MISTER FADED GLORY
I'd call this blog a "Critique of Life," except that sounds way too pretentious.
Watch for my first novel, These Monks, a comedy about friendship, frustration, and Des Moines, available later this year.
Email me: jjh(at)misterfadedglory.com.
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Category Archives: Sports
How to build a cheeky sports blog with everyone else’s ideas [Grantland Review]
First, there’s nothing wrong with Grantland. Let’s just get that out of the way. It’s fine. As a landing spot for talented essayists yearning to boost their profile, it’s understandable. As a home for willful expansion of silly twitter asides, … Continue reading
Posted in Irony?, Sports, Sports Media, Writing
Tagged AV Club, blogs, Chuck Klosterman, Content Marketing, Deadspin, Drew Magary, ESPN, Filmdrunk, Grantland, Hipsters, Katie Baker, Kissing Suzy Kolber, Louis CK, Lunchroom Effect, Simmons, Strategy, Videogum, Web sites
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Return of the NBA Daft
Normally I spend the introduction – or preview – of my annual NBA Draft column trying to justify why I bother to evaluate the NBA Draft with pithy comments. Failing that, I wax nostalgic about drafts of yore. Gone are … Continue reading
Posted in Column Gimmicks, NBA
Tagged Allan Houston, Enes Kantor, Lindsey Hunter, NBA Daft, NBA Draft, Pancakes
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The High Road Does Not Lead to Cleveland
At least it’s over. Not how I expected, but since July 9, 2010, we’ve endured an unprecedented stream of value judgments about LeBron James. Which is fine. He’s a public figure, an athlete, and he should answer for his performance … Continue reading
Posted in Journalism, NBA, Sports Media
Tagged Cleveland, Dan Gilbert, Dan Wetzel, Kelly Dwyer, Lebron James, Scott Raab, Wright Thompson
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LeBron vs. Michael, Heat vs. Bulls, and History vs. Honesty
Count me as one of the Miami Heat’s few admirers on the precipice of the NBA Finals. In fact, I take great pride in my bandwagon support of the Heat, securely rooting against most of sports media. I have nothing … Continue reading
Contradiction Alert: Joe Posnanski
I go out of my way to praise Joe Posnanski. He’s an effortless, skilled writer who has no peer when offering sublime, subtle columns on sports and life. Just as often, Joe gleefully admonishes the old-guard of baseball writers for … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Sports Media
Tagged Clutch, Heart, Hypocrisy in Sports Media, Joe Posnanski, Luck, StatHeads
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The Backlash Ends
Well, that was fast. You might remember when I predicted the teeth-gnashing, hand-wringing and brow-furrowing at LeBron’s decision would completely recede if and when he started winning titles. Well, it’s been 10 months. Turns out, that’s plenty of time for … Continue reading
Posted in Basketball, Sports Media
Tagged Backlash, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland, Frontlash, Lebron James, Miami Heat, Sportswriter Crutches, The Decision
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Land of Confusion: The New (Old?) Washington Wizards
We’re in a renaissance period for NBA uniform design. Utah and Philadelphia each implemented gorgeous retro designs last season. Even Golden State’s new uniforms worked surprisingly well, in spite of the use of Copperplate font. The Washington Wizards become the … Continue reading
Posted in Editing & Design, Marketing, Uniforms and logos
Tagged Design Critique, Missed Opportunities, NBA, Rebrading, Washington Wizards
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HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO: You’ll often find me railing against sportswriters who join a parade of groupthink with no comprehension for dissent, or worse, no comprehension for differing demographics, value or points of view. For example, pick … Continue reading
Posted in Basketball, Marketing, Sports Media
Tagged Groupthink, Jersey sales, Lebron James, The Decision
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You, too, can be a national columnist for a major sports website!
The Masters just ended, and you now sport your porkpie sportswriter’s hat. That’s right, gang, you’re fully prepared to write a half-baked column about the world’s most prestigious golf tournament. But first, consult your ESPN style manual, and make sure … Continue reading
Posted in Golf, Humor?, Sports Media
Tagged Charl Schwartzel, Cowherd, ESPN, Masters, porkpie hats, Reilly, Simmons, The Machismo Code, Tiger Woods
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BATTLE OF THE JIMS: If, like me, you’re a Syracuse fan struggling to come to grips with Jim Calhoun’s ascension into basketball’s elite after the third men’s basketball title, you’d do well to read Sean Keeley’s dissection of Syracuse’s Jim … Continue reading
Final Bracket Gnash. Someone really voted Ohio State no. 1?
The coaches’ poll released after the NCAA Tournament is always an exercise in futility. Of course the No. 1 team should be unanimous. Of course it should be the NCAA Champion. This year, however, some oaf decided to cast a … Continue reading
WHEEZING TO THE FINISH: I hate to complain, but another NCAA Tournament is nearly in the books, and I can’t be the only person underwhelmed with the final two? Sure, last year’s pairing of Duke vs. Butler was just as … Continue reading
NCAA Brackets 2011: The Cranky Sportswriters.
Sure, everyone gnashes teeth when the brackets release on Selection Sunday, openly furious that mediocre schools missed the cut while other mediocre schools earned a bid. This is a calling card of the NCAA Tournament and the Selection Committee. As … Continue reading
Posted in College Basketball, Sports Media
Tagged ESPN, Grumpy Old Men, Mike Wilbon, NCAA Tournament
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