One reason I like Adam Rittenberg
He's just excellent. Sure, we don't agree with him all the time, but he's really been a blessing to ESPN. And when he agrees that he isn't right, he owns up to it.
This is what he wrote after the Illinois debacle (can't find the link):
"After an impressive performance in the season opener against Western Michigan, Robinson's unit has declined sharply. I heard a lot about improved communication and better cohesion before the season, but the defense endures multiple major breakdowns in every game. Whether it's pass defense against Notre Dame and Penn State or run defense against Illinois, the defense has been a disaster and it falls in his lap."
Someone from mgoblog emailed him about Mispogon's now legendary (and rightfully so) analysis of "The Decimated Defense." Sure enough, Adam linked to it. (Again, sorry I don't have the link.)
Now look at this interview with him and Brian Bennett, and scroll down to the part about defense. As you should notice, rather than railing on Gerg, he's talking about the attrition and the overall lack of depth on defense.
Clearly, here's a guy who does his homework. He is responsible, reasonable, and willing to take his ego out of the equation and correct his own mistakes. In doing so, he demonstrates a willingness to listen to other opinions and learn more about an issue. Contrast that with, say, Joe Schad, who apparently is a lazy SOB and was responsible for a real turd of an article in which he wrote that Bill Martin "slammed" the defense, when Martin merely just said that the defense has to improve. http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/espn-martin-slams-defense
Adam is clearly also a guy I can learn a thing or two from, as evidenced by me calling him Ryan. Whoops.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
Adam Rittenberg?
November 15th, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
correct? I'm glad he has that job and not Pat Forde. Forde will probably acknowledge he has never been wrong about anything ever.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:16 PM ^
This is because Pat Forde HAS never been wrong about
ANYTHING. EVAR.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
the ESPN Big Ten blogger?
November 15th, 2009 at 4:43 PM ^
Rittenberg seems to be a decent guy, definitely understands his role at ESPN and uses great sources like this site and others to form generally well-informed opinions.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^
"Clearly, here's a guy who does his homework. He is responsible, reasonable, and willing to take his ego out of the equation and correct his own mistakes. In doing so, he demonstrates a willingness to listen to other opinions and learn more about an issue." So basically he's the opposite of Colin Cowherd.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^
I dunno. He doesn't have an enviable job, but he's sort of a parasite. He produces very little original analysis, and basically aggregates content by paraphrasing other people's work and linking stingily.
He's improving, but he remains a storyline synthesizer who needs a staff if he wants to do some real good.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^
That may be true, but if so then it means that he suckered the WWL into paying him. And if he is getting a good premium out of that, then I only respect the guy more!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:57 AM ^
you're being way too harsh on the guy. He's not blogging just for Michigan, he's blogging for the entire Big Ten. Let's see you try and come up with all of the content he does on a daily basis on top of all of the research he has to do for that content on EVERY team, and then only come up with original content of your own. Not only does he have to do research, but he has to do massive amounts of it in order to come up with informed opinions, getting both sides of the story. He's probably the best "analyst" that ESPN has.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:37 PM ^
I will give him credit for adapting to change. I've emailed Rittenberg numerous times regarding different things, and on many occasions I've noticed changes later when he discusses the same topic. The same cannot be said of some of the other ESPN bloggers, who are, well incompetent.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
Who can't admit when he's written/reported something wrong and why he's no longer in journalism but, instead, becoming an Attorney (like we need more of them cockroachs!). I bet Jim ends up suing the U of M for schits and giggles.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^
1) MSM Sportswriter
2) Lawyer
3) ____________
I'm thinking crash test dummy.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:40 PM ^
Carty wrote some stuff I disagree with (including his prophecy that Tommy Amaker would beat Tom Izzo in Michigan), but he never struck me as lazy. Or the type to file a frivolous lawsuit.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
Rittenberg is by far the best ESPN beatnick. He does do his homework and spreads the wealth around the entire conference (doesn;t just talk about OSU, Iowa, and PSU all the time).
November 16th, 2009 at 12:52 AM ^
He's a major douchebag. Those "campus" bloggers espn has just report common sense and nonsense.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:11 AM ^
all he does is act like an RSS reader and aggregate B10 links from different sources. Rarely, does he do any of his own analysis (although he sometimes offers opinions, which since he isn't an ex-football coach/ player..., I don't care for).
Basically, his "job" could be replaced with a piece of software that is already available and free (RSS readers).
By the way, when does admitting that you are incorrect deserve a standing ovation? It's just the right thing to do.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:48 AM ^
his lunchtime roundup is not as interesting because it is simply links to Snyder and Chengalis and Birkett/Rothstein i.e. he rarely strays from the MSM.
His original work is usually really fluffy. NW's Kafka not Kafkaesque and stuff like that that which would make Tim Tebow blush, but glad to hear he is expanding is horizons into original and intersting pieces like Misopogon's.