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The line between professionalism and pettiness

PITTSBURGH - APRIL 14:  Head coach Cory Clouston of the Ottawa Senators addresses the media after Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Mellon Arena on April 14, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The Senators defeated the Penguins 5-4.  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

"I don't want to be accused by some blogger of having a vendetta against Cory Clouston, so I'll just say that, uh, and not that it matters what that person thinks anyway, but Cory Clouston was an excuse machine after every game. It was never his fault."

Above are the words of Ottawa Sun columnist Bruce Garrioch on the TEAM 1200 last Friday (about 1:29 into the clip), which one would assume is referencing yours truly and citing a blog post written a little over a month ago about Garrioch's quizzical grudge against former Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliott.

Let me, first off, be clear about something: I have no problem with Bruce Garrioch personally. I've never met the guy, and all I know of him is what I've gathered by reading and listening to his reports in the media, but I'm sure he's a friendly guy with whom it'd be fun to talk hockey. Nor do I have a problem with criticism, when done fairly and with respect, and criticism is a huge part of the job for a sports analyst.

What I have a problem with, and what many critics of Garrioch and the Sun have a problem with, are unprofessional comments. There is a very clear line between professional criticism and personal character attacks. Garrioch has shown the ability to offer fair and respectful criticism; in fact, he did so in the above-linked comments about Clouston. But my post about his vendetta--and I can think of no better word to describe it--against Elliott outlined eight very obvious instances where Garrioch crossed that line and, for whatever reason, started attacking Elliott personally.

As a final comment to Garrioch, I'll simply say this: If you don't want "some blogger" to accuse you of lacking professionalism, then act like a professional. It's pretty straightforward.

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He seems to thrive on negative reporting and alienating his potential readership. His propensity for blocking people on twitter has become a thing of legend. Seems to me that wouldn’t be an issue to someone who maintained a professional demeanour. Then again I’m not sure that’s a priority for Sun Media, seeing as how they still have Sunshine Girls. Not really the sort of feature you’d expect in a serious news outlet.

Here’s what I’m wondering – since so much of reporting is connections, etc., wouldn’t the constant sniping at the team only harm him? Are people really going to talk to him if they know that later he’ll just give them a cute nickname like ‘excuse machine’ or ’it’s not my fault’?

No, actually I can't get enough of Spezza's nerdy laugh.

by Jonana on Aug 22, 2011 9:27 AM EDT reply actions  

The sniping only seems to come after their departures

I would guess that players don’t read/care about what’s said after they’re gone?

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

And there's only so much media to go around

Unfortunately, the Sun is a large chunk of the mainstream media coverage for the Sens.

by B_T on Aug 22, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

I wondered how he read your tweet yesterday though

You didn’t use his username, so either he was following you, or he was active doing a search for “Garrioch” on twitter. Ha!

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Aug 22, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

Twitter

Garrioch actually blocked me from twitter just this past weekend when I made an airport security/beer joke.

Peter, you are far kinder and gentler than most. I don’t know how you can say that he’s probably a friendly guy. I don’t see one thing that he has ever done, both in his articles or in the community, that would lead us to believe he is a friendly guy. Does he volunteer at Roger’s House? Does he use his position to help give tickets to underprivileged kids? I’m sure he’d tell us if he did. All he has shown us is that he likes to golf and that he has a personal vendetta against a handful of current and former Senators. Peter, there’s a reason Garrioch still writes for a smut paper and guys like Roy MacGregor and Michael Farber moved on to the national papers. Pick your role models carefully.
  
I guess at the end of the day, the joke is on us because we’re limited to reading their beat reports or the Citizen. In my mind, I’m perfectly content going into next season reading this site, 6th Sens, Mendes, and James Gordon. Doesn’t affect the bottom line for the Sun, but at least I don’t have to let Garrioch, Brennan, etc. ruin my day with their ‘op-ed’ pieces on why Clouston and Elliott are awful people.

by Geoff Cheek on Aug 22, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

I like you

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

I only go to the Sun when the guys here link them.

I’ve said it a bunch of times – SSS, Chirp, 6th, Mendes – those are my go-to guys for Sens news. Garrioch is a moron.

by The Tif on Aug 23, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

100% in agreement with you Peter
As a final comment to Garrioch, I’ll simply say this: If you don’t want “some blogger” to accuse you of lacking professionalism, then act like a professional. It’s pretty straightforward.

