Leitch makes huge career move, becomes a blogger?

I am not sure if this is a step down for former Deadspin editor Will Leitch or proof that the MSM has finally begun to embrace bloggers and hired the former king of the mountain.

BOSTON (August 18, 2008) – WEEI.com announced today the additions of six first-rate journalists joining its staff, along with the first upgrade to the website’s content and design. Joining WEEI.com editor Rob Bradford and columnist Mike Felger are a collection of top print and online journalists with excellent experience and reputations both in Boston and nationally.

Will Leitch, the founder of popular sports blog Deadspin.com, will be joining WEEI.com to provide an outsider’s look at Boston sports and its fans. Leitch has authored three books, including “God Save the Fan” and is currently a contributing editor to New York Magazine.

In fact, Leitch's first blog is up today. (EDITOR'S UPDATE- check out the sidebar in Leitch's column. He is a huge fan of this very blog's founders. We are humbled.)

It's an interesting concept for a running column on a Boston radio/website but it just seems like a desperate move to pull a big name blogger and hope his legions of fans translate to page views. Of course, they made sure to hire a fan of a team they've already beaten in a World Series just a few summers ago. They can only take so much.

Another interested tidbit in the announcement is the hiring of former Globe writer Ron Borges. I am not sure if he will be doing his own column or just plagerizing everything Leitch and the rest of the new crew write.

Related: Monday Morning Media Matters - Edes Debuts at The Y!; NBC Discloses What ESPN Won’t (Scott's Shots)

Sportswriter Not Actually a Ninja

(Boston, MA) – Despite his name, Boston Globe hockey beat writer Fluto Shinzawa is not, nor has ever been a ninja. Shinzawa, who covers the bruins and NASCAR for the paper, denies any martial arts skills whatsoever, much less a lifetime of demanding training conducted in far off mountain temples where he forged expertise in stealth, assassination, and sacrifice.

“Yeah, at first when I started [in 2002] I thought it was a joke because I was the new guy, and I tried to pay no attention, but now I think they were serious. If I really was a trained ninja, don’t you think I would know more than the tripe that [Bruins GM Peter] Chiarelli feeds us? I’m hoofing it like everyone else.”

Shinzawa’s colleagues are less quick to brush off the possibility the young beat reporter is not a ninja. “I don’t care if he wrote about high school sports in New Hampshire,” said legendary Globe columnist Bob Ryan, "His movements are too fluid, his gaze too steady, and his temperament too even to not be a ninja. And you know what? I’ve seen him wrap his face before, crawling stealthily on the floor – just like they do in the movies - and in the office no less! He tried to deny it and went right past me. But I know his secret. And I honor his commitment to knowledge, justice and making deadline.”

When asked about Ryan’s recollection, Shinzawa flashed a hint of anger but remained calm. “Did he mention that there was a fire in the copy room? I poured my water bottle into my sweater and covered my face from the smoke. Bob was just laying there, making karate chop motions and yelling KEEYAH! at me. I think they said later he had smoke poisoning.”

While he enjoys his work at the Globe, Shinzawa notes the work environment – the ‘ninja thing’ as he calls it – contributes to his looking elsewhere for work. He says he endures the daily borderline racist comments because of his passion for hockey and NASCAR, and the opportunity to break news for a major daily. But thoughts of swift revenge continue to plague him.

I swear if [Globe Columnist Gordon] Edes asks one more time during staff meeting if my byline should be changed to Crouching Tiger or Hidden Dragon, I’m going to call our anonymous harassment hotline. Not that I care, but I don’t think there were even ninjas in that movie.”