Dan Shaughnessy: Taking a dump in your mouth one column at a time
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Say what you will about Shank but he is playing some masterful long game troll job with David Price right now.
Last week, he gets a 1-on-1 with Price and writes this piece: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/06/07/piling-david-price-makes-sense/67SjEThQydBMdO9n9E6wGM/story.html
"Piling on Price makes no sense"
"It's going from bad to worse."
Today he's out (last night before the game was over even) with: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/06/13/david-price-gets-through-fenway-debut-unscathed/ZxrJAEsPI9sPGjxAUS1a1I/story.html
"No decisions all around for David Price's 2017 Fenway debut."
In this one, the tone begins to change:
First, right before his first start of the year against the Yankees: "I'm with you. I just want to understand you. People should lay off. But I'm not sure they will."
Then, after Price predictably blows up off the field and then on: "Wow, that was pretty terrible. It's too bad people didn't take my advice."
Now as things deteriorate: "I tried but you fucking deserve whatever comes your way, you big baby."
Everything people hate about the Boston media in three columns – setting a guy up for failure, beating the shit out of him when he's down and never letting go. But you have to hand it to Shank: the guy knows his role and he plays it to perfection. And best of all: he's got "hey I tried to get them to lay off!" plausible deniability.
Amazing.
Last week, he gets a 1-on-1 with Price and writes this piece: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/06/07/piling-david-price-makes-sense/67SjEThQydBMdO9n9E6wGM/story.html
"Piling on Price makes no sense"
Then, after Price melts down Shank writes: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/06/08/for-david-price-going-from-bad-worse/U2DGDVrjqbmkUMgyTy6LhI/story.html
"It's going from bad to worse."
He goes on to quote Pedro, who he used to taunt.
Today he's out (last night before the game was over even) with: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/06/13/david-price-gets-through-fenway-debut-unscathed/ZxrJAEsPI9sPGjxAUS1a1I/story.html
"No decisions all around for David Price's 2017 Fenway debut."
In this one, the tone begins to change:
So Shaughnessy has set this up beautifully:
First, right before his first start of the year against the Yankees: "I'm with you. I just want to understand you. People should lay off. But I'm not sure they will."
Then, after Price predictably blows up off the field and then on: "Wow, that was pretty terrible. It's too bad people didn't take my advice."
Now as things deteriorate: "I tried but you fucking deserve whatever comes your way, you big baby."
Everything people hate about the Boston media in three columns – setting a guy up for failure, beating the shit out of him when he's down and never letting go. But you have to hand it to Shank: the guy knows his role and he plays it to perfection. And best of all: he's got "hey I tried to get them to lay off!" plausible deniability.
Amazing.
Yeah, word choice matters. Deleted unacceptable comments and responses to such. If you didn't know better before, you know better now.
Well sometimes I get carried away with my dislike for the man.
To rephrase: Ironic that in yesterday's dribs and drabs column he cites someone (Mr. Law, I believe) as "taking all the joy out of the game" (of baseball), when he's been doing that to every sport he puts his grubby pen on.
And, yes, Mr. Former Celtics Beat Writer, I don't agree 100% with Ainge, but I'd still rather be the Celtics than the Timberwolves.
To rephrase: Ironic that in yesterday's dribs and drabs column he cites someone (Mr. Law, I believe) as "taking all the joy out of the game" (of baseball), when he's been doing that to every sport he puts his grubby pen on.
And, yes, Mr. Former Celtics Beat Writer, I don't agree 100% with Ainge, but I'd still rather be the Celtics than the Timberwolves.
What were the unacceptable comments? Do you mean Humphrey or CHB? I agree CHB's comments regarding Keith Law were moronic. Is it now wrong to criticize CHB on SOSH?
Yeah, and you used it in a manner that was completely and totally unacceptable, especially in an open forum. You're lucky to not be on an extended vacation right now to be honest. I'd drop this now if I were you. Your lack of understanding of just what was wrong with what you wrote is troubling.
If Shanks articles cause Price to opt out after this year then he deserves a statue outside of Fenway.
Since when is losing in the ALDS to a team considered the strong favorite to win that series as well as possibly the World Series considered an "epic underachievement?" Yes, the Red Sox were one of the preseason favorites but were never really considered to be one of the stronger contenders (except possibly in Boston) once the season was under way.
Welp, there goes another puppy and kitten. I hope you're happy. @Myt1's immortal soul is at stake here!
Also, in case that's not direct enough, your point is horseshit, you lack basic memories as a Sox fan, or you're 12.
Thank you. I last heard the term "immortal soul" from nuns. As a young child (obviously). ''Twas awesome when one of them would say, "the condition of your books is the condition of your immortal soul".
Like Shank, village scolds almost without exception. Were they still around these nuns would admonish Shank that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Like Shank, village scolds almost without exception. Were they still around these nuns would admonish Shank that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
How does that make the point horseshit? If you think it's normal to treat players like this you're part of the problem.
