Sports Journalism Tumblr: A Black self-insert character called Jabaal Abdul-Simmons

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > Sports Journalism Tumblr: A Black self-insert character called Jabaal Abdul-Simmons

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ilmucche: Mar 16, 2016; What did you say the strategy was?

Tim Thomas posted:

trip report: about 3 minutes into that search, you start seeing a lot of jeff goldblum (?)

separately... there really isn't another place like deadspin, is there? between this website in the late aughts and deadspin, it really helped color and shape my thinking in teaching me that i was an egregious, raging rear end in a top hat with lovely, misandrist opinions, and offered an alternative

not exaggerating to call them literally life changing but in the very best way

This is one of my favourite deadspin pieces relating to growing up and changing ideas, and it comes at the start of what was called the Thursday dick joke jamboroo of all things.

https://deadspin.com/the-reckoning-always-comes-1819874125/amp

# ? Oct 31, 2019 21:45

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# ? Jun 7, 2024 02:56

AndrewP: Apr 21, 2010

Much like Gawker�s demise, extremely telling that all of the worst people are celebrating

# ? Oct 31, 2019 21:48

habeasdorkus: Nov 3, 2013; Royalty is a continuous shitposting motion.

Blast Fantasto posted:

It�s going to be even worse with the gamergaters celebrating when Kotaku goes

God loving damnit. I hate this reality and would like to trade with one of my other selves somewhere further down the multiverse.

e: As noted recently, Deadspin actually had perhaps the most insightful take on what Gamergate meant for our poor, benighted world back in 2014.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 21:48

Tim Thomas: Feb 12, 2008; breakdancin the night away

ilmucche posted:

This is one of my favourite deadspin pieces relating to growing up and changing ideas, and it comes at the start of what was called the Thursday dick joke jamboroo of all things.

https://deadspin.com/the-reckoning-always-comes-1819874125/amp

That is one of my favorite articles. Also, lol at me typing misandry instead of misogyny, I am owned

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:11

Albino Squirrel: Apr 25, 2003; Miosis more like meiosis

https://twitter.com/Samer/status/1190010474378739719?s=19

Aaaaand that's the last of them.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:11

Teddybear: May 16, 2009; Look! A teddybear doll!
It's soooo cute!

Albino Squirrel posted:

https://twitter.com/Samer/status/1190010474378739719?s=19

Aaaaand that's the last of them.

A late contender for best resignation announcement, too.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:12

MoaM: Dec 1, 2009; Joyous.

Guess I'll just follow all these people on twitter and replace my deadspin bookmark with The Ringer...

*shrugs*

This kinda sucks.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:21

Chinatown: Sep 11, 2001; by Fluffdaddy; Fun Shoe

He's dead Jim.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:25

habeasdorkus: Nov 3, 2013; Royalty is a continuous shitposting motion.

Can't wait to see what bright new direction G/O takes deadspin in! I wonder who they could even get to take the job who isn't desperate or wildly underqualified?

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:35

mactheknife: Jul 20, 2004; THE JOLLY CANDY-LIKE BUTTON

https://drewmagary.kinja.com/the-nfl-doesn-t-want-you-to-see-replay-verdicts-anymore-1839509591

magary posted the last jambaroo to his personal kinja

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:43

Akileese: Feb 6, 2005

mactheknife posted:

https://drewmagary.kinja.com/the-nfl-doesn-t-want-you-to-see-replay-verdicts-anymore-1839509591

magary posted the last jambaroo to his personal kinja

I kinda want him to keep doing this for as long as possible to see how long it takes them to delete his Kinja account.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 22:54

skaboomizzy: Nov 12, 2003; There is nothing I want to be. There is nothing I want to do.
I don't even have an image of what I want to be. I have nothing. All that exists is zero.

habeasdorkus posted:

Can't wait to see what bright new direction G/O takes deadspin in! I wonder who they could even get to take the job who isn't desperate or wildly underqualified?

They are gonna staff the site with people who are desperate, too inexperienced to realize that this job will essentially brand them as a scab, or who just don't give a gently caress. I'm sure some D-list commenter/blogger at Barstool would jump at the opportunity to claim a spot on the masthead for the glory of those shitheads.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 23:01

habeasdorkus: Nov 3, 2013; Royalty is a continuous shitposting motion.

I wonder if this will make the PE vampires have any second thoughts before they come for the other Gawker Media sites. Probably not.

skaboomizzy posted:

They are gonna staff the site with people who are desperate, too inexperienced to realize that this job will essentially brand them as a scab, or who just don't give a gently caress. I'm sure some D-list commenter/blogger at Barstool would jump at the opportunity to claim a spot on the masthead for the glory of those shitheads.

