Pat Reusse's Turkey of the Year 2017

[Vanimal46]

It's that time of year again, where Reusse writes his annual "Turkey of the Year" article in the Star Tribune. 

 

This one is harder to guess this year, since most of the sports teams are performing better than expectations. 

 

I'm thinking this year will be someone related with Gopher sports.... The football team isn't good, and the hockey team's attendance numbers are way down. Other than that, I can't think of another obvious choice... 

 

Who's making the Turkey of the Year list?

[gunnarthor]

Twins related guesses - Phil Hughes, Levine for trading away at the deadline instead of adding

 

Non Twins related - Gophers HC Fleck, Atlanta's former GM Coppy, Trump, Jerry Jones/Roger Goddell 

[Vanimal46]

 

Twins related guesses - Phil Hughes, Levine for trading away at the deadline instead of adding

 

Non Twins related - Gophers HC Fleck, Atlanta's former GM Coppy, Trump, Jerry Jones/Roger Goddell 

 

Good ones. I forget that some years Reusse goes with a national name, and not just the local sports names. 

[Vanimal46]

Previous winners: 

 

16- University of Minnesota Athletics

15- Death
14- Timberwolves
13- Terry Ryan
12- Tubby Smith
11- Zygi Wilfred
10- Brett Favre
09- Tim Brewster
08- Marion Gaborone
07- Charlie Weis
06- Pam Boston
05- Bob Neagle
04- Red McCombs
03- Glen Mason
02- McHale/Saunders
01- Randy Moss/Cris Carter
00- Jesse Ventura
99- Clem Haskins
98- Carl Pohlad
97- Denny Green
96- Kerri Strug
95- Warren Moon
94- Jack McCloskey
93- Norman Green
92- Gophers Football
91- Chris Doleman
90- Kent Hrbek
89- Mike Lynn
88- Lou Nanne
87- Carl Pohlad
86- Kenneth Keller
85- Lou Holtz
84- Les Steckel
83- Paul Giel
82- Billy Martin
81- George Steinbrenner
80- Bobby Knight
79- Pete Rozelle/Bowie Kuhn
78- Woody Hayes

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I don't think you can use the Twins this year. Someone from the Wild (or, the Wild) is a distinct possibility. Other honorees could be: Mark Coyle, Sam Bradford, LaVar Ball,... Donald Trump, for sticking his nose into the anthem issue. Or Donald Trump, just because.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Previous winners: 

 

Forgot he honored the U of M last year! They are a favorite well-deserved target, but Coyle might have to wait til 2018

[drjim]

I have to think the Fleck extension puts Coyle over the top. But he is awesome at being counter to expectations.

[Squirrel]

http://www.startribune.com/patrick-reusse-s-2017-turkey-of-the-year-is/459472353/

[drjim]

I think this might represent his swan song from the column.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Still haven't read it. Glad there were no spoilers here but that's quite a tease.

[USAFChief]

Patrick Reusse, I salute you. The best local sports writer of my lifetime.

[Vanimal46]

I think this might represent his swan song from the column.

Yeah, it certainly reads that way. If that's the case, it was a hell of a run for this series.

[drjim]

Yeah, it certainly reads that way. If that's the case, it was a hell of a run for this series.

The series is by far the best thing I have read.

 

And I completely agree with Chief, easily the best local writer of my lifetime and I don't expect him to be passed.

[stringer bell]

I like Reusse. I don’t think today’s newspapers will ever produce guys like him (and Sid) any time in the future.

[ashbury]

When I left the Twin Cities in 1996, I thought Reusse had become something of a punch line. Did his reputation go through a renaissance, or am I just misremembering?

[drjim]

When I left the Twin Cities in 1996, I thought Reusse had become something of a punch line. Did his reputation go through a renaissance, or am I just misremembering?

Homers, especially Gopher football fans, have never liked him. Mid-90s struck me as a fertile time for ripping local local sports teams, depending on your opinion of Denny Green.

 

He always struck me as the most savage of critics, because he is not a cartoon about it, but also a great read when there is success, especially unexpected success.

 

Recently I have appreciated his focus on local sports, especially Gopher women's sports, (He has a little bit of a history with women's sports, to put it mildly). And at his heart he's a baseball and Gopher guy, which are my favorite sports to follow too.

[nicksaviking]

 

When I left the Twin Cities in 1996, I thought Reusse had become something of a punch line. Did his reputation go through a renaissance, or am I just misremembering?

 

I agree, his reputation has increased, I remember him less fondly from decades past. I think it's kind of a last sentinel standing and refusing to leave his post at the gates of a razed kingdom kind of thing.

[Mike Sixel]

Always was a fan.

[Mr. Brooks]

I like Reusse. I don’t think today’s newspapers will ever produce guys like him (and Sid) any time in the future.

In the case of Sid, that's a good thing. It's one thing to slant one way or another. It's another thing to be a cheerleader for the local teams.

[drjim]

In the case of Sid, that's a good thing. It's one thing to slant one way or another. It's another thing to be a cheerleader for the local teams.

I don't know if that's necessarily true. The market seems big enough for all types.

[Mr. Brooks]

I don't know if that's necessarily true. The market seems big enough for all types.

There should be some level of objectivity.

If he wants to go work for the team and write, fine. But he doesn't. He works for a newspaper tasked with covering the news.

I'm not sure why we give sportswriters a pass that we'd never give to any other type of journalist.

[drjim]

There should be some level of objectivity.

Counterpoint: Lots of people prefer to be lied to and/or have their beliefs validated and their media consumption proves it.

[Mr. Brooks]

Counterpoint: Lots of people prefer to be lied to and/or have their beliefs validated and their media consumption proves it.

Oh I don't deny that Sid's style is well received by some. But that doesn't make it right. Newspapers are supposed to be objective. I'm not naive enough to think they always (or even most often) are, just that they should be.

[gunnarthor]

 

When I left the Twin Cities in 1996, I thought Reusse had become something of a punch line. Did his reputation go through a renaissance, or am I just misremembering?

Nah. When I was younger, I remember hating any columnist who said anything bad about any team/player I followed no matter what they did. Reusse could be harsh but I don't think he was ever unfair which is a big distinction. Plus he truly loves baseball and has always been willing to attack greedy owners. 

[USAFChief]

There should be some level of objectivity.

If he wants to go work for the team and write, fine. But he doesn't. He works for a newspaper tasked with covering the news.

I'm not sure why we give sportswriters a pass that we'd never give to any other type of journalist.

Sid isn't a reporter, he's a columnist. He's paid specifically to present opinions, not just facts.

[Mr. Brooks]

Sid isn't a reporter, he's a columnist. He's paid specifically to present opinions, not just facts.

Yes, but Ruesse specifically mentions that Sid's positive representation of the local teams weren't always his opinions behind closed doors. In fact, that was specifically his motivation for writing honest opinions.

 

In other words, he's not reporting the objective facts, and he's not even supplying his honest opinion, he's fabricating a positive spin for the local teams.

 

If he were an anonymous guy in a comment section, he'd be considered a "troll".

 

I can't help but respect his longevity, and work ethic, and I hope he lives another 25 years, but the sooner his complete lack of journalistic integrity is retired, the better.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

[Vanimal46]

I think WE were the Turkey of the Year for reading this column...

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think WE were the Turkey of the Year for reading this column...

 

not sure what you mean