Welcome to our planet, galactic visitor. Thank you for choosing the Hub. No, it is not "normal" in the sense that it is how we humans should treat one another but it is absolutely "normal" in that this happens ALL THE FUCKING TIME AND HAS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
Mr. Price is neither the first, nor the worst, example from the past 5 years. Going back just a little further into history, you would find that this sort of behavior is sort of standard and "de rigueur" for both the city, and the columnist (not to mention the fans, ownership, and sometimes other players).
I think Myt1 should make an exception this time, as you are clearly not from around here (as in this planet, reality, or timeline) and therefore cannot be considered making a "best/worst lifetime" statement with any validity or conviction.
Oh, and welcome to Earth. We're not always like this. Just most of the time.
I'm all for this if the statue is a bronze representation of a lamb being choked by poisonous, thorny vines.
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Grinding away on the ol' axe. Trying to get a nickname to stick like the buffoon in Chief. A truly remarkable game and this is where he lands on it? Kinda pathetic.
Dan ShaughnessyVerified account @Dan_Shaughnessy
Never underestimate The Cooler. Dodgers were 8-1 in postseason, They were 98-0 when leading after eight. Gonzo shows up and this happens.
6:08 AM - 26 Oct 2017
Dan ShaughnessyVerified account @Dan_Shaughnessy
Never underestimate The Cooler. Dodgers were 8-1 in postseason, They were 98-0 when leading after eight. Gonzo shows up and this happens.
6:08 AM - 26 Oct 2017
It is kind of funny in a Ewing Theory kind of way, but Shaughnessy isn't trying to be funny. Ultimately, many many more sad people will show up to Adrian Gonzalez's funeral than to Dan Shaughnessy's.
Plus this is just another flavor of "curse" Shank's been peddling for 40 years now. One "curse" destroyed, he just moves to another.
Of course he is. He undercuts his whole argument by saying that Gonzalez really isn't that bad in August or September and has the numbers to prove it. And that Gonzalez blocked him on Twitter. Shaughnessy isn't a rocket scientist, but he isn't that dumb. I think that is tongue (gross) was firmly planted in his cheek when he wrote this.
At least that's how I read it. The Red Sox have won three World Series in the last 13 seasons, Dan Shaughnessy doesn't bother me any more.
I'll give credit where it is due, guy can still pump out good content when he gets something in his wheelhouse and doesn't feel compelled to fuel the hot takes.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2017/11/27/dave-cowens-might-most-unappreciated-superstar-celtics-history/L9NXdulZGuW6cTWlrZev3H/story.html
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2017/11/27/dave-cowens-might-most-unappreciated-superstar-celtics-history/L9NXdulZGuW6cTWlrZev3H/story.html
I lived this. It’s a spectacular piece of work reminding me of important things I had forgotten, most notably how great Cowens was.
So much talent wasted on the trolling. Sad.
Of course, today he's back to the trolling with manufactured outrage over Belichick's perfectly reasonable answer to a dumb question about playing Brady in the 4th quarter of the Miami game.
I am too young to comment on when he was working the beat in the 80s but I feel like his best work is Celtics commentary. I know he's a baseball guy at heart, but he seems to genuinely respect the Celtics organization and their history, as well as the players, Bird barfight story notwithstanding. For someone who crucifies the hypocrisy of "The Patriot Way" every chance he gets he doesn't go after the concept of "Celtic Pride" with the same venom.
It's because he loves Red Auerbach. Probably not as much as Ted Williams, but it's damn close.
One of these days Belichick is gonna light up a stogie in the closing minutes of a big win and Dan will lose his goddamn mind.
Surprised he didnt shit all over Weaver for not winning a World Series for 9 years in the 70s even though his team was in one and was a consistent winner pretty much every year. Just like he shat on BB when he had the chance for not winning a Super Bowl between Philly and Seattle.
CHB wastes a Front Page story (continued in sports) today speaking to the what, 3 fans out there who thought Gronk shouldn't get suspended?
Was there a controversy here that needed to be addressed?
And no, I'm not giving you a link. Here's the article:
"You stupid fans who think Gronk did nothing suspendable are what's wrong with this country"
Was there a controversy here that needed to be addressed?
And no, I'm not giving you a link. Here's the article:
"You stupid fans who think Gronk did nothing suspendable are what's wrong with this country"
The drumbeat that it's Belichick arrogance that keeps Brady in a 20 point game with 5:00 left is getting old as well, what % of teams take their QB out in that situation? If anything, I find the Pats to be much more conservative in late game situations of late, especially compared to 2007.
When other teams do stuff like that it's stupid coaching. When the Patriots do it, its arrogance. No one ever describes Marvin Lewis's playoff approach or Andy Reid's clock management, as "arrogant. " Was Pittsburgh "arrogant" when they stuck to their zone defense in the playoffs last year against the Patriots? Were the Falcons "arrogant" when they kept passing up 28-3? No. They were just fucking stupid.
