Scoop Jackson has had the literary world on lock for round about 15 years or so. Dropping knowledge in the form of unsung lyrics. Imagery and realness combined for a poetic effect that has been the key factor in keeping ESPN's Page 2 alive and kicking. Mr. Jackson has been able to blend sports, pop culture and his always informed and well thought out opinions together to produce columns and essays that invite the reader to go back time and again; always finding something new and revealing hidden in the word play.
His breadth of diverse knowledge covers an unparalleled expertise of hoops to football to politics to tennis. The ability to harness an urban slant and energy in his work is what keeps the masses hungering for more. We get enough white bread J-school columnists giving us the suburban crickety-cracker outlook on sports and culture. Yeah, we get it: White cats that can't play sports love to read about sports when it is written by other white cats that can't play. Well, there is an entire culture out there that CAN play sports and wants to read about the dynamic mixture of sports and THEIR culture by someone that can relate on a cultural level with the athletes. Without Scoop, this would not have been possible. And without Scoop, Page 2 would probably not exist.
We don't care about whether or not the characters on "The OC" can be compared to this year's New England Patriots. We don't care whether the columnist's wife thinks Sienna Miller is a trollop. We don't want to read the columnist flip flop week to week on Rex Grossman. First half of the season you love him. Then you hate him. Then you think he will be OK in the Super Bowl. Then you hate him again. No wonder some columnists get called "fags" by angry managers. When you are fickle and whiny and act like a chick, what do you want to be called?
Thank goodness we can always retreat to Page 2 and find the latest Scoop contribution and forget all that foolishness out there. We find creative and breath taking wordplay. The ability to serenade us and open our minds, but without the preachy in your face self aggrandizing style of the typical small minded columnist, is what really sets Scoop apart. And the realness of his words. Scoop writes as we talk. You feel as if Scoop is talking directly to the People. It's a realness that can't be faked. Other columnists front and attempt to enter Scoop's world, but there is only room for Scoop and his readers in that world.
His connection with his readers and his perch atop the world of sports columnists is something that breeds contempt and jealousy in many of his peers (using that term in the loosest interpretation). The jealousy it bred in one of those columnists lead to a written undressing for the ages. Scoop literally pulled the man's pants down and exposed his shortcomings for the world to see. All the result of residual bitterness at Page 2's commitment to constructing their product around the Scoop Jackson brand.
And now Scoop is getting his due hosting one of the hottest and most brilliant premises in the realm of reality TV. "Bring It Home" is the latest and greatest mixing of culture and sports, tracing the journey of eight young gamers and their quest for the $100K prize. The show humanizes the world of gaming and allows us to see the inner workings of a subculture which is flourishing around the nation.
Scoop on the show:
"On the prep for the first episode, I kept hearing about Chaz. Everybody loved Chaz. They said his skills were supreme. That he might go through the series undefeated. I heard about Jordan, heard he was the No. 1 ranked player in the world and his twin brother was like ranked No. 3. From the get up, the buzz was about these two being in the Finals. In my mind I was like, "I've seen some sic dudes at this, but pressure busts pipes." $100G's is a lot of cake. I knew someone was going to fold."
Now read that again.
This show presents a unique opportunity for Scoop fans, Page 2 fans, sports fans and gaming fans. We are blessed with not just the chance to watch Scoop interact with the young upstart celebs on the show and make his commentary. We also get the chance to read about the goings on behind the scenes and get an intimate take on things through Scoop's poetic verses.
We urge you to watch the show and follow Scoop's columns and blogs about it. It may well change your life.
Like Scoop said, "Pressure busts pipes."
But pressure also makes diamonds. Get ya bling on, ya'll!
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11 comments:
I think television might be the better avenue for Scoop. I remember on that MTV streetball show, his commentary was astute and very well presented. His columns, for what it's worth, don't really seem to translate well into print because his communication seems so vernacular. Regardless, I enjoyed the not so subtle dig at Bill Simmons; I'm sure you can relate to my (JH's) disdain for his college basketball blogging.
"I'm sure you can relate to my (JH's) disdain for his college basketball blogging"
Sir, our only problem with his new endeavor to NCAA hoop blog...is that it ISN'T an NCAA hoops blog. It is a pro scouting blog. He simply has been evaluating how certain players games translate or don't translate to the NBA. His commentary on college hoops and "insight" into the college game is a testament to the fact that his expertise is limited to the NBA. We'd prefer if he'd just let his wife do the college hoops blogging for him.
"His columns, for what it's worth, don't really seem to translate well into print because his communication seems so vernacular."
Sir, we have to agree to disagree here. If you read his columns the way you would read Mariotti or Simmons or Wilbon or some other columnist, then sure. However, Scoop is a lyricist, not simply a sports columnist. His writings are a literary interpretation of the art of "spoken word". Try playing a mellow jazz beat with some expressive drum solos in the background when you read his work. And read his work aloud.
See what we mean?
You guys rule. I only hope to one day make your blogroll. Bow down. Love your site. Seriously.
"I only hope to one day make your blogroll"
Sir, we aren't sure we have a blog roll. Is that a requirement? We are new to this.
I don't know dude, it seems to be "netiquette" to link to other blogs that you find fascinating. I only hope to one day get there on your blog, boys.
"I don't know dude, it seems to be "netiquette" to link to other blogs that you find fascinating. I only hope to one day get there on your blog, boys."
Sir, you lost us at "boys".
Anyway, email us your blog URL so we can criticize...i mean....check it out.
I'm willing to bet, you click that little blue thing that says "witty username" and like magic, you get taken to his blog.
"I'm willing to bet, you click that little blue thing that says "witty username" and like magic, you get taken to his blog."
Sir, we believe that for the first time you have posted a comment on here....that you are CORRECT.
Our dear friend wittyusername didn't have the magic blue thing in his first post, and we missed it in his second.
Your keen attention to detail has payed big dividends. Praise be.
Isn't there something a little disturbing about a 40+ year old guy that speaks almost entirely in slang/nonsense? Especially when you actually hear his voice and he makes Mars Blackmon sound like James Earl Jones?
Whitlock must have eaten 5 racks of ribs when he saw that Bojanglin' Jackson got a show.
"Isn't there something a little disturbing about a 40+ year old guy that speaks almost entirely in slang/nonsense?"
Sir, we agree. But there is little chance that Chris Russo will lose his job. He has a following.
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