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Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Kaos on May 29, 2017, 05:21:02 PM

Title: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Kaos on May 29, 2017, 05:21:02 PM
Frank DeFord, an icon even though he got goofy in his later years, died today.

He was a good writer in his day. 
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Token on May 29, 2017, 09:40:32 PM
Meh.  I've never heard of him or read his writing but I'm certain there's better out there. 

Sorry, no icon status. 
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Kaos on May 29, 2017, 10:19:47 PM
Meh.  I've never heard of him or read his writing but I'm certain there's better out there. 

Sorry, no icon status.

It's a judgment call.
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: AUChizad on May 30, 2017, 05:06:58 PM
Meh.  I've never heard of him or read his writing but I'm certain there's better out there. 

Sorry, no icon status.
(http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100304234511/mortalkombat/es/images/b/b4/Fatality_Johnny_Cage_MK1.gif)
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Token on May 30, 2017, 05:22:02 PM
To be fair to K, he set this thread up to get a bite on the non-icon status so he could jab back with "it's a judgement call". 

I simply obliged. 
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Kaos on May 30, 2017, 06:34:29 PM
To be fair to K, he set this thread up to get a bite on the non-icon status so he could jab back with "it's a judgement call". 

I simply obliged.

Partially true.  I do so enjoy the snark as well as beating the same dead shark in a variety of ways. Keen, ain't it?

In this case I do feel Frank is somewhat iconic. So the timing to generate snark was good.  It was an easy assist.

DeFord's first stint with SI was his best.  I've always wanted to write and his was a style I tried to bring into mine (along with Stephen King, David Housel, Lewis Grizzard..). He had a way of putting the reader into the time and place. Good at setting the stage. His later pieces were too preachy for me. Felt like he was trying to be the story instead of tell somebody else's.

He was also part of the pre-ESPN era. We waited a week to get our sports fix when that shiny magazine appeared in the mailbox. We got pictures and stories about games we had heard about but seen little. We got the weekly doses of info that ESPN now does repeatedly in like a Coors Cold Hard Facts segment.  DeFord was one of the main voices telling those personal, in-depth stories.

For me, he was to SI what Dan and Keith were to Sports Center.

Icon? Maybe. Who knows?
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: GH2001 on May 31, 2017, 07:55:05 AM
It's a judgment call.

What about his voice?

Ok so I'll bite a little. When I first saw snags thread about Cornell I took it very literal. I'll admit I think cornells voice prowess and range are more iconic than his actual body of work or soundgarden. They probably aren't even in my top 25 all time bands.

Pearl Jam and nirvana are much bigger, more iconic bands. But Cornells voice is literally what I speak to in regards to that thread. It's rare for a rocker lead to have a range that wide and high. Plant, Daltry, Perry, Mercury - it's not a huge club. He could wail. He definitely had the most voice talent among the alternative bands in that era. Cobain tended to scream. And shout. Sometimes Vedder is incoherent much like Springsteen. Both good. But Cornell could blow the doors off the place with his pipes.

I know wrong thread. Carry on.
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Kaos on May 31, 2017, 09:12:04 AM
What about his voice?

Ok so I'll bite a little. When I first saw snags thread about Cornell I took it very literal. I'll admit I think cornells voice prowess and range are more iconic than his actual body of work or soundgarden. They probably aren't even in my top 25 all time bands.

Pearl Jam and nirvana are much bigger, more iconic bands. But Cornells voice is literally what I speak to in regards to that thread. It's rare for a rocker lead to have a range that wide and high. Plant, Daltry, Perry, Mercury - it's not a huge club. He could wail. He definitely had the most voice talent among the alternative bands in that era. Cobain tended to scream. And shout. Sometimes Vedder is incoherent much like Springsteen. Both good. But Cornell could blow the doors off the place with his pipes.

I know wrong thread. Carry on.

You forgot Paul Stanley.
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Godfather on May 31, 2017, 09:22:44 AM
You forgot Paul Stanley.

I don't think he did.
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: GH2001 on May 31, 2017, 09:37:19 AM
I don't think he did.

Correct. I listed who I wanted. A 1.25 octave range does not count as a great vocalist. If it did megyn trainor would be iconic.
Title: Re: Sportswriting icon gone
Post by: Snaggletiger on May 31, 2017, 09:47:17 AM
Correct. I listed who I wanted. A 1.25 octave range does not count as a great vocalist. If it did megyn trainor would be iconic.

Not a lot of range there.  She's all about that bass.