tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post7141128449655993156..comments2024-03-29T05:29:08.934-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/29/24: In defense of John KassNeil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-47334912309141888532022-06-11T11:20:42.355-05:002022-06-11T11:20:42.355-05:00I missed this beautiful piece of writing at the ti...I missed this beautiful piece of writing at the time ... thanks to Eric Zorn for posting the link this week. Jon Z.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-10435632970607996312021-01-30T09:48:05.439-06:002021-01-30T09:48:05.439-06:00The pleasure of finding the terms "Sphincteri...The pleasure of finding the terms "Sphincterific" and "Right wing batshittery" in a single paragraph alone is worth the price of my Sun-Times subscription. It's only you, Neil. I don't do Sudoku.Terry Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02703997275030081133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44683071044243542592021-01-25T16:03:43.074-06:002021-01-25T16:03:43.074-06:00That John Kass is being criticized in this forum f...That John Kass is being criticized in this forum for writing self absorbed pieces seems more than a bit ironic, as I believe that many of columnist and blogmaster Neil's best work features Neil, his wife, his sons, his parents, his neighbors, his dog, etc. Of course, the quality of the subjects in themselves, the depth and honesty of self perception, the tone of the discourse, the humility of approach, characteristic of Neil's work is evidently missing from that of John Kass judging by the aforesaid critics -- I can't personally say anything one way or another about the Kass's literary/journalistic efforts, as I have never read him. But I'm assuming that his writing about himself fails because the subject is not that interesting and engaging. God forbid that we discourage columnists such as Neil Steinberg from writing about themselves. More rather than less is called for in my opinion.<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-71828522170108365102021-01-25T13:55:16.481-06:002021-01-25T13:55:16.481-06:00Fantastic piece. The highest compliment I can off...Fantastic piece. The highest compliment I can offer is that I couldn't wait to get to the end so I could re-read it from the beginning...Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05805289693205180574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-25752368151296145722021-01-25T00:17:36.311-06:002021-01-25T00:17:36.311-06:00I was still living in Chicago in the Eighties and ...I was still living in Chicago in the Eighties and early Nineties. I guess I either ignored Kass, or never read him at all. Can't remember a damn thing he wrote during that whole decade. I didn't miss much. Product of the white-flight refugee mentality of Chicago's Far South Side, Oak Lawn, and now Western Springs. No wonder the cheers go up in the cop bars, and in Mt. Greenwood, for the babblings of this right-wing jamoke.<br /><br />The Chicago Daily News may have been the best newspaper Chicago has ever had. Thirteen Pulitzers. Royko spent his first fifteen years there. Carl Sandburg worked there. So did Ben Hecht I grew up reading it. Best in the city, right up until March 4, 1978. I was one of the casualties of that day. Heard the bad news while on vacation in Florida, and came home to a pink slip, along with a thousand other folks who also got the ax that week.<br /><br />Bob Greene was such a doofus. I've already commented at EGD about my firsthand knowledge of his cluelessness and doofusness. It still amazes me that his newspoaper career lasted so long, and that he wrote all those books. Amazing output and longevity, from such a Johnny One-Note. All those Elvis columns. And his mind-numbing, excruciating, repetitive columns about Baby Richard. <br /><br />I finally couldn't stomach them anymore. I even began sending him replies: "Enough with the tortured children already!" I actually typed "tortured children." His downfall was pitiful, after all those years of wearing that rug and desperately trying to get laid, both before and during his marriage. Pathetic stuff.<br /><br />Congrats, Mr. S...for your well-deserved 2,400-word kick in the Kass. And it's one that apparently struck a nerve...hence the dozens of responses. Seems like old times. Bravissimo.Grizz 65https://www.blogger.com/profile/02892702223228764894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-42477310669526991492021-01-24T23:21:15.758-06:002021-01-24T23:21:15.758-06:00I was, and I remain offended that Kass' word s...I was, and I remain offended that Kass' word salad runs in Royko's space. JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613528527379198505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-89923874082206886832021-01-24T23:15:07.523-06:002021-01-24T23:15:07.523-06:00A Blockhead?A Blockhead?JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613528527379198505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-90708516469099931702021-01-24T23:11:11.783-06:002021-01-24T23:11:11.783-06:00You should go back and read some of Neil’s BobWatc...You should go back and read some of Neil’s BobWatch columns, a great public service and very funny. Kass is nowhere near the threat to public mental health that Bob