Some thoughts on how the "sports media" world works, for better or worse

Not sure if this piece makes sense, but here we go.

This is admittedly a very meta piece, and unless you are truly fascinated in how my business works, I’m not sure whether you’ll find it interesting or not.

But I want to chat about the very weird and convoluted “sports media” world that we live in, which for better or worse has become harder and harder to define.

Let me give you an example.

Last week, on the Steve Dangle Podcast, one of the most popular hockey podcasts¹, co-host Adam Wylde made a comment about how Jason Robertson was difficult to work with and potentially had someone in his orbit that would make the Dallas Stars forward unattractive to the Vancouver Canucks.

I heard about said comment because one of my readers sent me a note on social media asking me about the “spicy nugget” that was brought up about Robertson. Another reader of this site also sent me an email linking to that episode, asking me what was up with this hidden version of Robertson they’d never heard about.

Because readers of mine brought it up, and those people happened to be Stars fans, I brought up discussing the comment with my good friend an DLLS Stars co-host² Owen Newkirk and whether we should discuss it on the DLLS Stars podcast.

We decided it was worth talking about because our show is built around Stars fan’s interests, it’s the entire point of the platform All City created down there in Texas, and instead of addressing it right away I asked our producer to reach out to Adam to get any potential clarification on what Adam was referring to.

He never responded, and a day later, we discussed those comments on Thursday’s show. I shared my view of Robertson, which I admit comes with some rose-colored glasses³, but I think was pretty fair from my level of expertise.

Now, the DLLS Stars show is still in it’s infancy⁴, but because of how social media works, when the DLLS account posted the clip fans went and tagged Wylde and the Steve Dangle podcast accounts⁵, and then launched a bit of it’s own twitter-conversation.

This is just an example of how the sausage is made, it’s weird and messy and the finished product (if we can ever call it that) don’t really make much sense.

Which brings me back to the discussion of where we are, how this all works, and trying to figure out what exactly this all is at times, because it’s never been easier and never been harder at the same time get a voice in this space.

Take me for example, I’m a Detroit-based hockey writer that works for Elite Prospects, DLLS, D Magazine, and maintains his own site on top of other freelance gigs. I’m not a Detroit Red Wings beat writer, but I’m at most home game and write about them frequently. I’m not a Stars beat writer, but because of my history covering the franchise, I keep writing about them, even from afar.

Two of the hockey writers I read the most, and two of the most under-rated in the county in my view, are Sam Stockton and Robert Tiffin.

Sam covers the Red Wings as a beat writer for The Hockey News and operates the tremendous Michigan hockey-based substack, Gulo Gulo Hockey. Based on his workload it looks like Sam does this full-time, but because of how the economics work⁶ he’s effectively self-made and works another gig to make sure he can continue to grow himself as a hockey writer.

Robert is a colleague at D Magazine on a freelance basis, and also runs Stars Thoughts, an independent site covering Dallas on the daily that rivals anyone being paid full-time to be there⁷. Like Sam, Robert, doesn’t have a full-time job in this space, but if you aren’t reading his work on the team he covers, you are missing out.

So it’s great that we’ve got a business now where smart people, who view the game from a creative angle, are able to join the fray and we can find them. It’s also created the space where, defining what’s fact vs. fiction and what’s podcast musing vs reporting have never been harder to distinguish.

Everyone now has to be a columnist AND a reporter. The business has become more devoid of pure beat writers, although I would argue Matt DeFranks and some others has proven it still works, and there are times it leads to some natural confusion for those who are consuming the media.

For example, on that same DLLS Stars show on Thursday, my other co-host Craig Ludwig noted he felt something was off about the timing of Lian Bichsel being called up. In Craig’s view, something else must be happening, and on the YouTube stream you can see me throw up a “three” with my fingers.

If you watched it, and I know some people have already dissected it online, you might have come to a conclusion Craig and I were telling you there was a trade in place for Matt Dumba leaving Dallas. When it reality, I was having some fun on a show, and in hindsight should have clarified on air that I was joking with Craig about what I would do if I were the Stars, not trying to cryptically leak a deal or something like that.

This business has evolved, some ways for better and some ways for worse. It’s an accessory to an entertainment business, that’s why you watch sports, so if reading my work or listening to something I’m part of doesn’t add to you enjoyment of the game (and yes, I believe learning is enjoyable), than you shouldn’t pay attention to me.

But it’s also a business that is rooted in fact, even if teams do everything in their power now to limit access and control the message⁸.

I’m not sure if, or how, this piece has a proper conclusion — it’s effectively the morning ramblings of a madman. But I’d like it to at least be used in some conversation here at Shap Shots, and also make the point that if anything I ever write/say/report, etc.. needs some further clarification for you as a reader, I think it’s my job to explain it to you keep any earned trust.

OK, we’ll be back later today with some other more traditional hockey writing. Thanks for letting me empty the brain this morning in this space.

1. No. 13 most listened to in the United States according to this chart, and frequently getting more than 45,000 views per episode on YouTube.

2. If we are being honest, Owen is really the host and runs the whole show. He’s the connector, I’m just the hired gun that shows up for two shows a week.

3. When I lost my job at my prior employer, Jason’s dad, Hugh met me for a coffee to just talk about life and family. It was one of the kinder things anyone did for me when I was going through a very difficult time in my life. Even though I’ve been critical of Jason’s play at times, the Robertson family has always treated my with respect.

4. I don’t know audio views, but a typical episode gets about 500 views on YouTube, unless it’s against a Canadien team where views that typically triple.

5. It should be noted, this is one of reasons I requested we reach out of any potential clarification before talking about it on the show.

6. I know how The Hockey News economics work because they have twice approached me about running team sites.

7. Robert also occasionally does some reporting/note-taking for me. For example, I asked him today to see if he could ask a question to a player for something I’m working on over at D Magazine. He is truly one of the best humans in this business, and he’s not even technically in it.

8. The power of team-run media is a story for another day.