Anyone else getting tired of Mike Reiss' opion-less writing

[patsfan55]

I used to read Reiss' blog EVERY day, but the guy seriously has no opinion on anything. He's great for telling you the facts, and getting it to you before most, but he never takes a stand. He plays both sides of arguments so he never loses. I get pissed at guys like Mike Felger often, because someone like him often makes an un-educated opinion of something. But hey, at least it's an opinion. Me and a coworker have a running joke about Reiss that if he went into a restaurant and was asked "soup or salad?" this would be his response: "well, it is slightly cold out so the soup could soothe my throat, however I did just have soup last night so the salad might give me a little something different..I'll have to defer to Mrs. Reiss on this one as I don't have enough information to back a decision."

 

[Deus Irae]

He's great for telling you the facts, and getting it to you before most, but he never takes a stand.

I see that as a plus, not a minus.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I see that as a plus, not a minus.

Don't we have enough columnists in the world? Why would we want to turn one of the few true reporters left in the Boston area into just another person to spout an opinion?

If you're not getting enough opinions from the paper, your friends and this message board, there are plenty of other places where people will be happy to share an opinion with you.

 

[signbabybrady]

I used to read Reiss' blog EVERY day, but the guy seriously has no opinion on anything. He's great for telling you the facts, and getting it to you before most, but he never takes a stand. He plays both sides of arguments so he never loses. I get pissed at guys like Mike Felger often, because someone like him often makes an un-educated opinion of something. But hey, at least it's an opinion. Me and a coworker have a running joke about Reiss that if he went into a restaurant and was asked "soup or salad?" this would be his response: "well, it is slightly cold out so the soup could soothe my throat, however I did just have soup last night so the salad might give me a little something different..I'll have to defer to Mrs. Reiss on this one as I don't have enough information to back a decision."

Hmm and hear I thought it was a reporters job to report the news. Never liked opinion pieces.

I can form my own opinions based on fact thank you very much.

I think we get enough opinions from the media as is You know the old saying opinions are like *******s everyones got one and the media has two. OK maybe I made that last part up but I think I should make a bumper sticker out of it.

as long as he keeps breaking the news prombtly and accurately he will still be top dog around here.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

I used to read Reiss' blog EVERY day, but the guy seriously has no opinion on anything. He's great for telling you the facts, and getting it to you before most, but he never takes a stand. He plays both sides of arguments so he never loses. I get pissed at guys like Mike Felger often, because someone like him often makes an un-educated opinion of something. But hey, at least it's an opinion. Me and a coworker have a running joke about Reiss that if he went into a restaurant and was asked "soup or salad?" this would be his response: "well, it is slightly cold out so the soup could soothe my throat, however I did just have soup last night so the salad might give me a little something different..I'll have to defer to Mrs. Reiss on this one as I don't have enough information to back a decision."

No!

He's one of the solid and dependable reporters covering the Pats and I can't believe that you want him to be like Felger or Borges just to please you and your coworker.

 

[Disco Volante]

He plays both sides of arguments

How horrible of him, giving you two perspectives to make your own decision.

 

[Patspsycho]

I used to read Reiss' blog EVERY day, but the guy seriously has no opinion on anything. He's great for telling you the facts, and getting it to you before most, but he never takes a stand. He plays both sides of arguments so he never loses. I get pissed at guys like Mike Felger often, because someone like him often makes an un-educated opinion of something. But hey, at least it's an opinion. Me and a coworker have a running joke about Reiss that if he went into a restaurant and was asked "soup or salad?" this would be his response: "well, it is slightly cold out so the soup could soothe my throat, however I did just have soup last night so the salad might give me a little something different..I'll have to defer to Mrs. Reiss on this one as I don't have enough information to back a decision."

So what's your problem? There are so many opinionated writers that you can follow, so why are you picking on the one writer in this area that just reports the facts as they are, and allows us to draw our own conclusions?

Who said you had to follow him? You're more than welcome to subscribe to TMZ if you need your daily fill of drama.

 

[Off The Grid]

Well, there you go: 6 Opinion Pieces for ya!!

