Part 10, finally, of a 10-part series
Just about a month ago, Da Box invited two of the more controversial figures -- from the perspective of Boxers, anyway -- in Toronto media to spend some time with us, allowing us to get to know them, to pose (and post) some questions directly, to get a little insight into the behind-the-scenes world of the baseball writers we all secretly believe we could (and should) be.
Now that a little time has passed, now that the season has ended, now that more than 300 comments have been directed to the Toronto Star's Geoff Baker and Rich Griffin in response to the series, let's review, take a look at a few of the out-takes and offer up a final word -- and an invitation.
As we made clear from the outset, this was not a traditional "interview" in any sense, certainly not in the way Kent Williams' discussion with J.P. Ricciardi was over the summer. It was an e-mail exchange, a list of questions sent and responses received, one time each direction. Baker made a credible effort to follow up with addenda and corrections; Griffin willingly participated, but did not follow up -- nor was either expected to.
As I was collecting and writing the stories in this series, a number of readers -- and most of the other "starting lineup" on Da Box -- contacted me with "reviews," many of which pegged Griffin as aloof and Baker as arrogant. For the record, I should say that I have never met either one, but my impression is that it would be shocking if it was the first time either heard that description -- and equally shocking if either cared.
As for aloofness, many -- indeed most -- professional writers make a decision at some point in their careers to simply not respond to readers except in extraordinary circumstances. There simply isn't enough time to do so. And while it may still sometimes feel extraordinary that Ricciardi, or Griffin, or whoever find themselves the subject of an interactive story on a blog like Da Box, I personally hope that we are very close to that being seen not only as ordinary, but expected.
And as for arrogance ... well, let's just say that I've had that word tossed at me more than once, and frankly any writer worth his or her salt better be arrogant (or what can be taken for arrogant) in order to survive. Have an opinion. Put it in words. Put your name on it. Okay, now publish it for half a million people to read and criticize. You'd better be supremely confident -- and yes, supreme confidence can be seen as arrogance.
Now, as we move on through the greatness of another baseball season's playoffs, let's close up shop on this round of conversation with Rich Griffin and Geoff Baker.
If you haven’t read the various pieces of this series, already, by all means do so. The written word, even online, has a certain permanence. Did someone say something about supreme confidence?
Leftovers #1: Now That We've Met ...
We revisited that Box-favorite question -- what song would be playing from the stadium public address system as you strode to the plate -- in the introductions of both Baker and Griffin. And we stayed clear of the Barbara Walters-esque "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" questions, though I suppose Boxers would have had, well, a forest of suggestions.
But we did ask both Griffin and Baker, "If you wrote a book about a subject other than baseball, what would it be?" Regular readers might recall that this same question was posed to GM J.P. Ricciardi in an earlier interview, and he responded, "It would probably be about history ... I like anything to do with leaders, finding out how did they lead, what made them lead, what were their thoughts -- it’s riveting to me. Religion, too; I wish I could sit down with Jesus for about two days and talk to him."
Griffin's response was right down a sports guy's fairway, as it were, as he said "Golf. Or travel. Or traveling to play golf."
Baker ventured further afield, speculating, "Probably a spy-thriller. I've always been interested in spy agencies like the CIA and Mossad and have traveled the world a fair bit." Then he teased the Toronto sports fan by admitting, "In non-fiction, I actually have a specific hockey book in mind but can't give the idea away. Sorry."
Leftovers #2: A Little Honest Q&A
Q: Is there anything you've written that you wish you could have back?
GRIFFIN: "There are a couple of columns I wish I could have back when I have written something tinged with sarcasm and then found out that a guy was hurt or there were other unfortunate extenuating circumstances for a performance."
BAKER: "As far as stories I regret, during my first winter in Toronto in 1998, I received a tip -- on my 30th birthday, no less -- from a source friendly with our paper, that I was assured beforehand was impeccable, that GM Gord Ash and assistant Tim McCleary had a secret meeting in Europe with top Interbrew officials. That winter was a disaster for the team, with the [Tim] Johnson controversy, the SkyDome mess and Roger Clemens about to bolt so everything was closely scrutinized. Well, turns out Ash and McCleary were on a golf holiday in a country different from the one I mentioned. Oops. It was only a brief item, but I felt really stupid and learned right then and there that I am responsible for stuff going in under my name, to trust only my own assurances and to apply the same standards to sports reporting that I did to news."