Tempted to fabricate applications, get hired, and then poo poo all over the overlords if I can figure out a way to avoid the ensuing civil litigation.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 23:24

General Dog: Apr 26, 2008; Everybody's working for the weekend

skaboomizzy posted:

They are gonna staff the site with people who are desperate, too inexperienced to realize that this job will essentially brand them as a scab, or who just don't give a gently caress. I'm sure some D-list commenter/blogger at Barstool would jump at the opportunity to claim a spot on the masthead for the glory of those shitheads.

Why I'm Joining Neo-Deadspin, by General Dog

# ? Oct 31, 2019 23:32

Truther Vandross: Jun 17, 2008

We should all submit emails to G/O about how we�d love to write for deadspin for pennies and if they hire us to freelance, we just spam posts about how G/O sucks.

# ? Oct 31, 2019 23:33

Tim Thomas: Feb 12, 2008; breakdancin the night away

i feel that the general Gawker praxis matches much of here

If only kyanka hadn�t murdered these dead gay forums, he could go for something awful spin

# ? Oct 31, 2019 23:47

Pozload Escobar: Aug 21, 2016; by Reene

Come write for my sports/grilling blog, Meatspin

# ? Nov 1, 2019 00:27

I would blow Dane Cook: Dec 26, 2008

Will Ewing theory apply to deadspin?

# ? Nov 1, 2019 00:30

Bip Roberts: Mar 29, 2005

I would blow Dane Cook posted:

Will Ewing theory apply to deadspin?

Does Ewing theory apply to the 1971 Marshall football team?

# ? Nov 1, 2019 00:45

Dinosaurs!: May 22, 2003

Sad to see Deadspin go. I must have visited the site 20 times a day for the past decade. It�s going to be weird removing the bookmark. Like others, I guess I�ll actually have to read The Ringer now.

I hope everyone lands on their feet, and I really hope a few get together to start New Deadspin.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 00:48

I would blow Dane Cook: Dec 26, 2008

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/look-at-this-hosed-up-strawberry-i-bought-1796298252

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:01

FMguru: Sep 10, 2003; peed on;
sexually

Vertical Lime posted:

somebody in the responses said that's the fourth ringer name to leave in the past month

wonder what's up there

Ringer is in the middle of a unionization negotiation, that might be related.

https://twitter.com/Nigrelli93/status/1189917635007385600

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:06

BWV: Feb 24, 2005

if I remember correctly Frazier and Chau came in as interns or in a very junior position so maybe their first real contracts all expired around the same time and they just agreed to not keep them on? I know all the money there comes from podcasting and I'm not sure how active 3/4 were on that side. I know Titus did that college basketball one but maybe that could be something else? Anyway, to put my conspiracy Bill hat on, like the Jeffery Epstein situation it's obvious Something Is Up.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:29

MourningView: Sep 2, 2006; Is this Heaven?

BWV posted:

if I remember correctly Frazier and Chau came in as interns or in a very junior position so maybe their first real contracts all expired around the same time and they just agreed to not keep them on? I know all the money there comes from podcasting and I'm not sure how active 3/4 were on that side. I know Titus did that college basketball one but maybe that could be something else? Anyway, to put my conspiracy Bill hat on, like the Jeffery Epstein situation it's obvious Something Is Up.

Chau was a Grantland intern turned full timer who has been with The Ringer since it launched, and I think Tate was like literally their first non-grantland hire as a podcast producer so yeah it could be something like that.

Chau and Zoldaz were both involved with the union but I don't think Titus and Tate ever mentioned it and Titus in particular does not strike me a big union guy.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:42

skaboomizzy: Nov 12, 2003; There is nothing I want to be. There is nothing I want to do.
I don't even have an image of what I want to be. I have nothing. All that exists is zero.

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1190065956304896000?s=20

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:43

BWV: Feb 24, 2005

https://twitter.com/dosdank/status/1190066297343754241

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:45

I would blow Dane Cook: Dec 26, 2008

BWV posted:

https://twitter.com/dosdank/status/1190066297343754241

I think he means vapists.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 01:46

Adun: Apr 15, 2001; Publicola; Fun Shoe

skaboomizzy posted:

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1190065956304896000?s=20

Bernie Sanders go on the Deadcast

# ? Nov 1, 2019 02:01

AndrewP: Apr 21, 2010

ah hell, the Deadcast. surely Drew and Dave can start up a new podcast and make a few bucks on the ads?

ever since Roth joined as cohost it's been probably my favorite podcast.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 02:12

Scaramouche: Mar 26, 2001; SPACE FACE! SPACE FACE!

They can call it the undeadcast to stay out of copyright trouble

# ? Nov 1, 2019 02:20

R.D. Mangles: Jan 10, 2004

i want to see bernie remember some Guys

# ? Nov 1, 2019 02:52

DC Murderverse: Nov 10, 2016; "Tell that to Zod's snapped neck!"

