Writer Just Your Average Philly Columnist

As some of you may have noticed, Inquirer columnist Frank Fitzpatrick wrote a piece on Friday titled "Morning Bytes: Blogger just your average Philly fan" which took a look at the live blogging I did for the Eagles season opener over at AOL's Fanhouse.  I felt Mr. Fitzpatrick was rather off base with many of the things he said, so I wrote him a letter:

Hey Frank,

First off, thanks for writing about me and my blog in the Inquirer.  It's always cool to see your own name in print.  I thought I'd clear some things up for you.  While I pride myself on just writing from a fans point of view, I take some offense to you saying I'm a "prototypical Philly fan" while inferring I was "quick to condemn players" and "always perched on the edge of the bandwagon, ready to leap at the drop of a pass."

I realize you've been writing about sports for the Inquirer for over a quarter of a century.  Hell, that's longer than I've been alive.  While this may give you "credentials" in some areas, it may detract from your "credentials" in other areas, namely the Internet and blogging.  I'm not sure if you really understand the concept of "live blogging" or blogging in general.  Maybe you should consult with your colleague Dan Rubin, while he, like you, may have his AARP card, he seems to "get" the idea of blogging, even if he is a few days behind the curve on some Internet phenomena.

You say "the Bird Blogger quickly revealed himself, not as the next Red Smith but as the prototypical Philly fan."  I don't think you get it.  The last thing I want to be is the next Red Smith, or even a Ray Didinger or Les Bowen (two guys I respect and admire) for that matter.  While you may still get all your info from print papers, they are no longer the only source for sports information.  There are websites and writers out there who are changing the way people watch and care about sports.  I'd rather strive to be Bill Simmons than Bill Conlin, it's just more fun being a fan.  I don't want or try to be objective.  I'm just a Philly sports fan; I'm just not prototypical.  You were close.

Now that we cleared that up, there are a few more problems with your article:

• You comment on my criticizing Donte Stallworth for dropping a pass in the 4th quarter.  Prior to my comment, I praised Stallworth repeatedly; he had a phenomenal day.  Perhaps you didn't notice the "!@#!" after my comment or perhaps as you get older you just lose your sense of sarcasm.
• You comment on how I stated earlier in the week that Westbrook should return punts  and how I linked to that post, like people wouldn't really believe me.  This is the Internet, linking is good.
• Speaking of linking, you pick and choose quotes from my lengthy live blog.  What you don't do is tell your readers where they can get the full context of the quotes.  It's called a URL and you MSM types seem to dislike allowing anyone to go anywhere that isn't your own domain.  Yet you criticize bloggers who are the first to give credit where it is due.
• You also seem to have no idea about who I am or what my credentials are.  Maybe you should try a search engine. You can find out lots of stuff on there.  I spent about 2 minutes and found out you were nominated for a Pulitzer, wrote a book about the '83 Phillies, hate badminton, and live in West Chester.
• While I'm not claiming to have any credentials here at The700Level, AOL's Fanhouse is a network of paid bloggers.  Not just anyone can go over and talk about the wings they ate during halftime on AOL's Fanhouse.  I've done something to earn that right, even if it was while I was wearing my pajamas.
• The live blog you quote is found on AOL's Fanhouse.  Fan + House = place for fans to say what fans think.
• Also, I'm the biggest McNabb backer out there, I'd link you to it all, but it seems like you don't like links.

So there you go Frank, I just wanted to clear all that up for you.  And I'm probably going to start reading more of your stuff now since I know you've checked out mine.  Everybody likes to be heard.

Sincerely,
Enrico
www.the700level.com
Eagles Blogger, AOL Fanhouse

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One of the coolest things to come of being in the Inquirer was the support I got from readers, other bloggers, and random websites on the internet.  After the jump I share some phenomenal quotes from some of them.

One of my favorites was from a fellow Philly blogger over at The BM Rant.  I recommend reading his entire post titled "Frank Fitzpatrick is a Tool", but I'll post an excerpt:

Not sure what Campitell’s credentials are - not that blogging requires anything more than a computer and a pair of pajamas.

Groundbreaking stuff, Frank. Mid-Atlantic Pulitzer level stuff. Kudos. Letting the world know that anyone can blog is a real knock on the whole thing. I know that the whole revolution of blogging pisses off crotchety assholes like you who shit their pants at the prospect of having their precious papers marginalized. My guess is you’re only one more bad subscription drive away from a buyout. I’d take it this time. When your employer links to 700 blogs before even pointing the reader toward your hackneyed prose, it’s time to walk off into retirement.

Another gem was from a post on the Giants Fanhouse titled "City of Brotherly Love?"

Please don't get me wrong, there is no love lost between myself and Eagles fans or even my Eagles "partners" here on AOL Fanhouse, but I can not help but to sit back and laugh at Fitzpatrick. Three days prior to a pivotal meeting between the Giants and the Eagles, Fitzpatrick takes it upon himself to completely bash a blogger. This was an ultimate low for Philadelphia, their fans and their writers. To attack one of your own for no apparent reason - it literally put me back into my seat. Perhaps it made Fitzpatrick feel like more of a man by proclaiming "Blogger just your average Philly fan." Be that as it may, Fitzpatrick turns out to be just your average Philadelphian himself showing me once again there is never a low these characters won't stoop too.

From another Fanhouse writer:

Here is my favorite line: Like most bloggers, he has an overinflated sense of his own importance.  What it should read is: Like most newspaper hacks, he has an overinflated sense of his own importance.
He won't be laughing when people start reading Jr.'s Eagles' blog instead of the paper. If Jr. is the prototypical Eagles fan, wouldn't other reader's fans want to read him?

One of my favorites:

Enrico's problem is that he lacks the intellect and evenhandedness we've come to expect from legit Philly sports heads such as Steven A. Smith, Howard Eskin and Angelo Cataldi.

Quality stuff from them all.  Thanks guys.

Comments

[Daniel Rubin]

Don't hate me just because I'm old enough to have seen Keith Moon play with the Who.

[SID]

Keith Moon kicks ass, Frank Fitzpatrick just licks it.

[Matt]

That dinosaur didn't deserve the restraint you showed in your letter.

The real question, to me, is how the Inquirer, which seems to take pride in its expansion into Web 2.0, could let this piece go forward. Not only does it reflect poorly on Fitzpatrick -- it shames the paper as a whole.

[Scott]

Greetings Enrico - Coming to you from "Bah-ston" courtesy of your buddy JJ. I spent a bit of time on this site when the Eagles & Pats did battle in the SuperBowl, a place I see both teams headed to (despite the Eagles vomiting all over themselves yesterday in the 4th quarter - something my Pats also did but still managed to hang on).

JJ thought I'd get a kick out of your latest blog. JJ was right. Fitzpatrick ought to get out of the game and go collect his Social Security check. He's a dinosaur and you know what happens to dinosaurs when they don't (refuse to) evolve.

[chrissy]

Nice retort. He's jealous of bloggers!

[johndewar]

Fitzpatrick, like most traditional newspaper writers, have over-inflated their own importance for years. He's in a mid-life crisis concerning his career as he sees bloggers have more and more influence and the newspaper business (already shown to be untrustworthy and rife with bias) going down the tubes.

[thomas]

Fitzpatrick's "Morning Bytes", or whatever it is called, has never been funny for the year or so it has ran in the Inquirer. Once again Frank shows himself to be outdated, an old reporter trying to make "edgy" jokes about sports. I actually become uncomfortable reading Fitzpatrick's column, and he probably wrote about you to drum up some sort of "internet buzz". His story is embarrassing, like "grandpa drunk at the party and hitting on the young girls" embarrassing. Enrico, you do a good job and I hope the story eventually brings you more positive media exposure.

[Masterlock]

What a dick. Frank Fitz just loves talking shit about other people, but where the hell is his work, analysis, insight, etc... but that was a great article, let me tell you [sarcasm]! Thanks, you do a great job for us philly phans that dont live in the area anymore and need more than standard news and other BS.