(This is cross-posted at Restrictor Plate This.)

I'm not the world's greatest sports blogger; never have claimed to be and never will.  That said, I have my moments when it comes together, this strange brew of the following:

• News references written with the thought of how the last thing I or any other sports blogger should do is reiterate the readily available news of the day and act like I'm doing you a favor by doing so.  I've become aware there are those who prefer the news as filtered and commented upon by myself and other bloggers, so I do make an effort to mention items of genuine interest and/or importance.  I'm not a reporter, though, and I make no claim of being one.
  
• Observations and commentary based on a modicum of racing knowledge mixed with speaking as a fan to other fans.
  
• Entertainment, as I try to give readers cause to laugh and smile by either pointing out the obvious or inventing the absurd.

Mr. McCosky begins:

Give the man credit for honesty.  His job is to generate heat by any means necessary, in this case by stirring the pot regardless of whether it needs it.  This creates controversy -- granted, it's artificially created and stimulated, but all parties concerned are hoping this will be overlooked -- which in turn generates attention.  This brings readers from both the 'love the writer' and 'love to hate the writer' camps.  Regardless of how they were attracted, readers bring higher circulation and/or Web site visits.  This translates into the paper being able to charge higher advertisement fees because all ads contained therein will enjoy more views.  Finally, all parties at the paper get paid, for advertising dollars, not subscriptions nor newsstand sales, are the lifeblood of every metropolitan newspaper.

Okay, time for Mr. McCosky's first fusillade:

Why, may we ask?  Mr. McCosky's getting there.  But first, a tossed out tidbit officially classified as "damning with faint praise:"

Actually, he doesn't, as he now makes clear:

The minister standing behind a pulpit on Sunday morning knows they didn't write the Bible.  However, when they present its message in an accurate manner, is that not to a degree proclaiming the gospel message?  Therefore, are they not part of the message being given?  Same deal with bloggers.  As to Mr. McCosky's kvetch about bloggers using the tools at their disposal in an attempt to discredit legitimate reporters, quite frankly there have been more than enough reporters discrediting themselves for there to be any genuine worry about bloggers being the fly in the ointment.

Good call.

Thanks for noticing.

Please, be my guest.

More than a few bloggers I know are also educated.  Being a journalism school graduate no doubt looks nice on your résumé when you're applying for a job at the paper and/or magazine.  But it guarantees nothing in terms of quality, ethics, accuracy, lack of bias, etc etc etc.

The above snark aside, Mr. McCosky actually has some legitimate points.  Over the years I've come to know how hard a sports beat reporter works, and how difficult their job can ofttimes be.  And yes, if they misrepresent something someone in the sport said, they will hear about it.  Usually in a none too polite fashion.

Mr. McCosky continues:

I can name a dozen blogs guilty of everything mentioned.  I can also mention just as many if not more that have higher standards of fairness, consideration, accountability, and striving for accuracy than I dare say more than a few newspapers and the like.  It's too bad Mr. McCosky chooses to ignore the latter while lambasting the former.

Excuse me for a moment while I rescue the baby from going down the drain with the bathwater... again.  Are there blogs guilty of some or all of the above?  Certainly.  There are just as many if not more blogs that unfailingly assign credit to a story's source, or as is the case with this blog doesn't insult its readership's intelligence by pretending a passed along news item was created by yours truly.  It is regrettable Mr. McCosky is both neglecting to report the whole truth as well as failing to document his accusations by providing examples.  In other words, he is writing in the same manner as the blogs he is criticizing.  The blogging evangel covers you as well, Mr. McCosky.  Never become what you profess to oppose.  Yet this is precisely what he has done.

I don't know about the "clever" dude in his pajamas.  I don't have a basement, either.

I make no effort to defend bloggers whose shortcomings were outlined by Mr. McCosky.  I also strongly resent any attempt to marginalize, classify, stereotype, and tar all sports bloggers with the same brush.  If the defendant is guilty, feel free to throw the book at them.  However, just because the jury is made up of the defendant's peers does not mean they also deserve to be thrown in jail.

Get all your facts straight next time, Mr. McCosky.  Perhaps then more might be inclined to listen.