The Difference Between Us and Them

by robbbbbb on Sep 10, 2009 10:00 AM PDT

Mike Tanier, in this week's Walkthrough on Football Outsiders asks, "What Do I Know?"

It's an interesting and useful question. Because really, what separates Tanier from the rest of us? The ability and willingness to sit down and immerse himself in football for hours on end, and then share what he's learned with us. Tanier makes the point that he's only got a 5-10% advantage over the rest of us in his ability to research information and spit it back to us.

Indeed, he says, "Anyone could do this, by being a committed researcher." Like, say, John Morgan, who's made the leap from "anonymous blogger" to "dedicated and informed commenter" by some serious research and football-watching. And all the better for us, who get to read his great commentary.

Just watch out, John. The next guy's looking over your shoulder, and he's got the tools to be you.

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The tools, yes

but there are few who have the desire, or the time, or the ability to keep it going.

And when the next guy who does comes along, he won’t supplant John anyway, only supplement him. The more, the merrier.

by The Ancient Mariner on Sep 10, 2009 10:03 AM PDT reply actions

Tongue-in-cheek

Just to be perfectly clear, that last sentence is awfully tongue-in-cheek. I love John’s analysis, and I know I can’t be him.

But it’s nice to know that we have access to the same raw data, and can check John’s conclusions.

by robbbbbb on Sep 10, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Writing style matters to me.

It’s not just the analysis, but how it is presented. JM’s writing actually challenges occasionally (most stats are beyond me, but that’s not what I’m talking about). Sports writing is not especially amenable to variety. Too many writers cop out and go with pop culture references – too, too, easy. So when I read two whole paragraphs about football that actually engage me on multiple levels, I’m hooked.

by Groundhog on Sep 10, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions