Apartment404's first annual "Knights of the Blog Table" discussion, with three respected members of the sportswriting world.
Blogtable Participants
King Peter -- Senior Writer for Swimsuit Illustrated. King Peter is known principally as the father of a member of the US Junior National Candlepin Bowling team, but he also writes a six times a week column for SI called Monday Morning Quarterback: Wednesday Mid-Morning Edition, Thursday Late-Afternoon edition, etc.. MEQWMME is considered a must read by all swimwear fans.
Bobby Nonbudsman -- Sports Columnist for the Boston Brahim. This columnist, whose claim to fame is his groundbreaking coverage of the New England Tea Men soccer team in the 1970s, was a member of the New England Sportswriting Hall of Fame's inaugural class of 2006. He was joined by Gerry Callahan (voted in by the Retired Too Early Committee), Mike Barnicle (Sports Fiction Department), and Doris Kearns Goodwin (Contributors Section). It was Bobby N's idea to write a detailed account of an actual pro soccer game. And though the book sold well, "5,400 Seconds" disappointed Mr. Nonbudsman's many followers in that it was boring as hell.
"Little SportsFan" Danny O'Reilly -- Sports Columnist for the Boston Brahim. Known for his best selling book, "Speaking Power to Truth: How to Succeed in the Business World", Danny writes a twice weekly sports column for Ye Olde Boston Brahim Daily Reader, the most respected, historic, and stale newspaper in all New England. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and competing in triathlons in his spare time.
=====================================
404 -- Hi guys. Thanks, King and Bobby, for traveling all the way up here to Portland. The time and effort is appreciated. Let's first say that never, ever has there been such a bunch of cr....
(door opens)
Danny -- ... Sorry I'm late folks. Just got off the cell phone with the big man, John Henry. We were tossing around ideas about how we...I mean the Red Sox, can improve their bullpen. I thought that maybe, just maybe El Guapo had a few fastballs left. JH said he'd consider my idea. Wow, is he a great guy!
404 -- Glad you could show, Danny. OK, gang's all here. First question; why does the Brahim's web site suck so bad? I spend a week there yesterday afternoon trying to find an article on BC basketball. What gives?
Danny, and Bobby, in unison -- Not our fault! Not our fault! Blame the bigwigs down in Providence. You know that town runs most of New England. Shoot, we can't fart without permission from Providence.
404 -- Ok, understood. We know what's it's like to have to deal with thoughtless troublemakers in positions of authority, so fine. The Pats season is over, memorable and heart wrenching as it was. The Celtics and Bruins are done, basically. Just what is a Boston area sports fan supposed to look forward to in the coming months?
King -- I can't wait for the NFL Draft. I eat that stuff up. After that, well, I'm a huge NBA fan, so the playoffs and then the NBA Draft are always fun. Other than that, hell, Boston sports ain't got much going on. BC football has spring practice, then the opener against Maine Maritime in September. Really, I'm from Jersey, so Boston sports isn't all that interesting to me.
Danny -- Yeah, I agree. It's going to be a long summer. Although, we at the Brahim have gathered some "insider" information; the Red Sox are installing a dome over Fenway Park. They're going to call it New Fenway Field, and Janet Marie Smith is claiming they'll seat more than the Patriots when they're done. Thirty thousand Club Seats! Awesome!
Bobby -- A dome over Fenway? Really? I hadn't heard that. When was this announced?
King -- Oh, yeah. The Red Sox. Completely slipped my mind. I was thinking about candlepin bowling techniques and strategies. Fascinating sport that candlepin bowling. Lots of high school kids get scholarships out it. Can you believe it?
404 -- Yeah, we have a second cousin who got through Rutgers on a bumper car full boat. Back to the interview. We here in the Apartment are always interested in what and who influences people that we respect.. Let's start with you, King. Who did you read when you were growing up?
King -- When I was a boy, I loved to read Mike Lupica. Man, that was a long time ago. He was terrific, just nailed everything. Yeah, those were good times.
Bobby -- I didn't read much as a kid, actually. More of an outdoorsman. Lots of nature walks, camping, and hunting stuff. A normal childhood. Once I entered Berklee Musical Academy, well, the thought of opening a book was the last thing on my mind. Studying the recorder is a full time deal. But I mastered it, didn't I?
Danny -- My favorite authors as a kid were Ayn Rand, Faulkner, and Dostoevsky. You know, the stuff Groton kids read to impress college recruiters.
404 -- Smart move, Danny. Trying to read Faulkner is a real pain. You know it's impressive, but fucking impossibly long and hard to follow what he was talking about. Congrats.
Danny -- Hey, Apartment, I have a question for you: what gives with the whole "'Pent" bullshit? I happen to know you and your staff work in a dumpy, dark place up in the wilds of Maine. And how dare you pass judgement on us Brahimites and Swimsuit Illustrated writers. We run things, and you have no right to question us.
404 -- Sorry, Danny. Most of the staff have a lot of free time, since we get fired a lot. That and the whole "home base" thing is a major concern. To be honest, we will think fondly of The Brahim, Channel 5, Bob Lobel, Dana Kersey's Movie Loft, Joe Fitzgerald, and Charles Laquidera, to name just a few of the folks and institutions we grew up reading, watching, and listening to in southern New Hampshire. It's quite cool to have the internet, iPods, sand instead of salt, and all that. But we miss the smell and sight of the smoke wafting over center ice at the Garden, the ass numbing hardness of the benches at Schaefer/Sullivan/Foxboro, and a domeless Fenway. Christ, we here in the 'Pent are getting old. Probably going to need script for Rogaine and Viagra pretty soon. Damn.
King, Danny, and Bobby, in unison -- What the hell! Thought YOU were interviewing US, 404. We drive all the way up I95 in 0 degree weather and we have to see you, your staff, interns, and the cooking crew all lose it like this? We have better things to do than reminisce about guys like the everlasting Gary Doak, Charles "Atlas" Bradley, Don Blackman kicking ass in a Pats uni, or the green green Fenway grass that takes a young kid's breath right out of their body. Get with the program. New Fenway Field is being finished as we speak. The Bruins and Celtics owners really don't care much. And the Patriots can't win it every year. Shit, let's go eat a late lunch. We're outta here...
404 -- Sure you guys won't stay? UCLA is playing tonight. They kick ass. Play the game the right way. No?
King -- I gotta get back to Jersey for my kid's frigging tournament of something. It never ends.
Danny -- Nope. I have a column due at 8 o'clock. What time is it? Almost 7:45, right? I'm gone.
Bobby -- My UMass-Lowell alumni group is having a get-together down in Lynn somewhere. I'll get directions on the drive down. Thanks for having us up, though. Christ, this place is tiny.
404 -- ....Bye.
King Peter -- Senior Writer for Swimsuit Illustrated. King Peter is known principally as the father of a member of the US Junior National Candlepin Bowling team, but he also writes a six times a week column for SI called Monday Morning Quarterback: Wednesday Mid-Morning Edition, Thursday Late-Afternoon edition, etc.. MEQWMME is considered a must read by all swimwear fans.
Bobby Nonbudsman -- Sports Columnist for the Boston Brahim. This columnist, whose claim to fame is his groundbreaking coverage of the New England Tea Men soccer team in the 1970s, was a member of the New England Sportswriting Hall of Fame's inaugural class of 2006. He was joined by Gerry Callahan (voted in by the Retired Too Early Committee), Mike Barnicle (Sports Fiction Department), and Doris Kearns Goodwin (Contributors Section). It was Bobby N's idea to write a detailed account of an actual pro soccer game. And though the book sold well, "5,400 Seconds" disappointed Mr. Nonbudsman's many followers in that it was boring as hell.
"Little SportsFan" Danny O'Reilly -- Sports Columnist for the Boston Brahim. Known for his best selling book, "Speaking Power to Truth: How to Succeed in the Business World", Danny writes a twice weekly sports column for Ye Olde Boston Brahim Daily Reader, the most respected, historic, and stale newspaper in all New England. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and competing in triathlons in his spare time.
=====================================
404 -- Hi guys. Thanks, King and Bobby, for traveling all the way up here to Portland. The time and effort is appreciated. Let's first say that never, ever has there been such a bunch of cr....
(door opens)
Danny -- ... Sorry I'm late folks. Just got off the cell phone with the big man, John Henry. We were tossing around ideas about how we...I mean the Red Sox, can improve their bullpen. I thought that maybe, just maybe El Guapo had a few fastballs left. JH said he'd consider my idea. Wow, is he a great guy!
404 -- Glad you could show, Danny. OK, gang's all here. First question; why does the Brahim's web site suck so bad? I spend a week there yesterday afternoon trying to find an article on BC basketball. What gives?
Danny, and Bobby, in unison -- Not our fault! Not our fault! Blame the bigwigs down in Providence. You know that town runs most of New England. Shoot, we can't fart without permission from Providence.
404 -- Ok, understood. We know what's it's like to have to deal with thoughtless troublemakers in positions of authority, so fine. The Pats season is over, memorable and heart wrenching as it was. The Celtics and Bruins are done, basically. Just what is a Boston area sports fan supposed to look forward to in the coming months?
King -- I can't wait for the NFL Draft. I eat that stuff up. After that, well, I'm a huge NBA fan, so the playoffs and then the NBA Draft are always fun. Other than that, hell, Boston sports ain't got much going on. BC football has spring practice, then the opener against Maine Maritime in September. Really, I'm from Jersey, so Boston sports isn't all that interesting to me.
Danny -- Yeah, I agree. It's going to be a long summer. Although, we at the Brahim have gathered some "insider" information; the Red Sox are installing a dome over Fenway Park. They're going to call it New Fenway Field, and Janet Marie Smith is claiming they'll seat more than the Patriots when they're done. Thirty thousand Club Seats! Awesome!
Bobby -- A dome over Fenway? Really? I hadn't heard that. When was this announced?
King -- Oh, yeah. The Red Sox. Completely slipped my mind. I was thinking about candlepin bowling techniques and strategies. Fascinating sport that candlepin bowling. Lots of high school kids get scholarships out it. Can you believe it?
404 -- Yeah, we have a second cousin who got through Rutgers on a bumper car full boat. Back to the interview. We here in the Apartment are always interested in what and who influences people that we respect.. Let's start with you, King. Who did you read when you were growing up?
King -- When I was a boy, I loved to read Mike Lupica. Man, that was a long time ago. He was terrific, just nailed everything. Yeah, those were good times.
Bobby -- I didn't read much as a kid, actually. More of an outdoorsman. Lots of nature walks, camping, and hunting stuff. A normal childhood. Once I entered Berklee Musical Academy, well, the thought of opening a book was the last thing on my mind. Studying the recorder is a full time deal. But I mastered it, didn't I?
Danny -- My favorite authors as a kid were Ayn Rand, Faulkner, and Dostoevsky. You know, the stuff Groton kids read to impress college recruiters.
404 -- Smart move, Danny. Trying to read Faulkner is a real pain. You know it's impressive, but fucking impossibly long and hard to follow what he was talking about. Congrats.
Danny -- Hey, Apartment, I have a question for you: what gives with the whole "'Pent" bullshit? I happen to know you and your staff work in a dumpy, dark place up in the wilds of Maine. And how dare you pass judgement on us Brahimites and Swimsuit Illustrated writers. We run things, and you have no right to question us.
404 -- Sorry, Danny. Most of the staff have a lot of free time, since we get fired a lot. That and the whole "home base" thing is a major concern. To be honest, we will think fondly of The Brahim, Channel 5, Bob Lobel, Dana Kersey's Movie Loft, Joe Fitzgerald, and Charles Laquidera, to name just a few of the folks and institutions we grew up reading, watching, and listening to in southern New Hampshire. It's quite cool to have the internet, iPods, sand instead of salt, and all that. But we miss the smell and sight of the smoke wafting over center ice at the Garden, the ass numbing hardness of the benches at Schaefer/Sullivan/Foxboro, and a domeless Fenway. Christ, we here in the 'Pent are getting old. Probably going to need script for Rogaine and Viagra pretty soon. Damn.
King, Danny, and Bobby, in unison -- What the hell! Thought YOU were interviewing US, 404. We drive all the way up I95 in 0 degree weather and we have to see you, your staff, interns, and the cooking crew all lose it like this? We have better things to do than reminisce about guys like the everlasting Gary Doak, Charles "Atlas" Bradley, Don Blackman kicking ass in a Pats uni, or the green green Fenway grass that takes a young kid's breath right out of their body. Get with the program. New Fenway Field is being finished as we speak. The Bruins and Celtics owners really don't care much. And the Patriots can't win it every year. Shit, let's go eat a late lunch. We're outta here...
404 -- Sure you guys won't stay? UCLA is playing tonight. They kick ass. Play the game the right way. No?
King -- I gotta get back to Jersey for my kid's frigging tournament of something. It never ends.
Danny -- Nope. I have a column due at 8 o'clock. What time is it? Almost 7:45, right? I'm gone.
Bobby -- My UMass-Lowell alumni group is having a get-together down in Lynn somewhere. I'll get directions on the drive down. Thanks for having us up, though. Christ, this place is tiny.
404 -- ....Bye.
posted by joe sweeney at 7:55 AM
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