FD Messenger article on Iowa's season
- Thread starter smoot27
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hawkeyescott
Well-Known Member
Man if Eric Pratt wants to take shots at Jon the least he could have done is made it known that he runs this site and it was on this site he predicted a 12-0 season.
ColoradoHAWKEYE
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it still seems like he took an unfair shot at Jon. My first thought this AM was to
Call him out on it, that Jon is editor of HN. Then I thought Prat doesn't deserve the time
anyhow. I think he carries a slight bias against the Hawks generally.
Call him out on it, that Jon is editor of HN. Then I thought Prat doesn't deserve the time
anyhow. I think he carries a slight bias against the Hawks generally.
What exactly were you going to call him out about and what does Jon being the editor of HN have anything to do with it? He just made a comparison of the Harrison Barnes' hype to Jon's hype of the Hawks. I don't see any problem with that or think it was unfair. I'm not sure if he carries a bias against the Hawks either. Most articles I've read reagrding the Hawks seemed pretty favorable.
+1
Some of these typical Iowa message board types throw a tantrum if someone tries to assess the team objectively. If you say anything other than worship at the feet of Iowa football, you are called a hater or biased.
Ummm, maybe I'm out of the loop here, but isn't that part of the job description for most sports columnists?
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
Not sure it's part of the job description to play I told you so, even though I didn't tell you so. He waits until after the season to tell us all we should have seen this coming and puts down anyone that thought we'd be good. Not just this article, but I've read his work and dealt with him on things for years. Not a great staff at the Mess.
I'm not interpreting that the same way you are. He seems to make a pretty reasonable assesment of media and fans as a whole in terms of setting expectations. Jon Miller was accurate in describing the Harrison Barnes' situation. It's not unlike the many young players unfairly benchmarked against Michael Jordan, who are then viewed as less than special if they don't live up to the impossible expectations set by fans and media. The same applies to Iowa football, those who were predicting 12-0 and playing for a title were setting themselves up for disappointment, especially given Kirk's history of playing games close.
Moral of the story? There's a razor-thin line between winning and losing in athletics these days, where parity and balance tend to reign. It's easy for a program to become a victim of its own success, especially with fast-food fans and short attention span critics always demanding more and appreciating less.
The media is fond of portraying athletes as demigods and programs as institutions, but shows no remorse when adversity strikes. Trust me, it will tear them down much quicker than it built them up - even if its own initial analysis was greatly miscalculated.
HandsyHobo
Well-Known Member
Anyone else here getting the impression that smoot27 is Eric Pratt? 
ColoradoHAWKEYE
Well-Known Member
I think that the point of the article/op was on track about the media in general, I fully agree with that about media expectations. If you are not "reporting", then show me the colors and let me do my own painting. As such, I also tend to think that this team had immense talent and got outplayed/outcoached at several junctures (injuries to key positions and key coaches aside). Hindsight is 20/20, given all facts; On outset, It's okay for a picture to be painted, half full or half empty, while 7-5 is clearly not 12-0, just let me see what was the driving factors behind a reference or quote.
As for Pratt, I usually like his writing ...generally. He seems to cover local schools and sports well enough. However, like a quote taken out of context, when using a reference, from a pseudo-colleague at that (member of the sports media), it should be pointed out or footnoted that persons occupation/location. Is he also a reporter, or a pundit, or a coach, or webmaster, a fan, a blogger, an editor, etc? Most articles will cite that information so one can research, if so inclined, the referenced character to look into further why someone might have made such a statement or taken a position. (again, give me the colors used).
By calling out, I mean to bring to his personal attention via email. But in reality, like yours, my opinion is just that, an opinion.
Anyone else here getting the impression that smoot27 is Eric Pratt?
Ha, I'm actually not, however, I lived in FD a short time ago and routinely still check the messenger website. My grammar is too poor to be an editor
AHawk1
Well-Known Member
The good ole Bob Brown days at the messenger are unfortunately gone. A very loyal Hawk and gifted writer.
If someone cares that much as to need to research the context which Miller's prediction was made, they need to find more opportunities to be productive with their lives or keep entertained. This is a simple sports opinion column from a podunk town in Iowa, not a discussion on foreign policy in the WSJ. Secondly, I'm not sure in what other context one can possibly take a 12-0 prediction for a football team. You would make a fine bureaucrat.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
Anyone else here getting the impression that smoot27 is Eric Pratt?
I was thinking the exact same thing!
HawkeyeNTexas
Well-Known Member
He obviously wrote this article to draw some attention. Writing for a small town newspaper in Fort Dodge is not going to get you much recognition. I'm pretty sure this stems from jealousy of Jon's success.
