Some folks hate him with a passion. A blind passion, IMHO.

Others (though few on this board, or at least quiet about it) like him.

Others can take him or leave him--this is my position. I think now that he's more a blogger than a more traditional journalist (whatever that means, really), he is more apt to blow with the wind, the hits are the thing. I honestly have the PPG re-design to thank for me reading him less. His blog used to be linked on some of the main sports pages, now you have to drill down several layers to find him, so it's really just a matter of convenience. I used to see his blog title when looking at the Bucs page, for example, and if I found it interesting, I'd click on it. Now that I have to actively look for it, not so much.

He sometimes links his blog to some interesting articles, I will say.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

To each his or her own. The same applies to John Steigerwald, Ed Bouchette, Ron Cook, Mark Madden, Mark Kaboly, (insert your favorite yinzer sports columnist/reporter/media type here), If you like them, fine. If you don't, don't read them. The thing that always gets me is that instead of actually reading the article referenced, folks just automatically discount it because they despise the source. I understand this board as a rule does that with Florio and pansy-lawyer-talk. I'm not crazy about Smizik either - perhaps it is time for him to get on with his life's work - but if brings up a relevant topic, then why the hell not read it, post about and discuss it? If you don't like it, just move along. Posting that Smizik or anyone else is a moron without discussing the topic is about as lazy as posting links from Steelers Depot.

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The problem with Smizik is that he's an old, out-of-touch dick. And on top of that I feel like most posters on this message board have a better sense of reality and at least as much sports knowledge as he has.

He's a columnist. Well, he was. Now he's writing for a website no one reads because it would've cost the PG too much to buyout his contract and he wasn't ready to retire to his home planet just yet.

He's irrelevant. In the Pittsburgh sports landscape there are maybe 2-3 guys who have any kind of stroke and any kind of built-in reputation to actually matter.

Bob Pompeani, Stan Savran, and Mark Madden. That's it. There isn't a single reporter, columnist, or radio host that matters besides those three.

And if I had to make a list of all the sports figures in Pittsburgh, Smizik would be near the bottom sandwiched between Jory Rand and Andrew Stockey.

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And then you take a good look around and they stole your rock n roll
And once it's gone you'll never get it back

No matter what anyone thinks about him, that was pretty fucking funny.

As for your other comment, I'd agree, but would expand to include most sports journalists/bloggers. We have a pretty well informed community here, and I'd stack front page articles along with some posters who post in many of our forums here on SF.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

Amen, Jack.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

Depends on what we're talking about. I don't consider bloggers to be actual journalists.

Steelers blogs are by and large absolutely terrible. SteelerFury is probably the only Steelers fan website out there with this kind of discussion and knowledgeable posters.

Penguins blogs are the drizzling shits too. Not a single good one of those out there.

Pirates bloggers on the other hand are phenomenal. I'd read anything from a Pirates blog (other than BucsDugout) over the actual newspaper coverage anyday. Baseball is such a numbers-based sport that it's easy for anyone to learn to become a pretty good analyst.

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And then you take a good look around and they stole your rock n roll
And once it's gone you'll never get it back

With some exception, I find the best sports analysis and discussion, on any of the major 3 sports I follow, to be right here on SF. Front page, threads, doesn't matter. Not everyone knows what they are talking about, and not on every subject, but by and large, most members of our community here are pretty damn knowledgeable and informative.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

I can see what you're saying 43...I just see no point in your saying it.

People are going to read/listen to who they are going to read/listen to.

Branding them as stupid for doing so only makes you look like you're putting on airs (I'M in the media, and I know who's important. Listen to ME).

Just let 'em read/listen to/quote whoever they are going to read/listen to/quote and then debate the substance (or lack thereof) of it all later.

I hate branding of people as "not worthy of attention" ahead of time.

I hate Bouchette...I still read and debate what he writes.

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh

I'm saying it because we see waaaaay too much Bob Smizik on this board.



No one is stupid for reading Bob Smizik. They're just engaging in a pointless activity.

Smizik made his living, for years, being a contrarian. He took the stance opposite the most popular public opinion and got readers because of it. He made his living being a troll.

Would any of you read a column written by Switz?



Bouchette and Smizik are entirely different animals.

Bouchette's not a columnist. He's a beat reporter. There isn't a single person in this world outside of those who work for the Steelers that knows more about the inner workings of the team. If Bouchette says it, it's legit.

All Smizik is doing is giving you an opinion. What are his credentials? He has none. Same with Ron Cook.

Being old shouldn't be the only reason your opinion is supposed to matter.

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And then you take a good look around and they stole your rock n roll
And once it's gone you'll never get it back

Thank you for completely missing the point.

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh