The Anti-Media Media

Tafkas,

I'm sorry you feel some topics ought not be discussed in public. I think Joe and I are fine, judging from our messages back and forth. I suspect he understands what I said to him was not anything I believe or know to be the case, but something I'd heard and figured he should know it. It seemed an appropriate place to communicate having been drawn to Joe's views here.

But, you'll have to ask Joe if Joe's ok with this conversation or not. He didn't indicate to me he had a problem with it.

There was no fan site access for us, or anyone else.

unless i'm mistaken, joe HAS had access for thewarpath before this year, even though you keep saying that's not the case.

simply rediculous. calling someone out like that in a public discussion, like TAFKAS said is just low. dont know how you couldnt have realized that

How sad is it that Dan Synder feel his tenure as owner can't stand up to the tiniest criticism? Does any other owner take as many steps to control the media as the Skins' owner? Here's an idea put out a product that doesn't disappoint every year, isn't over priced, and seems to be run by a front office of fools. The guy owns the most valuable sports team IN THE WORLD, ofcourse the media will say negative things about you sometimes. Ofcourse the fans will blame you and your front office when you lead the NFL in dead Cap space and hasn't made the playoffs since your first year as owner.

This is the text of a PM I just sent to Art. Initially, I felt I should keep my thoughts about this situation private, but I've begun to think that my silence could be misconstrued as a submission to what Art has presented here as fact:

Art,
While I can understand why you felt it was justified to call me out here on The Warpath (I had called out the motivations of the Redskins-ExtremeSkins merger, and you in particular), I agree with TAFKAS in that I would have preferred you share that information with me privately, and not air it publicly on a forum that I consider my online home.

The manner and timing of your claims came off as a deliberate and malicious jab at my character (your personal disclaimer notwithstanding) in an effort to undermine my credibility and sully my reputation within The Warpath community. Frankly, until I know who provided that information to you and why they feel the way they do, I'll find it very hard to believe there is any base to these claims.

Like I said before, until I hear otherwise, I believe Karl Swanson has a personal vendetta against me because I circumvented his attempts to deny my media access, and he will probably do what he feels is necessary to discredit me, not only among your staff, but also with the public I serve. Given the nature of Swanson's past behavior towards those who have crossed his path, that would not surprise me in the least.

If, as you say, the ExtremeSkins staff has been lobbying on my behalf, I would have expected you, TK, Tarhog or someone else from your staff to have brought these negative claims to my personal attention when they came up. I think that's a fair expectation on my part, considering the appeals you and Tarhog have made here that people shouldn't take the word of third parties as fact. As it is, the claims you've made here are really no different than the "unnamed source" reporting tactics that you and the Redskins have railed against so vocally.

I think I should clarify that I don't know whether Swanson is the source of these claims, but Art has stated that, in the interest of personal trusts, he can't divulge the identity of his source(s). That being the case, I think it's fair to question the validity and motivation of these claims, just as it would be fair to question the validity and motivation of an article which makes attribution to unnamed sources.

Like I said, nobody at Redskins Park has ever given me the slightest indication that they had a problem with me, and if they did, I would have expected someone to bring it to my attention, so that I could correct whatever behavior it was that they found problematic. I find the claims about my supposed self-promotion very strange, as the only thing I ever promoted during my visits to Redskins Park was this website, my representation of this website, and any opportunities that I thought might benefit The Warpath community. If people at Redskins Park began to associate my interests with The Warpath as self-interest, then I guess my promotional efforts were maybe a little too successful.

All I can say to that is:

"Ich bin ein Warpather."

I agree with you 110%, Joe.

The fans and Redskins organization alike are tired of "unnames sources" being the basis of fact. C'mon, be a man and back up your claims, Art, or at least advise your "source" to man up and be responsible for his/her opinions.

Joe was screwed over by someone at Redskins Park who simply does not like him for whatever reason, let's call it what it is and stop dancing around the issue. And then on top of it to have his character come in to question by "unnamed sources" is really insulting, immature and completely unnecessary.

Sounds like more of the same old, typical Redskins propoganda that Redskins.com dishes out. This thing just screams of that jerk Swanson, and until we know otherwise I'm going to assume he's the unnamed source.

Joe,

I maintain some concern that while you want no public questions or worries brought forth to you here, you continue to question others in public. I'm perfectly fine with an open conversation, but, don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to ask me to keep this under wraps with you privately while you continue to speak about it openly?

Would you like to talk here, or privately?

It is of NO consequence to me whether you believe what I'm saying or not. You can totally ignore what I've said and the intent under which it WAS said. No worries there. Though, if you wish to continue speaking in public, I will put to you a simple question regarding the Daily Progress, the editor there, and your credentials as to whether he, or the team itself, requested they be pulled and why, if you know.

So, as long as you want a public debate, we can do it. I don't come back every day here, but I will try to check this thread every so often to answer anything you ask of me or write for me here. If nothing, I'll continue to answer your private messages. You define the where :).

unless i'm mistaken, joe HAS had access for thewarpath before this year, even though you keep saying that's not the case.

TG,

I think I was kind of referencing THIS training camp, not previous years. The decision was made by the team shortly after mini-camp that no one would have access to THIS training camp. We were told this in June when we requested access.

TG,

I think I was kind of referencing THIS training camp, not previous years. The decision was made by the team shortly after mini-camp that no one would have access to THIS training camp. We were told this in June when we requested access.

then why wasn't anyone else informed until the day of? that seems pretty low of them and like it was done on purpose to prevent enough time to create contingencies.

Joe,

I maintain some concern that while you want no public questions or worries brought forth to you here, you continue to question others in public. I'm perfectly fine with an open conversation, but, don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to ask me to keep this under wraps with you privately while you continue to speak about it openly?

Would you like to talk here, or privately?

It is of NO consequence to me whether you believe what I'm saying or not. You can totally ignore what I've said and the intent under which it WAS said. No worries there. Though, if you wish to continue speaking in public, I will put to you a simple question regarding the Daily Progress, the editor there, and your credentials as to whether he, or the team itself, requested they be pulled and why, if you know.

So, as long as you want a public debate, we can do it. I don't come back every day here, but I will try to check this thread every so often to answer anything you ask of me or write for me here. If nothing, I'll continue to answer your private messages. You define the where :).


I have nothing to hide here, Art. The reason I've made this discussion public is because you've chosen to drag my name through the mud, based on rumors you've heard, which you never took the time to verify with me personally. Like I've said, if there was a question about my motives, my interactions with the Redskins, or my work with the Daily Progress, these things should have been brought to my attention if you were, as you say, working on my behalf to "clear my name" with those in charge at Redskins Park.

Here are the facts in regard to The Daily Progress:

--Immediately following the Redskins' informing me that they would not be providing media access for fan websites (which did not occur until the Wednesday before camp opened-- despite my prior communications over the previous two months with the team that indicated I intended to be there and they expected to see me), I began emailing sports editors and sports directors throughout Virginia, informing them of my plight, and offering them coverage FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF CAMP, in exchange for media credentials. There was nothing underhanded about the way in which I presented this offer. I made it clear in that email that my accomodations for that week were paid for, and that I required no compensation from their publication. I simply needed credentials for the first week of training camp. That was it.

--My agreement with Jerry Ratcliffe entailed that I would submit daily articles, photos and audio clips for publication in The Daily Progress newspaper and dailyprogress.com. In exchange, The Daily Progress would link TheWarpath.net on their website. There was never any indication from Mr. Ratcliffe that he expected any services beyond that first week of camp, nor was there any offer on his part to compensate me for reporting beyond that first week. I never told Mr. Ratcliffe anything other than that I would be covering that first week of camp, including the Redskins-Ravens scrimmage.

--That first Monday of camp, Mr. Ratcliffe informed me he would be on vacation for most of the week. He referred me to their online coordinator and the various editors he worked with, and told me that they would be handling my material for the remainder of the week. With that in mind, I directed my communications to those individuals, working primarily with their online coordinator, Laura Bland. I forwarded my material both to her and to the editors, and I provided ample material-- in the form of articles, photos and audio clips-- each day I was there. In fact, I provided much more material than they actually used. I got nothing but positive responses from The Daily Progress staff, and Ms. Bland was particularly pleased with the material I provided. Since she was my primary contact person during Mr. Ratcliffe's absence, I presumed all was well. Nobody had given me any indications to the contrary.

--Here are the articles The Daily Progress published on their website:

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784197416

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784219229

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784244084

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784265839

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784349465

Again, these are only the articles that were published. I provided more material that never saw publication.

--When I completed my reports that following Sunday with an article on tight end Billy Baber, I contacted Ms. Bland (Mr. Ratcliffe was still on vacation) and let her know that was my last report, and that I looked forward to working with her in the future. She wished me luck, and reiterated how happy she was with my work. She never indicated that there was any expectation on her part that my reports would continue beyond that point.

--It wasn't until the following weekend (after Mr. Ratcliffe returned from vacation) that I received emails from Mr. Ratcliffe asking why I hadn't continued submitting reports, and stating that he had requested the Redskins pull my credentials. I replied to his emails, and expressed my confusion, as I had made it clear in my first email to him and subsequent phone calls and emails both with him and his staff that I would only be providing coverage for that first week of camp. For whatever reason, Mr. Ratcliffe misunderstood or overlooked my statements in that regard, and assumed that I was providing coverage for the entire duration of training camp. We straightened it out, made our peace with each other, and Mr. Ratcliffe wished me luck this fall. That was the last I heard from him. Apparently, he never followed-up with the Redskins to explain what actually happened, and to restore my standing with their media relations staff.

--Neither the Redskins or Extremeskins contacted me once-- through this entire ordeal-- to get my side of the story, or to inform me of Mr. Ratcliffe's concerns.


Art, in regard to the question of when you and your staff knew the Redskins would be denying media access to fan sites, I believe you when you say that you were informed in June. However, that doesn't explain why nobody from the Redskins ever contacted me to inform me of the same until the week before camp opened, when it would ostensibly be too late for me to make contingency plans.