 

[Coach42]

Wow now a reporter getting slammed for not having an opinion?? Isn't that exactly what a beat reporter is supposed to do? Give the facts with no slant? Columnists are supposed to have an opinion not reporters. Somewhere along the line this difference in jobs has had the lines blurred. Reiss does exactly what he should do, give the facts with no B.S.

 

[patchick]

Opinions are easy to generate. Facts are much more work, so plaudits to Mr. Reiss on that. The most challenging of all, though -- and the rarest to find in sportswriting -- are insights.

Perhaps that's what the OP is really wishing for? Insights that broaden our understanding of the game, the league, and its players and coaches?

But given the choice between insight-free opinions and insight-free facts, I'll gladly take the latter (and create the former myself. )

 

[the wrothbroughterer]

I don't want my reporters to have opinions one way or another. I want them to report the truth in as clear and honest way possible. It's not a reporters job to have an opinion, only to relay to the public what they are able to procure from their sources. If I want blowhard homerism from my news sources I'll listen to The Sports Hub or WEEI.

 

[patchick]

Wow now a reporter getting slammed for not having an opinion?? Isn't that exactly what a beat reporter is supposed to do? Give the facts with no slant? Columnists are supposed to have an opinion not reporters. Somewhere along the line this difference in jobs has had the lines blurred.

This is a great point. But were beat reporters ever really "just the facts" guys? Back in the day, baseball beat writers famously palled around with the players and covered up all of their missteps. The were more like team mouthpieces.

 

[Ian]

If you read the daily reports they're mostly facts, but he frequently posts "analysis" right after and gives you the reason why he feels the team made whatever move they made, etc. If you read his mailbag items it's the same thing and you'll see he'll tell you what he thinks about a situation. If he doesn't feel he knows enough to give you a good answer - he'll tell you, and yes he'll play both sides at that point.

He's a pretty down to earth guy and spends more time trying to be as insightful as possible and try and research whatever he feels fans may be wondering about. That's his job - and he's definitely one of the best in the business.

 

[hgelpke]

That is, in fact, the role of a reporter. I read Reiss for non-biased facts about the Patriots. If I wanted opinions, I would read Peter King.

 

[livinginthe past]

Reiss is very open about the fact that there are aspects of football that he doesn't have a great understanding of.

He often admits to not watching alot of college football when readers ask about a college prospect/draft pick.

He does have opinions on some stuff, but unlike alot of 'media analysts' he doesn't feel the need to have an opinion on EVERYTHING.

I remember he really liked Edelman last year in TC.

If you are capable of reading between the lines, instead of needing to be spoon-fed rhetoric, then you can see he's pretty high on Brandon Tate this year.

The opinions are there, they just aren't prioritised like alot of the Boston a-holes we have to deal with.

 

[Urgent]

Most writers are quite a bit better with opium. The language is so much more colorful, the analogies more vibrant, the insight deeper.

 

[Deus Irae]

Most writers are quite a bit better with opium. The language is so much more colorful, the analogies more vibrant, the insight deeper.

Not opium, opion. It's what makes Boston Sports heroes so Ionic!

 

[BPF]

Technology is changing a lot of things but great reporters make a big difference. The sports world runs on gossip, speculation (hello PFT) and least of all hard facts. Everyone has their own opinion but for me Reiss is one of the best. He gets his facts straight then provides insights.

 

[StraightCashHomey81]

If you read the daily reports they're mostly facts, but he frequently posts "analysis" right after and gives you the reason why he feels the team made whatever move they made, etc. If you read his mailbag items it's the same thing and you'll see he'll tell you what he thinks about a situation. If he doesn't feel he knows enough to give you a good answer - he'll tell you, and yes he'll play both sides at that point.

He's a pretty down to earth guy and spends more time trying to be as insightful as possible and try and research whatever he feels fans may be wondering about. That's his job - and he's definitely one of the best in the business.

My thoughts exactly

 

[tombonneau]

Give it time. Reiss will eventually plateau with his beat gig and want to make the leap to opinion columnist (i.e. more money) and you'll get all the opinion you could want. Breer and Curran used to be great, objective beat reporters and now they are opinionated columnists. It's only a matter of time.

Unlike others, I do agree with you. I think he can present an objective presentation of a situation and still express a firm opinion of what he thinks. He doesn't do that often, but when he does (usually in response to letters) I appreciate it.