R.D. Mangles posted:

i want to see bernie remember some Guys

Bernie Sanders' secret origin story is that when the Dodgers left Brooklyn for LA he decided then and there that he would try to get as much power as possible to punish the rich fucks who moved his team.

which, yeah

# ? Nov 1, 2019 02:59

hcreight: Mar 19, 2007; My name is Oliver Queen...

R.D. Mangles posted:

i want to see bernie remember some Guys

Or have Dom appraise some Vermont collegiate sports memorabilia for him.

(Antiques Shitshow died too young.)

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:00

Timby: Dec 23, 2006; Your mother!

AndrewP posted:

ah hell, the Deadcast. surely Drew and Dave can start up a new podcast and make a few bucks on the ads?

ever since Roth joined as cohost it's been probably my favorite podcast.

Marchman was utterly insufferable (what kind of monster thinks air conditioning was one of the worst inventions ever) and I'll never understand why Magary loved him, especially since Marchman was also a particularly awful writer--though there is something funny about Petchesky getting sacked being the catalyst for the staff walkout, because the only worse writer on-staff was Haisley--but, yeah, Magary and Roth were a hell of a pair. Here's hoping they reunite. They might have a hard time getting ad buys without the Gawker / GMG / G/O / Deadspin branding, though. Media buyers tend to be fairly narrow-sighted.

Timby fucked around with this message at 03:20 on Nov 1, 2019

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:17

General Dog: Apr 26, 2008; Everybody's working for the weekend

If Cum Town can sell advertising, it seems like Magary and Roth can.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:24

Mahoning: Feb 3, 2007

Hell, they don�t need advertising. Podcasts easily can survive on patreon alone. Especially people with an established audience.

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:32

MourningView: Sep 2, 2006; Is this Heaven?

I like Marchmann. He is an absurd human but in a funny way and he played off Magary well. It was better with Roth though, yeah. Those two had great chemistry.

I think Petchesky was fine, but he also was a workhorse for them who was pumping out tons of shorter blogs every day. I don't think he was really aiming for something especially profound most of the time

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:33

Chinatown: Sep 11, 2001; by Fluffdaddy; Fun Shoe

skaboomizzy posted:

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1190065956304896000?s=20

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:39

I would blow Dane Cook: Dec 26, 2008

quote:

How Deadspin Imploded

The last meeting for many of Deadspin�s journalists took place on Wednesday in a conference room adorned with fake black cobwebs, a large spider and bloody handprints beside the words: �HELP US.�

The plea, it seemed, went unanswered.

By Thursday, almost the entire staff � nearly 20 writers and editors � had resigned.

The journalists at the site, founded as a sports blog in 2005, had chafed against an instruction handed down Monday in the form of a memo from management to confine themselves to sports-related posts.

While largely focused on sports, Deadspin for years had delved into a broad range of topics in a voice that was sometimes rude, often funny and always conversational. On Tuesday, the site�s top editor, Barry Petchesky, was fired after refusing to go along with the order.

The departures shocked fans of the site, which put a new spin on sports coverage for a generation of digital natives. But they were the result of a long buildup of resentment between the journalists and their new bosses, according to interviews with 13 current and former employees of Deadspin and G/O Media.

The main topic of discussion at the Wednesday meeting was the stick-to-sports memo, which was signed by Paul Maidment, the editorial director of G/O Media, the company that became the owner of Deadspin and sibling sites like Jezebel and Gizmodo six months ago.

Stories that showed the intersection of sports and other topics were fair game, Mr. Maidment wrote in the memo. He said at the meeting that he had enjoyed a recent post about President Trump getting booed at a World Series game. But purely non-sports content was forbidden.

Deadspin writers and editors considered that to be meddling.

Mr. Maidment, a British veteran of The Financial Times and Forbes who was brought in as the editorial director of G/O Media this year, called the staff meeting on Wednesday. And as it unfolded, he appeared eager to listen.

�Paul was very reasonable, and nothing he said was so inflammatory that I was like, �I�m going to quit right now,�� said Kelsey McKinney, a staff writer who resigned later that day.

She suggested that Mr. Maidment was in a difficult position, serving as an emissary for G/O Media. But he failed to persuade the journalists that the company�s editorial direction was in their � and the site�s � best interests.

�He tried to paint it broadly but was not willing to be specific about what posts we had done that fell outside of that mandate,� said Chris Thompson, a staff writer who also resigned this week. �He resisted altogether the institutional knowledge of the people in the room.�

Soon after the meeting, Deadspin writers and editors began filing into his office to quit. Many of them posted the news of their resignations on Twitter, and Deadspin became a trending topic on social media into the night.

