TNR Wojnarowski Profile

[Fafnir]

Woj got woj bombed, taking a similar approach to him that he so often dishes out.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120572/adrian-wojnarowski-how-basketballs-reporting-machine-gets-his-scoops

Edit:

The paragraph that reeled me to definitely read the entire thing.

Wojnarowski has needed more than just a strong work ethic, though, to develop the best sources in basketball. If you look closely at his columns and talk to people in the NBA, you discover that he mixes his reporting and opinion writing in improper ways, rewarding sources with flattery and punishing the uncooperative with nastiness. In fact, it often appears as though Adrian Wojnarowski lets his sourcing dictate not just the topic but also the tone of his writing. In private, NBA reporters complain endlessly about Wojnarowski’s methods. Some of it is undoubtedly professional jealousy, but his body of work shows they also have a point.

The fact that Ric Bucher went on the record commenting on him cracks me up, given how much Bucher kotowed to Kobe's camp to get scoops. Though he was only quoted with regards to Woj's rivalry with ESPN.

For Celtics fans the important thing to note is that typically Ainge isn't one of Woj's sources/guys, so its typically the other end of the call that's leaking to him.

[sed522002]

I love his scoops,but his opinion pieces leave much to be desired. All the ones that I read was so vitriolic that I almost felt uncomfortable for the person he was lambasting. I remember when he had a special kind of hate for Lebron..lol.

[D.o.s.]

He's got a very specific vision of the players/organizations he likes and the ones he doesn't. Not all that dissimilar to a lot of the CB posters, actually.

Of course, he's not just posting to a group of Celtics fans, no matter how rich and varied we are.

[Celtics4ever]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

[LooseCannon]

I love his scoops,but his opinion pieces leave much to be desired. All the ones that I read was so vitriolic that I almost felt uncomfortable for the person he was lambasting. I remember when he had a special kind of hate for Lebron..lol.

Woj hating on Lebron was fun to read.

[D.o.s.]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

Does that mean that you think Woj is better than Simmons, Lowe, et al?

[Roy H.]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

Does that mean that you think Woj is better than Simmons, Lowe, et al?

His news breaking is definitely much better.

In terms of his opinion pieces, I think Simmons and Woj are on about the same level.  I like Zach Lowe's insight much better than either, although even Zach plays favorites.

[sed522002]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

Does that mean that you think Woj is better than Simmons, Lowe, et al?

His news breaking is definitely much better.

In terms of his opinion pieces, I think Simmons and Woj are on about the same level.  I like Zach Lowe's insight much better than either, although even Zach plays favorites.

I think everyone that writes an opinion piece can come off as showing favorites sometimes. It just seems that when Woj writes his you leave with a feeling of "dang what did he personally do to you and I hope he never does it again" vibe.

[D.o.s.]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

Does that mean that you think Woj is better than Simmons, Lowe, et al?

His news breaking is definitely much better.

In terms of his opinion pieces, I think Simmons and Woj are on about the same level.  I like Zach Lowe's insight much better than either, although even Zach plays favorites.

The reason I ask is because Grantland is an ESPN operation, or at least a vanity project curated by ESPN. The same way bands used to have their own labels on majors back when the record industry was still a thing.

[Fafnir]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

Does that mean that you think Woj is better than Simmons, Lowe, et al?

His news breaking is definitely much better.

In terms of his opinion pieces, I think Simmons and Woj are on about the same level.  I like Zach Lowe's insight much better than either, although even Zach plays favorites.

Yeah I do think that this piece highlights just how much "favorites" secure access for various reporters. I do think Woj is probably the most aggressive of those three in using his op-eds to fluff his guys and bash others. Maybe the most aggressive of major NBA reporters, Rich Bucher being the other guy I think of when it comes to that sort of thing.

[indeedproceed]

Woj is better than ESPN, they are a joke.

Does that mean that you think Woj is better than Simmons, Lowe, et al?

His news breaking is definitely much better.

In terms of his opinion pieces, I think Simmons and Woj are on about the same level.  I like Zach Lowe's insight much better than either, although even Zach plays favorites.

Yeah I do think that this piece highlights just how much "favorites" secure access for various reporters. I do think Woj is probably the most aggressive of those three in using his op-eds to fluff his guys and bash others. Maybe the most aggressive of major NBA reporters, Rich Bucher being the other guy I think of when it comes to that sort of thing.

I love it when Bill Simmons pushes Zach Lowe to say something bad about somebody.

[D.o.s.]

For what it's worth I think Woj is a little too Grantland Rice-y for me. Simmons clearly doesn't make writing his priority anymore, and Lowe is all right.

[Tr1boy]

Anybody have a guess as to how he knows the players picked before the picks area announced?

Doesnt seem like it bothers the NBA too much.

[Fafnir]

Anybody have a guess as to how he knows the players picked before the picks area announced?

Doesnt seem like it bothers the NBA too much.

Agents are told beforehand what's going on with their clients typically. There is a pretty small pool of NBA agents who represent a ton of players and most incoming draft picks. Those power agents usually know what's going on with the draft, especially with some teams leaking everything all over the place.

Ainge and a few other GMs don't really give agents a ton of info, hence why some teams "surprise" more in the draft.

[D.o.s.]

Anybody have a guess as to how he knows the players picked before the picks area announced?

Doesnt seem like it bothers the NBA too much.

Agents are told beforehand what's going on with their clients typically.

The agents are typically informed at the same time as the NBA by the team doing the drafting, in fact.