It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

by DW19 on Aug 22, 2011 1:45 PM EDT reply actions  

You and Garrioch should switch jobs.

But then this blog would almost certainly be much worse. Maybe you guys can meet halfway and just start having SiverSevenSenshine girls.

by oldmonk on Aug 22, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions  

I'd love to chat with Garrioch

I’m sure he’s learned a lot in his career as a writer that could help me become a better one. And it may sound like I’m being sarcastic, but I’m not; I’d just take a vastly different approach to sportswriting were I in his position.

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 22, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Do you think he does it for pageviews?

Same way Cherry is borderline racist and goes off on his old man rants because that’s what keeps him popular/relevant?

by The Tif on Aug 23, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

man be real

i’ve met a number of well established journalists in ottawa on a number of different occasions and let me tell you this — the only thing you can learn from a guy like garrioch is bad habits. the only thing he has that you don’t is full media access and a multi-million dollar company behind him. in terms of pure writing there is absolutely nothing you can learn from him. all his experience has gained him is some sort of pompous, self-indulgent attitude. it’s just unfortunate that people like my dad(and many of his generation) do not browse the internet for sports blogs; they are content to read what’s in the newspaper and, as they’ve been taught all their lives, believe it because it’s in print media. the fact that he’s printed on paper and you’re online unfortunately still gives him some sort of ass-backwards legitimacy because someone is willing to pay him money to write and distribute this garbage, thus giving naive media consumers the feeling that it must be legit. i wish i could meet him too, but i would tell him that he’s a stinky ass-clown fuck nugget whose family, if anyone were daft enough to marry that guy, should be embarassed to sport his name. yes. i feel that strongly. you, peter, are a great writer. better than he is on ALL accounts.

by Caden on Aug 24, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

OH IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG....

Seriously though, the whole “just be professional” thing is something I feel like someone has been needing to say to the Sun’s sports people for a while. I always find myself saying “but wait a sec, it’s just the Sun….” but that really isn’t any excuse ,is it?

Anyways, long live Ian Mendes!!! And long live Robin Hood!! :D

by Ibanez_Guy on Aug 22, 2011 2:29 PM EDT reply actions  

You sell yourself short

Peter, you sell yourself way short. I’d sooner read anything you write than Garrioch anyday.

People like Garrioch and Brennan don’t feel very good about themselves so they project their negative stuff on others. At least Garrioch can be mildly entertaining with his attacks and with the crap he says once in a while. Brennan not so much.

by Marvellous on Aug 23, 2011 8:01 AM EDT reply actions  

Everytime Garrioch says something like this it really annoys me

He always tries to make the blogger seem like some hack who knows nothing about hockey, and never really addresses the fact that he DOES seem to have a personal vendetta against a player. Driving me crazy.

by Kangfish on Aug 23, 2011 9:36 AM EDT reply actions  

Doesn't bother me

Mainstream media reporters can dismiss bloggers as long as they want, it doesn’t make us any less relevant to our readers. It just makes the MSMers seem delusional.

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 23, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

And another thing to add to that...

…about the MSM in general is that many of them who’re hostile or uneasy about the whole concept of “bloggers” in general (and of course there are many good people in the MSM who’ve adapted to the growing role that blogging has in pro sports quite well too) will come off as though the bloggers couldn’t know anything about hockey (or whichever sport) despite the fact that they themselves have usually been trained as journalists, not in any technical aspects of the sports they cover.

by dzuunmod on Aug 24, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Philosophically Different

The Sun likes to emotionally arouse its readers. The comments to Sun articles are very telling. “Leafs suck” , “no, Sens suck”. There is no respect shown nor reasonable discussion. That’s the common denominator with most fan comments in mainstream online media outlets.

S7S on the other hand is different. We may occasionally have heated discussions, but we very seldom succumb to cheap insults because if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be persuasive and not better in putting people down. This is a small community and I have always been impressed with the posts here: objective (most times), intelligent, insightful and respectful of opinions.

With that in mind, it’s a vindication of S7S’s reputation when Garrioch is annoyed with you.

by whatsinaname on Aug 24, 2011 7:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Oh, what the hell

I concur, Leafs suck! I feel better.

by whatsinaname on Aug 25, 2011 11:07 AM EDT reply actions  

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