Editor's Note: Ash and McCleary were traveling ... to play golf? Maybe there's a book in it for Griffin!
Leftovers #3: Quote ... Unquote
"[Playing] football taught me that pain tolerances can vary in athletes and I'd never suggest in print that anyone was faking pain or taking too long to return from injury. I can sympathize greatly with the knee pain Carlos Delgado must be feeling because I know how nagging the constant throb can be." -- Geoff Baker
Leftovers #4: The Last Word
In taking the time last month to visit with Da Box, and in patiently holding their tongues -- make that their keyboards -- while Boxers unleashed everything from honest feedback to honest vitriole, the Star's baseball guys set themselves up to a new kind of pressure enabled by electronic communications and more specifically, blogging.
It was Roger Clemens volunteering to hit for himself against Pedro Martinez. In Shea Stadium.
So let's give the last word, more or less, to Baker:
"I've rarely felt any pressure to 'come up with a story' which is the No. 1 accusation teams, and fans make against papers when controversy flares up. If someone does pressure me to write a story I feel isn't there, I've been known to get very vocal in my refusals and will suggest another approach," he says.
"Reporters can't allow themselves to be bullied into putting their name on stuff they don't believe in. There really is no excuse not to show backbone in those situations and stand up for yourself," Baker continues.
"There is usually enough stuff happening that you really don't have to go looking for controversy, even in a competitive market like this. I find it more rewarding, and a challenge to come up with a good, positive, human-redeeming feature and feel pride when I can scoop rivals that way," he says.
"Like with a Father's Day piece on Frank Catalanotto, or a story about Carlos Tosca's tribulations growing up in communist Cuba, Delgado's aid to Puerto Rican activists, or Aquilino Lopez not having to do factory work anymore …"
Presumably, Baker (and Griffin, for that matter) could continue the list. And by stepping into Da Box over the last month, they have demonstrated the aforementioned backbone.
So, thanks guys. Now, about that "Zombie-Like Cult" reference ...
Oh, and that invitation? Right. Keep reading Da Box, Geoff and Rich. And drop us a note some time.
Just about a month ago, Da Box invited two of the more controversial figures -- from the perspective of Boxers, anyway -- in Toronto media to spend some time with us, allowing us to get to know them, to pose (and post) some questions directly, to get a little insight into the behind-the-scenes world of the baseball writers we all secretly believe we could (and should) be.
Now that a little time has passed, now that the season has ended, now that more than 300 comments have been directed to the Toronto Star's Geoff Baker and Rich Griffin in response to the series, let's review, take a look at a few of the out-takes and offer up a final word -- and an invitation.
As we made clear from the outset, this was not a traditional "interview" in any sense, certainly not in the way Kent Williams' discussion with J.P. Ricciardi was over the summer. It was an e-mail exchange, a list of questions sent and responses received, one time each direction. Baker made a credible effort to follow up with addenda and corrections; Griffin willingly participated, but did not follow up -- nor was either expected to.
As I was collecting and writing the stories in this series, a number of readers -- and most of the other "starting lineup" on Da Box -- contacted me with "reviews," many of which pegged Griffin as aloof and Baker as arrogant. For the record, I should say that I have never met either one, but my impression is that it would be shocking if it was the first time either heard that description -- and equally shocking if either cared.
As for aloofness, many -- indeed most -- professional writers make a decision at some point in their careers to simply not respond to readers except in extraordinary circumstances. There simply isn't enough time to do so. And while it may still sometimes feel extraordinary that Ricciardi, or Griffin, or whoever find themselves the subject of an interactive story on a blog like Da Box, I personally hope that we are very close to that being seen not only as ordinary, but expected.
And as for arrogance ... well, let's just say that I've had that word tossed at me more than once, and frankly any writer worth his or her salt better be arrogant (or what can be taken for arrogant) in order to survive. Have an opinion. Put it in words. Put your name on it. Okay, now publish it for half a million people to read and criticize. You'd better be supremely confident -- and yes, supreme confidence can be seen as arrogance.
Now, as we move on through the greatness of another baseball season's playoffs, let's close up shop on this round of conversation with Rich Griffin and Geoff Baker.
