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Since the day I wrote my first column back in 1997 for what is now the SouthtownStar, I told myself this - write the truth, write with passion and don't shy away.
To this day, I still believe in those three things when it comes to writing this blog.
Sometimes, you need to take a stand on things and be blunt. Some people are going to love you for it, while others will tell you to go where the sun doesn't shine. It's part of the gig, and I get that.
Recently, Cornerkicks was honored as one of the best blogs in the Chicagoland area by George M. Wilcox of the Pioneer Press. Here's the story...
Happy anniversary, Hallways
By George M. Wilcoxon September 22, 2009
Today marks the second anniversary of Heard in the Hallways. Of course, more than two years ago I had heard of blogs, but didn't really know what they were. By checking out other blogs, I've learned. Now, writing a blog has become one of the more enjoyable parts of being a sports writer second to actually covering the games and athletes.
To become a sports writer, you have to love the games. I'm asked all the time from parents and fans about what sports I cover. "Well, all of them," I reply. I even watch swimming, which I find the most difficult of all high school sports to watch. I would take a badminton match or bowling meet anytime over swimming.
Blogging has taken off in ways I never imagined. Heck, I never thought I would be writing a blog two years ago, and even have fun doing it. There is a blog by everyone about everything now. But blogging has cost us newspaper readers. It is apparent that young readers would rather read a blog than subscribe to a newspaper to read its columnists. Now, I'm a regular blog reader too.
I would like to share my five favorite blogs, sort of a tribute for Heard in the Hallways' birthday. I could only hope that Hallways could be as good these blogs someday.
1. Roger Ebert's Journal
The Chicago area's king of all bloggers is the city's best newspaper writer and he's adapted to the new technology with his own Web site and a blog to remember. Some of his entries have even appeared in the newspaper's print edition, such as his recent entry celebrating his 30th anniversary of sobriety. Ebert lost his voice to cancer, but he has become more prolific than ever before. He still reviews every single released movie, writes his blog and produces the Answer Man. He's already written more than 11 entries from the Toronto Film Festival. Yikes. Somewhere he also finds time to write books. Ebert's Journal is not only about film, but he has handled meaning-of-life topics and anything else that catches his interest. Deep stuff.
2. Chicago's Daily News
Sun-Times copy editor and former preps sports writer Mark Potash provides magnificent analysis of sports coverage by the city's two metros. It's remarkable that Potash can keep his perspective and critique both sports sections despite working for the Bright One. Potash should have been writing a column for the Sun-Times long ago, but his blog likely allows him more freedom of expression. Especially fun are the old newspaper front pages he digs up and a tribute to his hometown of Lincolnwood. His blog is named after the late Chicago daily, which died in the 1970s.
3. Corner Kicks
Writer Joe Trost loves soccer. You can tell the South suburban native loves his soccer by reading his blog for the Sun-Times' Your Season network. Trost isn't afraid to take sides, rail against the IHSA and otherwise pretty much champion everything about his favorite sport. I don't even like soccer, but I always read Trost's blog. It's that good. I still can't believe he got away with a picture of an elephant taking a dump. The blog entry was about the IHSA, naturally.
4. The Business of Sports
One of the Chicago's newest blogs is written by former Tribune sports writer Ed Sherman for Crain's Chicago Business. In just the first few months of writing his blog, Sherman broke the story about David Hernandez's Ponzi Scheme and the demise of Chicago Webio sports. The metro dailies couldn't keep up with Sherman and for some reason refused to attribute Sherman in the print edition versions of the story, which ran first on his blog. In one blog entry, Sherman took the dailies to task for that. That's the advantage of a blog entry, it can be posted faster than a newspaper Web story and Sherman's breaking news on Hernandez appeared long before the print versions reached my curb. Sherman also writes a golf blog for Crain's, but I haven't read it.
5. News Bites
Reader media critic Michael Miner writes the blog read by every media member in town. In a way, Miner has replaced the Sun-Times' Bob Feder, who had breaking news about people's jobs before they even knew it. I now find out more about my company and the media business from Miner than any of my bosses are able to tell me. I think my bosses also wait to read Miner to find out what's new about their jobs too.
I'll keep on blogging, but I don't know if Hallways will be around for a third birthday. I'll just wait for one of Miner's entries to find out about this space's future. Thanks for reading us.
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Congratulations , Joe , on the recognition . I don't always agree with your views but you have given players , coaches , parents , officials , and fans of high school soccer a chance to voice their opinions.
Keep up the good work.
Congratulations Joe! I have been reading your blog all season and you do a great job! Between your blog, west suburban soccer, and big soccer, I think we have it covered. Keep being passionate about the game and taking on those who dont seem to care about soccer, especially when it is their responsibility. It seems like the football players get everything. I tell my football friends: You can take lots of soccer players and suit them up for football, but you cant take a football player and suit him up for soccer. I think the soccer players are the best athletes there are. Keep the dialog going!