was.TomTwainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17038737612028216431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-9670237045603686072021-01-24T21:43:09.113-06:002021-01-24T21:43:09.113-06:00As someone who took journalism classes with him at...As someone who took journalism classes with him at Columbia College way back when... yes. Kinda tiny. And looked old even then.Kennethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06786382834199295422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-48325479819807304702021-01-24T20:53:15.511-06:002021-01-24T20:53:15.511-06:00I did not read that column but one of the serious ...I did not read that column but one of the serious dangers of concussion is having another soon after the first. Serious danger. <br />The effects of having a concussion include spacial and balance deficiencies. Which in his line of work can lead to increased likely hood of contact. Which is the primary cause of concussions. Better safe than sorry is what I told my son. Play later not now. But I wasn't milking his youthful vigor for millions FMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06829632906445535928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-21732049466031561752021-01-24T17:58:02.632-06:002021-01-24T17:58:02.632-06:00Well....modest soul that I am, I don't bandy i...Well....modest soul that I am, I don't bandy it about too much. First, because I don't like to live in the past—I think Bob did that aplenty for the both of us. And second, I guess the subject just doesn't come up. I did repost one three years back, trying to discourage a former Trib editor from dislocating her arm patting herself on the back over finally firing the guy. You might get a kick out of it. http://www.everygoddamnday.com/2017/12/bobwatch-knew-why-didnt-trib.htmlNeil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-38718513571959059872021-01-24T17:47:21.477-06:002021-01-24T17:47:21.477-06:00It is now 2021. How is it possible that only after...It is now 2021. How is it possible that only after reading this column did I learn you wrote "Bob Watch"? Karphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14509456503125230444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-15138881595352918142021-01-24T17:08:06.171-06:002021-01-24T17:08:06.171-06:00Great analysis Neil. I've always found Kass in...Great analysis Neil. I've always found Kass incredibly annoying, though not anywhere near the Bob Greene level. His whole shtick of being the son of a poor immigrant grocer and the wisdom of his goat-herding grandparents seems to ape Royko in a desperate attempt to appear authentic. He's not about to be fired or "de-platformed" and his disorganized thoughts aren't worthy of it. His columns just parrot the latest right-wing talking points, or more correctly one point repeated endlessly in one sentence paragraphs, as he sadly tries for a notice in RealClearPolitics. Nothing is worth censoring. He's actually not a bad writer, but as you point out simply has no curiosity. Staying away from politics would improve his columns, but of course then it would just be an endless stream of goat grilling stories. I really enjoy the other Tribune columnists, though the number keeps dwindling. TomTwainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17038737612028216431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77758139916591626402021-01-24T16:21:24.799-06:002021-01-24T16:21:24.799-06:00A Mayan head, at the Caracole ruins in Belize. A Mayan head, at the Caracole ruins in Belize. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-10350165034405218852021-01-24T16:12:28.897-06:002021-01-24T16:12:28.897-06:00I realized a long time ago Kass has one column top...I realized a long time ago Kass has one column topic, himself. Once I came to that realization it no longer seemed worth reading.SKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-89930170757112379652021-01-24T15:34:24.695-06:002021-01-24T15:34:24.695-06:00As a resident of integrated Morgan Park I got a gr...As a resident of integrated Morgan Park I got a great laugh out of the Mt. Greenwood reference, or as I call it Mt. Whitewood.Dave Daruszkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10090787021964651919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-26569256074728950682021-01-24T15:05:12.646-06:002021-01-24T15:05:12.646-06:00While I certainly join others in celebrating this ...While I certainly join others in celebrating this hilarious, devastating vivisection of perhaps the city's most prominent hack, I'm captivated, as well, by the well-chosen photo accompanying the piece, as I often am. Is that a sculpture, or a natural formation, might I ask? Excellent, either way. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-39245669467205347282021-01-24T14:59:09.385-06:002021-01-24T14:59:09.385-06:00IMHO, they don't need to "suggest that re...IMHO, they don't need to "suggest that readers were, in essence, too stupid to tell the difference between a news item and an opinion piece." Many readers clearly *are* either too stupid or too uniformed to make that distinction. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-84742050142532411482021-01-24T14:56:26.124-06:002021-01-24T14:56:26.124-06:00This is a pertinent observation that seems to mirr...This is a pertinent observation that seems to mirror my rare attempts to study the topography of the turds. Up until the conclusion about it being tempting to accept the argument. ; ) Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-54775700047777831282021-01-24T14:07:32.180-06:002021-01-24T14:07:32.180-06:00While I disagree with Neil Steinberg on this issue...While I disagree with Neil Steinberg on this issue, he did a brilliant job of defending John Kass's right to continue publishing, while simultaneously brutally, hilariously skewering Kass's horrible writing. Respect! My full thoughts on Steinberg's post here: https://twitter.com/greenfieldjohn/status/1353394986440560641John Greenfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453266937202633458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-24208299468711209392021-01-24T14:02:35.688-06:002021-01-24T14:02:35.688-06:00A rather insignificant opinion, but I actually lik...A rather insignificant opinion, but I actually like the new gathering of "Opinion" columns in one location. Only for the simple fact that it's easier to locate them all and read the one(s) I follow most.SandyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070366627628604352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-78038774131507289602021-01-24T13:51:42.414-06:002021-01-24T13:51:42.414-06:00(...."Mahomes shouldn't play....)(...."Mahomes shouldn't play....)SandyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070366627628604352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-15270221123430861782021-01-24T13:17:37.549-06:002021-01-24T13:17:37.549-06:00I should open with a Full Disclosure that may end ...I should open with a Full Disclosure that may end up dominating this post, but way back in the early 1990s sometime, my in-laws lived on the 5100 block of North Lovejoy in Jefferson Park, their backyard looking west over the alley behind the nondescript storefronts of Milwaukee Avenue. One day there was a knock on the door, and they opened it to find John Kass standing there. He introduced himself, and asked whether they had been informed that the city was looking to clear out the entire block for a new police station, starting with the Eminent Domain demolition of their bungalow, along with all others on that side of the street. No, they had not heard anything about THAT. <br /><br />I'm probably oversimplifying the whole brouhaha that erupted after that, but the gist of it was that a compliant alderman had not bothered to inform anyone in the affected area, perhaps hoping that when they did find out, it would be too late to do anything about it. The first Kass column on the subject opened with a kind description of my father-in-law: WWII veteran, clear-eyed, firm handshake and so on, skillfully building outrage in his readers over what an injustice was being dealt here, and in the end, public outcry led an embarrassed Mayor Daley to order the whole project scaled back. To this day you can see the full length of preserved housing in a row behind the Jeff Park police station. I firmly believe that Kass deserves full credit for his role in saving my in-laws' house, and for many years I felt that he'd earned a free Lifetime Pass from me for no criticism over anything else. <br /><br />That said... he has strained my patience for many years. I try to read every columnist in the Tribune regardless of their political views, on the theory that someone can be wrong but still be interesting to read -- I still remember the electric shock that ran through me circa 2017 when Cal Thomas wrote something I agreed with -- but people change over time, and sometimes a further change is indicated but not done. There have been many times when Kass seems in need of... oh, a little more editorial coaching, perhaps. "John, if you actually know something about this Springfield scandal, for Pete's sake spit it out and stop hinting all over the place." "John, no one has used the phrase 'water carriers' since 1953." And so on. <br /><br />I was quietly amazed at the Tribune's decision last summer to group all the columnists up near the Editorials section, seeming to suggest that readers were, in essence, too stupid to tell the difference between a news item and an opinion piece, and saying the readers had been complaining about it. Perhaps this was actually their way of avoiding a deeper reorganization of columnist talent, an admission that things change, and time marches on.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15875378656423252469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-745075652552128672021-01-24T13:11:01.015-06:002021-01-24T13:11:01.015-06:00speaking of sphincterific Dennis Byrne, he wrote a...speaking of sphincterific Dennis Byrne, he wrote a post in ChicagoNow with this same title. He's taking to using that platform to spread his right wing batshitteryIcarushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10281923011888879081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-10169005370698017862021-01-24T12:26:37.651-06:002021-01-24T12:26:37.651-06:00Grammarian —I had the misfortune of reading that c...Grammarian —I had the misfortune of reading that column as well, only because I’m a fan of Mahomes. Kass went with the easy, thoughtless conclusion that the recently concussed Mahoney shouldn’t play today, but probably will. SandyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070366627628604352noreply@blogger.com