If you haven’t read the various pieces of this series, already, by all means do so. The written word, even online, has a certain permanence. Did someone say something about supreme confidence?
Leftovers #1: Now That We've Met ...
We revisited that Box-favorite question -- what song would be playing from the stadium public address system as you strode to the plate -- in the introductions of both Baker and Griffin. And we stayed clear of the Barbara Walters-esque "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" questions, though I suppose Boxers would have had, well, a forest of suggestions.
But we did ask both Griffin and Baker, "If you wrote a book about a subject other than baseball, what would it be?" Regular readers might recall that this same question was posed to GM J.P. Ricciardi in an earlier interview, and he responded, "It would probably be about history ... I like anything to do with leaders, finding out how did they lead, what made them lead, what were their thoughts -- it’s riveting to me. Religion, too; I wish I could sit down with Jesus for about two days and talk to him."
Griffin's response was right down a sports guy's fairway, as it were, as he said "Golf. Or travel. Or traveling to play golf."
Baker ventured further afield, speculating, "Probably a spy-thriller. I've always been interested in spy agencies like the CIA and Mossad and have traveled the world a fair bit." Then he teased the Toronto sports fan by admitting, "In non-fiction, I actually have a specific hockey book in mind but can't give the idea away. Sorry."
Leftovers #2: A Little Honest Q&A
Q: Is there anything you've written that you wish you could have back?
GRIFFIN: "There are a couple of columns I wish I could have back when I have written something tinged with sarcasm and then found out that a guy was hurt or there were other unfortunate extenuating circumstances for a performance."
BAKER: "As far as stories I regret, during my first winter in Toronto in 1998, I received a tip -- on my 30th birthday, no less -- from a source friendly with our paper, that I was assured beforehand was impeccable, that GM Gord Ash and assistant Tim McCleary had a secret meeting in Europe with top Interbrew officials. That winter was a disaster for the team, with the [Tim] Johnson controversy, the SkyDome mess and Roger Clemens about to bolt so everything was closely scrutinized. Well, turns out Ash and McCleary were on a golf holiday in a country different from the one I mentioned. Oops. It was only a brief item, but I felt really stupid and learned right then and there that I am responsible for stuff going in under my name, to trust only my own assurances and to apply the same standards to sports reporting that I did to news."
Editor's Note: Ash and McCleary were traveling ... to play golf? Maybe there's a book in it for Griffin!
Leftovers #3: Quote ... Unquote
"[Playing] football taught me that pain tolerances can vary in athletes and I'd never suggest in print that anyone was faking pain or taking too long to return from injury. I can sympathize greatly with the knee pain Carlos Delgado must be feeling because I know how nagging the constant throb can be." -- Geoff Baker
Leftovers #4: The Last Word
In taking the time last month to visit with Da Box, and in patiently holding their tongues -- make that their keyboards -- while Boxers unleashed everything from honest feedback to honest vitriole, the Star's baseball guys set themselves up to a new kind of pressure enabled by electronic communications and more specifically, blogging.
It was Roger Clemens volunteering to hit for himself against Pedro Martinez. In Shea Stadium.
So let's give the last word, more or less, to Baker:
"I've rarely felt any pressure to 'come up with a story' which is the No. 1 accusation teams, and fans make against papers when controversy flares up. If someone does pressure me to write a story I feel isn't there, I've been known to get very vocal in my refusals and will suggest another approach," he says.
"Reporters can't allow themselves to be bullied into putting their name on stuff they don't believe in. There really is no excuse not to show backbone in those situations and stand up for yourself," Baker continues.
"There is usually enough stuff happening that you really don't have to go looking for controversy, even in a competitive market like this. I find it more rewarding, and a challenge to come up with a good, positive, human-redeeming feature and feel pride when I can scoop rivals that way," he says.
"Like with a Father's Day piece on Frank Catalanotto, or a story about Carlos Tosca's tribulations growing up in communist Cuba, Delgado's aid to Puerto Rican activists, or Aquilino Lopez not having to do factory work anymore …"
Presumably, Baker (and Griffin, for that matter) could continue the list. And by stepping into Da Box over the last month, they have demonstrated the aforementioned backbone.
So, thanks guys. Now, about that "Zombie-Like Cult" reference ...
Oh, and that invitation? Right. Keep reading Da Box, Geoff and Rich. And drop us a note some time.
