Comments on: “This Was Fun . . . What a Great Day To Be a Caps’ Fan!”

By: yngwie

yngwie — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:45:55 +0000

Thanks Mike, for dropping some earlier comment of mine that we swapped via e-mail (as Jazz) & saving me the trouble. One last thing I had to add. I’ve got some experience in writing an overly long narrative - last year I wrote a 2,000 word review of a Slayer show that’s up on KNAC’s web site. And no, I’m not going to go for the shameless self-promotion route and include a link, but just wanted to make a point. For how long this piece was, and the limited time to write and edit that were involved, MAJOR props to Pucks for writing such a concise, readable narrative of events. I felt like I was sitting next to you every step of the way!

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:40:00 +0000

Look who Segway-ed into OFB! Steinz! See, you didn’t freeze here.

Don’t be a stranger.

By: Dan Steinberg

Dan Steinberg — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:24:29 +0000

Hey, our Web readership is growing like Ovie’s beard.

Plus, we get paid to do this!

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:36:30 +0000

Amy - It is perhaps true that there are some in town confusing Dmitry and me with Julius and Ethel Rosenberg; to which I reply, Isn’t it only f-ing hockey? As to our not being the Post: yes, mercifully — our readership is actually growing.

By: amy

amy — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:28:44 +0000

Seems your story has caused a bit of a ruckus. Truth is, I don’t think that the Caps realistically thought that they could keep this kind of info underwraps. However, I am wondering if you ever took into consideration that you could be burning a bridge that you have so successfully built. Mr. Leonsis seems to have taken a liking to you all…I’m going to guess that there may not be any more perks (i.e., trips to Russia) and proverbial pats-on-the-back in the near future. It was a great scoop (even with some incorrect facts), but you aren’t The Post. Just something to ponder next time around…

By: Lot of zeroes!

Lot of zeroes! — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:48:55 +0000

Long time reader, first time commenting. Interesting take here and quite fun to follow. I am curious though, what does Dmitry think about you outing him as the leak for all of this? It seems like that is the difference between MSM and bloggers. MSM protect their sources. Some even go to jail instead of revealing a source. Did you pawn off the fact that the information was wrong on Dmitry as well? How can you write that you are “reporting” this information when you took it from a member of MSM? It seems a bit dishonest and it seems like you really did not do any work to actually break this story. Go Caps!

By: Puddin_an_Semin

Puddin_an_Semin — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:36:53 +0000

Bravo! I still am in shock, but a happy shock! I still can’t believe that you guys got the “American” scoop! I have to believe that Ted will forgive you because honestly the speculation and buzz only added to the excitement and joy at the actual announcement at the STH party! You guys are awesome, keep upi the good work!

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:49:48 +0000

Forechecker, Eric, and one or two others who’ve posed terrific follow-on questions - I promise I’ll address them with due diligence, soon. That’s part of this enterprise. Truthfully, though, I’m so exhausted by the last 48 hours I can’t think straight. Also, it hasn’t been the best of days within the Washington hockey family. We’re gonna put our feet up a bit this weekend — check that, I’m off to Hershey tomorrow — anyway, gimme a night or two of catchup sleep and we’ll get to it.

By: eric

eric — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:40:51 +0000

How worried were you when the Caps denied the story around 4pm? Did you think they were just stalling or was there fear that something had gone wrong? It wasn’t until 5:40 that Tarik and Comcast confirmed it. Must have been a long 100 minutes!

By: thanks anyway

thanks anyway — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:34:10 +0000

yea, uh arent you a little concerned that you wont be allowed back in the press box anymore. you did sort of betray their trust, has that not occured to you, or is that why the story ends so abruptly?

By: Alisa

Alisa — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:50:45 +0000

Interesting that the Caps told you to hold off on publishing your story for a bit. I guess they realized that the story wasn’t wrong, but not complete, and that there was no way for you to know that at the time.

What an exciting day that must’ve been! Now you know how the Post writers felt during Watergate

By: Scai

Scai — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:54:25 +0000

great read. Great quote!

By: HotDog88GT

HotDog88GT — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:24:37 +0000

What a great day to be a Caps fan….just like when Jagr was signed.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:30:13 +0000

you still quoted russian news……oh well…..you tried……

keep up the good work……..

By: Jazz

Jazz — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:19:24 +0000

GREAT narrative of the events.

And the best part from a fan’s perspective isn’t the signing itself, but the ginormity of the contract (amount, length) sends a message that Ted is serious about making this team successful. Also sends a niiiice message to potential free agents, both internal and external…

By: The Forechecker

The Forechecker — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:28:26 +0000

That was a fascinating recap of what I’m sure has been an exciting time in Cap Land. One question, however; by ignoring the request to “sit on it a bit”, do you regret reporting the story more quickly, yet incorrectly (6 years vs. 13)?

What bugs me about the MSM’s focus on scoops is that they often sacrifice accuracy at the expense of speed.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:17:27 +0000

Fantastic week! It’s Friday, O.V.’s here for 13 years, it snowed in Baghdad and the Caps are in the hunt! Time for an old fashioned Patrick Divisionesque whipping on Sunday!

By: TG

TG — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:12:30 +0000

When the denials were coming late afternoon, I was really hopeful that you wouldn’t be eating crow today. Thankfully, you weren’t.

And as I’ve learned over the years, sometimes a well placed source is worth his weight in gold.

By: uncatim

uncatim — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:29:22 +0000

Thank you for the nice job. Reading the account today is almost as exciting as reading the announcement yesterday.

By: The Peerless

The Peerless — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:51:44 +0000

One of the things that might get lost in the giddy haze of the signing is that you guys do damned fine work. Anyone who things blogging is the illegitimate offspring of journalism and technology needs to read this entry and the respect it pays to facts, the interests of the parties, and its own quality of reporting.

By: chanuck

chanuck — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:00:21 +0000

Great work as always. Sorry you couldn’t make it last night. Would have liked to hoist a celebratory beer with you last night. I had to drink DCSC’s share last night.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:38:53 +0000

Amazing. My respect for the work you guys do (which was already quite appreciable) has grown even more in the five minutes I spent reading this post.

Now go get a good inside line on Green

By: Gmann

Gmann — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:34:53 +0000

Quality file. Reading the news yesterday, then getting the behind the scene frenzy today clearly puts this blog in the forefront of the best Caps news source outside of the team itself. Well done! And yes, what a great day to be a Caps fan!

By: Meza

Meza — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:22:59 +0000

Outstanding write up and chronicle of the signing of Ovie. But, I am stunned at the repeated ethical journalism this blog carries or others. OFB routinely gains a foothold as a legitamate news source even as MSM tries to down play the role of blogs and bloggers. Is OFB the US version of TSN or the next Bob McKenzie?