The company came into existence after Deadspin and its sibling publications were sold by Univision to the private equity firm Great Hill Partners in April. Univision had bought the sites when they were part of Gawker Media in a bankruptcy sale. Founded by Nick Denton, Gawker Media had been financially ruined by a $140 million lawsuit won by Terry G. Bollea, the former professional wrestler known as Hulk Hogan.

G/O Media installed Jim Spanfeller, a digital media executive who had previously run Forbes.com, as its head. Mr. Spanfeller promptly got rid of some top editors and made Mr. Maidment the editorial director.

Signs of tensions between the irreverent journalists and the management team came quickly. They were not helped by an Aug. 2 Deadspin article whose reporting was critical of G/O Media, Mr. Spanfeller and his executive team. The piece took issue with their �lack of knowledge about� the sites now in their portfolio and �their seeming unwillingness or inability to get up to speed.�

A few weeks later, Deadspin�s top editor, Megan Greenwell, resigned, saying in a farewell post that her job had become untenable, given management�s demands. (Ms. Greenwell recently completed a stint as a weekly advice columnist for The New York Times.) The next major event at G/O Media occurred on Oct. 10, with the shuttering of its politics site, Splinter.

On Monday, the day of the �stick to sports� memo, all of the G/O Media websites published posts that decried the new video ads on their home pages. The ads were offensive to readers, the articles argued, because they were set to play automatically, with sound. Such ads are broadly understood to lift advertiser impressions while annoying readers. The posts were swiftly removed without a warning from G/O Media to the sites� editors.

�We were existentially angry about a post being taken off our website � a red line we thought was uncrossable,� said Tom Ley, Deadspin�s features editor, who resigned Wednesday.

Staff members, members of the Writers Guild of America East union, discussed how to respond on a private Slack channel. Their collective-bargaining agreement included a no-strike clause, so a strike seemed out of the question. And quitting seemed drastic.

�It�s hard to lose your job,� said Ms. McKinney, the former staff writer. �There are not a lot of jobs in our industry.�

They settled on a protest consistent with the site�s cheekiness: They would conspicuously post stories that had nothing to do with sports.

�We thought that was a Deadspin-style way of handling it, and something that our readers would be in on and find clever,� Mr. Ley said. �We didn�t want to be preachy, we just wanted to try to have some fun with it.�

And so on Tuesday morning, Deadspin featured articles on subjects like a Washington pumpkin thief and the German actor who played a villain in �Ghostbusters II.�

Mr. Petchesky, the interim editor in chief, was pulled out of a meeting and escorted to the office of Mr. Spanfeller, the chief executive. There, he was fired. Mr. Petchesky said Mr. Spanfeller ordered him to leave using an obscenity. (Through a spokesman, Mr. Spanfeller declined to comment.)

Shaken by the editor�s departure, Deadspin staff members retreated to a nearby Planet Hollywood in Times Square for a drink. Roughly a third were ready to quit, Ms. McKinney estimated. The others thought they should try to negotiate editorial protections or the reinstatement of Mr. Petchesky. They gathered again later that evening at the Magician, a Lower East Side bar popular among Gawker-era bloggers, for a planned wake for Splinter.

On Wednesday morning, the workers met in Ms. Greenwell�s vacated office. The sentiment had turned. More staff members were inclined to leave.

The meeting with Mr. Maidment followed in the afternoon. (Through a spokesman, Mr. Maidment declined to comment.) During the meeting, Deadspin staff members laid out their case for posting articles that did not touch on sports. A recent internal study found that a small fraction of Deadspin�s posts fell under this category, and that they drew a larger readership than sports stories.

Some staff members also described what they saw as a lack of clarity from the editorial director. Where should they draw the line between a sports piece and one that would flout the new rule? A weekly N.F.L. preview called the Jamboroo � by Drew Magary, a popular writer who confirmed Thursday that he had also resigned � often started with a long personal essay. And what about the landmark Deadspin essay from 2014 on �Gamergate�? Would that be off-limits, given that G/O Media has a separate video games site, Kotaku?

There was the broader question: Why? In digital media, Deadspin would be considered, from a business perspective, a modest success. In a good month, it had 20 million unique visitors, according to Mr. Ley.

Now Deadspin is down to few, if any, staff members. Mr. Maidment is running the site himself as G/O Media seeks a new top editor.

Those who resigned do not expect to benefit from the agreement on severance that was reached four years ago, when Gawker Media became a union company. G/O Media told them they would be paid through Friday.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/business/media/deadspin-was-a-good-website.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:41

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# ? Jun 7, 2024 02:56

Blast Fantasto: Sep 18, 2007; USAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I�ll never forget the one time I heard Magary go on Le Batard�s radio show and that after the interview they were all astonished by that voice coming out of that dude

# ? Nov 1, 2019 03:43

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > Sports Journalism Tumblr: A Black self-insert character called Jabaal Abdul-Simmons

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