A new blog for Ohio.com
Posted September 6th, 2007 by Marla Ridenour
Marla Ridenour is the Browns beat writer for the Akron Beacon Journal, and Patrick McManamon is the sports columnist at the Beacon Journal and a former beat reporter for the Browns and Dolphins.
Marla will add her views and news several times during the week with Pat adding his additions Sundays during and after the game.
Let us know what you think and what else you would like to see.
Enjoy.
September 7th, 2007 at 9:36 am
What a joke….I'll say it again WOMEN should cover womens sports, and men should cover mens sports.
Is Marla going to be able to relate to 2 a day practices in the dog days of summer, or the commraderie thats shared by 25 MEN after traveling across the country for an entire summer and having to lean on one another to get through the good and bad times?
Absolutely not. I'm sure she campaigned hard within the ABJ for this role, and its a compelte travesty. GO cover the Racers, Akron U's womens programs, or the WNBA.
Leave the Browns to those more suitable.
September 7th, 2007 at 10:19 am
More "suitable?" There's about 3 1/2 people TOTAL remaining in the Beacon Journal's sports department. Of those who haven't been told to hit the road or haven't otherwise escaped underneath an Akron church confessional to Cleveland like a secret "Get Smart" phone booth, there's Ridenour and Storm. To top that off, they've now got Thomas running around doing everything but cleaning the company snack bar and taking inbound calls for garage sales and puppies in the Beacon Journal's classified ad department.
Bottom line, who gives a damn who's covering the Browns for the Beacon Journal? McManamon, when he's not otherwise acting as Danny Ferry's media lapdog, will still be covering the Browns, just not on a daily basis like Ridenour will be. He's still a fairly decent writer when it comes to the Browns, albeit his former employment with the Browns does concern me as a potential conflict of interest now that he's a columnist being paid for his opinions. Lord knows there's enough sportswriting PR softies when it comes to Cleveland's sports franchises.
Regardless, I don't see the problem. Unless Ridenour starts kissing up to Browns management and ownership like every Northeast Ohio sportswriter egregiously does with Cavaliers management and ownership, then she's got my vote.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:07 am
yeah and women should not be able to vote, drive, and speek without their husbands permission. also they must not work and be stay at home moms. what a joke dude. i don't give a what about who covers the team as long as their good. what does gender have to do with? are you telling that men writers shouldn't cover womens tennis, the WNBA, womens golf etc? its this kind of thinking that make women like oprah the man hater she is. if any ladies read this all of us men are not like the buffoon above.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:46 am
hilarious T dash, your a hilarious excuse for a man.
"if any ladies read this all of us men are not like the buffoon above."
Your a joke dude. Ridenour has no talent, and you missed my entire point on why she shouldnt cover the browns. Its because she cannot as a woman, relate to mens sports.
And your asinine comments about my personal beliefs are rediculous. Women are just as capable in many aspects in life, as men. They dont make better homemakers or parents based solely on gender, nor does their gender make them less capable to be fantastic CEO's and small business owners.
My point is this. SHE cannot relate to mens sports, mens ego's, mens drive to succeed against other men. But, she can get into the psyche of other women, and thats where she should stay
September 7th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Mustache, Bill Laimbeer doesn't seem to have much of a problem relating to WNBA "women." In fact, in case you haven't noticed it over the course of the past eight years, the Browns play like women. Indeed, to borrow one of Brian Windhorst's unintentionally hilarious phrases, "league sources" have informed me that most of the guys on the Browns roster have a big 'ol vagina.
She'll do just fine.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I think the BJ should only hire ex-Browns to cover the team, and the same goes for the Cavs and Tribe coverage. Larry Brown, Luke Witte and Charlie Spikes all speak English.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I agree completely with Larry's sarcastic remark, only I'm not being a smart ass. I think thats a great idea. The best sportscaster in Cleveland, is no other than the great 1 Bernie Kosar….
Why you ask is Bernie the best? Simply put. He knows the game from a players perspective, from a Males view, and from a fans view.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I love Bernie, grew up watching him, but he is not a good sportscaster…when you watch it do you have the volume on??
September 7th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Yes, Mustache, I agree with your cerebral commentary. It is very likely that as a woman, she won't be able to decipher those oh-so-intellectual and brilliant locker room quotes she needs to fill that newspaper space. Besides, it's no secret that, just like Lisa Olson when she worked for the Boston Herald and was on the Patriots beat, she is now on the Beacon Journal's Browns beat for the sole purpose of staring at Ryan Tucker's shrunken testicles and Hank Fraley's legendary wang.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Ridenour is a fine writer and certainly more than capable to handle this role. She understands football and has a real sense for how important the Browns are to the region. I think it's a great choice. Best of luck Marla.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:54 am
The main difference I see in the women sportswriters at the Beacon is that they keep the focus off themselves and on the subjects they cover.
No ham-handed attempts at humor, no conversations between self and soul, no bogus 'I'm an insider and you're not' tone. It's refreshing.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:26 am
I thought sexism like some of the comments went away 20 years ago. Women hae been covering men's sports for decades. This has nothing to do with gender but rather the "reporter's" ability to cover the sport. Ridenour has done a great job with the MALE Ohio State Foorball team and will do fine with the Browns. Comments like the above sets the human race back many years. Grow up guys!
September 10th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
When did we start allowing women to comment on this blog?
September 10th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Boo Hoo.
Yet again Larry, you're pithy, contrite appeasing comments are O so funny.
"I am woman hear me roar, I will fight from shore to shore"
I'm sure thats both you and ruths ringtone.
September 10th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Thanks stash. You know I used to really enjoy your work in 70s era porn films.
September 11th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I just got done reading on Fox sports that Bill Bellicheck had been cheating by having one of his employees videotaping the opposing defensive coach calling signals. That would be a huge advantage in knowing what kind of coverage the defensive backs are going to be in or the linebacker stunts or just where the defenders are going to be. It's no wonder the Patriots have the had a dynasty of super bowls. I wonder how long bellyache has been cheating? Too bad he didn't know how to cheat when he was our coach. On the other hand I wouldn't want to win by cheating. I'd rather lose than to win by illegally picking up signals. They should take a Super Bowl rings and melt them down. He should be banned from football for ever and never again have anything to do with the NFL.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Sports Illustrated…
I couldn't understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
September 29th, 2007 at 3:28 am
Small Business Administration…
I couldn't understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:15 am
Gay Ass Fucking…
Sorry, it just sounds like a crazy idea for me :)…
October 15th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
"Beat writer for the Browns"??
Is that why she'd rather write about Dolphin and Pittspuke cast off Joey "Boy" Porter?
I dont understand … can't she find SOMEONE in the Browns organization to interview and write about?
Enough is enough. Who cares how good she can write if she ain't got the "right" stuff?
Maybe she team up with Dieken, he sucks too.