louis CK. His FX show is the damn oddest and funniest thing on TV. One minute you're laughing hysterically, and the next you're horrified. The thug teen in the donut shop, his mom and the Catholic school scenes have to be seen.
Joe and Podcasts would be like Peter Jackson's take on Lord of the Rings.
ReplyDeleteYeah I thought the movies were great and all, but now I don't get my own vision of how the characters looked, talk, spoke etc. if I go back and re-read the novels.
Same thing I think with a Pozcast, it will be different and enjoyed, but things won't be the same.
Joe, I think that the worst thing you could have done here is put to a vote whether or not to start a podcast.
ReplyDeleteJust reading through some of the comments shows a split into two general groups:
-Those who will read or listen or watch anything you do (in which I include myself).
-Those who have been burned before by favorite writers. And I will agree about Simmons; his writing has fallen off a cliff over the past couple years, in quality and quantity, though he's still one of the best when he tries.
However, I think even a majority of those in the latter group would give a podcast a try. The question is over what comes in the future.
Personally, I feel that the best thing would be to make a podcast as far separate from the blog and other writing as possible. Maybe not even a scheduled podcast, but more of a spur-of-the-moment thing: recording all or part of your car ride with Bill James, for instance.
Basically, things that can best be expressed either in audio form or as a live, almost stream-of-consciousness view.
I think that the best thing about Simmons is that by being involved in both audio and print media it allows more chances to consume what he puts out. I can listen to the podcasts in the car, and read the writing at work.
Done right, I think that you could make it work as well as anyone. Based on your oft-expressed feelings on your ability to work in an audio medium, I have no doubt that the only way you will do it is if you can make it work well.
But that decision should be yours to make, not ours.
I've listened to maybe two podcasts in my life, so if you start one I'll probably not listen, but make yourself happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat worries me is your hanging out with Ken Tremendous. I'd hate to see his sadly influential, snarky, mean-spirited approach to the numbers and to the game rub off on someone whose writing has so much empathy.
I say do what makes you happy, but either way, I'm not certain I'll listen. I love your writing, but sometimes people are quick wits (Adam Carolla), and sometimes they're better at communicating when they can be a little more deliberate (me). If you really think you fall more into the latter camp than the former, maybe it's just not meant to be.
ReplyDeleteMJ tried baseball. George Foreman tried making kitchen appliances. The Stones tried disco. Picasso thought blue was cool for a while.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hey. Give podcasting a shot. Dedicated fans will go get a doohickey that let's them listen to your thingie, and have some whippersnapper nephew teach them how to use the dad-blasted contraption.
I don't buy the analogy from Simmons' circumstances. It's like saying, "Hey, this hippo can't ride a motorcycle, so let's stop trying." And never putting a bear on a motorcycle. Joe, you could be that bear, the podcast could be your motorcycle, and we could be the kids at the circus.
PS I love the chains in football. It ranks up there with the signal made by a footy ref to indicate a goal, Dangerous Danny Davis, and the slow-mo clip of that boxing referee getting knocked out, as one of the most awesome official-ish things in sports.
ReplyDeleteJoe - what would your mother say? Can you craft your thoughts as carefully when you speak as when you write? I can't & don't think many can. There seems to be some idea that the evolution of a commentator is newspaper columnist, blogger, podcaster, espn guest, book author, espn host. That might be the pay-scale evolution, so I can see why people do it, but I think the quality of work decreases as people move down that road. Only do it if it increases your bottom line & points to further increases. It's not going to help your writing. And you're a writer! (He said with the sentiment that that's about as great a thing as one can be.)
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