Shaughnessy knows that going after Belichick's football acumen is pissing up a rope, so he uses inscrutible Rorschach words to makes sure the talk radio crowd will read, repeat, and keep him relevant.
It is the laziest form of opinion journalism from the area's laziest opinion journalist.
Jermaine Wiggins was on NESN this morning wondering why Gronk was suspended. Yesterday Matt Chatham was on the same channel saying that Gronk shouldn't be suspended.
So it looks like we need to find one more person.
Zolak was complaining about the suspension this morning. He also felt that Smith-Schuster should not even have been penalized for the deliberate targeting of Burfict's head. CHB does have a point in this case when sampling the clowns that populate sports talk radio.
Zo and Wiggy don't count nor does anyone else on tv or radio as they just shout their shit to get talk going.
I expect that if you talked to informed fans they'd all agree one game was appropriate
I expect that if you talked to informed fans they'd all agree one game was appropriate
I remember the old days, when Shaughnessy's target audience used to be people who knew how to read.
The fact remains that no credible Boston human has suggested he not be suspended. (IMO, once you appear on "sports" talk radio, you surrender your credibility. You are Dr. Phil, just playing a role. YMMV)
Scott Zolak is an embarrassment to listen to. After a Gronk TD a couple of weeks ago, he bellowed "in your face!!!!!!" in that Dick Vitale/James Brady howl. Hearing him left me with the same "turn away. don't look (listen)" feeling as I had in 4th grade when that girl was so nervous before getting up to speak in class that she peed in her pants. That's what Zolak's analysis is. A 4th grader peeing in his pants.
He seems to wear sunglasses inside a lot. You know what Larry
David says about people who wear sunglasses inside.
Of course Zo, Wiggins and Chatham count. Actually they should count more since they're media members and for some fans these people are the influencers, the shaper of their thoughts. For any one of them (and all three played in the NFL so THEY SHOULD KNOW!!!! and they're all self identified as men's men) to say that Gronk's hit wasn't anything to be suspended over, carries a lot more weight with Joe Pats Fan (who ALWAYS feels hunted and slighted) than what you or I think.
Don't discount the opinions of the knuckle draggers, amigos. They're the ones that got us into the mess that this country is currently in.
Don't discount the opinions of the knuckle draggers, amigos. They're the ones that got us into the mess that this country is currently in.
Agree with your overall point although there are always going to be media members taking the contrarian view.
Your last paragraph is completely unnecessary.
This is pretty good on Holy Cross considering changing the nickname. (I am not looking to have that debate.) Sometimes access helps. The comments from Cousy are tremendous. 90 and sharp as a tack.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/colleges/2017/12/06/two-sides-crusade-change-holy-cross-nickname/9lmI6mQzuTKy3CFj9HUDpL/story.html
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/colleges/2017/12/06/two-sides-crusade-change-holy-cross-nickname/9lmI6mQzuTKy3CFj9HUDpL/story.html
I agree, I thought that was a very good article. Very little of the usual smarm from Shank, and he talks to the right people to get a fuller sense of the issue.
Wait... isn't that almost exactly what Shaughnessy is doing? Except he's writing his shit to get talk going?
Late reply.
I’m not up there but I do read the Boston papers and listen to WEEI on demand in the car on the way in and out of work, so I have some sense of the local market. My take is that those who were saying Gronk should not be suspended were in the minority and the consensus was that he should get a game.
Pointing to the officiating context as a partial explanation and not a justification for Gronk’s inexcusable actions is partially what set Shank off. I exchanged a few emails with him over that and he was totally shut down. Meaning that any mention of the officiating was to him verboten.
That’s intellectually lazy and disingenuous, and I suspect his real game was just another chance to insult his readers and “fanboy” Pats fans. So lame.....
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I can't speak to the particulars of your exchange, and you're almost certainly correct about his motivation, but IMO "but, the officiating" doesn't belong within 1000 miles of the suspension discussion.
That’s the thing. There’s no “but.” I was very clear with him that the suspension was warranted and Gronk was wrong. Period. That said, hammering fans who acknowledge or otherwise state that it isn’t hard to understand how Gronk blew a gasket — understand, not excuse — is opportunistic.
Gronk was 100 percent wrong...and it’s not hard to understand what set him off...and his frustration was more than justified, even while his response wasn’t.
I like that Dan admitted to just flat out trolling other fan bases. I wonder when he'll admit to trolling Boston fans too.
Doing his best to appear on Philly sports talk radio.
Like F and M, he is a Trumpian liar-troller. But he knows the tomato can narrative needs to be retired for this game. It’s not a remotely plausible description of the Eagles.
Like F and M, he is a Trumpian liar-troller. But he knows the tomato can narrative needs to be retired for this game. It’s not a remotely plausible description of the Eagles.