I also don’t care who wins this year’s Super Bowl. Two good teams that I care nothing about, good or bad, and no underdog or Cinderella story. Meh
I listened to a couple of your podcasts and have listened to podcasts from many others. I found yours through your writing and always preferred the writing. Since you moved to Substack I’ve found several other writer/communities I enjoy so I read many essays a day on many subjects and rarely listen to a podcast.
The wings are already marinating. The popcorn is... well it's in the cupboard. The pre-game Rihanna background playlist is created. The "friendly" bets are being worked out. I for one am pumped to have friends over and have a party and enjoy ourselves. The actual game is background to all this, as it is every year the 'Hawks don't make the title match.
There are better awards than the Oscars. You've got the right approach here, using the broad spectrum appeal of the Oscards name to highlight other wonderful movies and performances.
The Mia Goth-Ti West pairing has been fire this year! I've you've not seen it check out Emma, where Mia goes toe-to-toe with Anya Taylor-Joy (which is no mean feat). I hope we see Mia branch out into more non-horror films because she has talent.
The actor at the top of my "watch anything at all they are involved in" is Daniel Radcliffe. Since being Harry Potter he's made a real effort to go nuts and be hands on with a wide variety of interesting, insane and fun projects. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story might be the most overlooked/underrated movie of 2022!
Thank you Kenneth for focusing on writing instead of podcasts and tweeting. I really enjoy reading what you write. I just enjoy reading...period.
For me, if I’m reading an article or newsletter, I can read it as fast or slow as I want. I can back up and reread a portion and consider what I really think about it. And that’s harder for me to do if it’s a podcast.
While I’m on the topic of your writing, thanks for making this such an intelligent newsletter. You’re not just sharing opinions. You lay out a case for something, bring lots of supporting data and discuss the “how” and “why” without being condescending.
I feel like I’m a more informed fan this year than last, thanks to Seaside Joe.
I'd feel like you about this Superbowl if my wife and in-laws were not Eagles fans. They're from Philly. So this weekend, I'll root with them for the Eagles. That said, I don't hate K.C. I like both teams, which makes for a boring game.
As for writing about the draft, I remember your comments last year on Cross, that the Seahawks wouldn't take him, and you got us stoked on Breece Hall. We wound up with Cross and without Hall but with Walker. It was interesting and we were better informed. No one can fault you for not having a crystal ball.
I think you're right that, with the fifth pick, you'll wind up writing about someone we land, unless Schneider trades down. Hard to imagine a reach for a guy who couldn't have been anticipated. If that happens, both Schneider and Carroll should be shot. Then fired. Then shot again.
As for building a following, I agree with your comments. Do what you love and then see who loves you back. Build a community of loyal followers. Ideally, a community of people who interact with and like each other. That's what works about Seaside Joe. I valued your insights and also the insights and presence of other fans who post here.
1) I spend so much time focused on what’s happening with the Hawks during our season that I’m happy to have a break by not even watching any games once they’re finished. 2) Frank Clark always felt like he wasn’t a character fit for the Hawks. He seems more of a thug. Wondering if the Hawks’ emphasis on character and fitting into the team automatically self-selects against that type of player? 3) Much as I love podcasts, it’s great to make the choice not to waste the time on something that doesn’t really do it for you. Makes the other stuff more valuable. Kudos!
I guess I’m an outlier! I’m looking forward to pulling for the Iggles—love their pass rush and their physical play. Plus they can show that running backs *do* matter.
I fully undrstand your feeling of malaise about this year's SB, and I also don't totally understand why. Perhaps because there is no underdog? Two diametrically opposed team builds (at least salary-wise) sure, but we're talking about top seed versus top seed and both teams have recently won a SB.
But yes, it feels like a Christmas where you already know what you're getting and you know dinner is going to be a family fight with dry turkey/ham. It's still Christmas, so you show up and try to enjoy, but it ends up just, blah.
I saw the headline and I was ready to COME FOR YOU. Then you went and made me remember why I come here; because I respect you're writing and the work you put it into it.
Anyway, this year's Super Bowl is the most interesting in YEARS. Can you win with an absolute worldy QB who costs you 17% of your cap space? Have Philly nailed the elite roster-cheap QB combo and made themselves a championship factory? Alongside the McCaffrey trade, this SB is one of the most interesting data points in the last few seasons.
I am looking forward to this Super Bowl because I'm curious to see if one-legged Mahomes can live up to his hype and actually win a second ring, but I also like watching complete teams go head to head and this is probably the best match up since...the Seahawks played the Pats (I hate that I had to bring that up).
Mia Goth: Hollywood (and the Academy) does recognize lead actresses in horror films (Jodie Foster won for Silence of the Lambs, 1990; Toni Colette for Sixth Sense, 1999) and supporting actress (Ruth Gordon for Rosemary's Baby, 1968) but typically those actresses all had critically-acclaimed careers before those roles and all three of those films were hugely popular and highly successful.
The Academy generally doesn't take genre films that seriously, and when they do its typically because a respected, well-known actor is in a big, highly successful hit film. X and/or Pearl don't really fit either bill, unfortunately. Being considered a "scream queen" won't help Goth either, the Academy seems to disregard actors who predominantly only do genre work, which is a shame.
Hereditary did $44m in the US. I bet if it did about 3 or 4 times that, she would have gotten a nom. Which is hilarious because Spotlight won Best Picture in 2015 and it only did $45m domestic.
You’re 100% right Joel! I shouldn’t say I was shocked that Collette or Goth weren’t nominated. More that I’m saddened that they didn’t get that recognition. I grew up as a massive fan of the Oscars but as I’ve gotten older it became clear to me what awards show are reall about and that’s a shame.
Enjoyed this article very much. I laughed out loud at the tweet about Mahomes wanting players to wear fake mustaches and then your chosen follow up.
I kind of care about the Super Bowl, but would be much more invested had the losers of the championship games advanced. But considering I don't care much who wins, I suppose I'm not particularly invested. I expect the Eagles to win big, but I suspect that Jalen Hurts will be more injured than Mahomes. I'd wager after the game it will be announced that he's getting shoulder surgery. But the Eagles seem a much more complete team, and how I wish the Seahawks would have built themselves.
I'm sad you no longer do a podcast, but I get it. I love radio, and for me, podcasts are long form radio (hopefully) without ads, or at least with ads you can easily skip using the 15 seconds forward button. I listen to 6 Seahawks podcasts and subscribe to several other sports podcasts that only I listen to when I like the subject or guest. I'm probably an outlier though. I haven't tuned in my car radio in ages -mostly due to ads. In a 60 minute Brock and Salk segment. 21 minutes and 40 seconds are advertisements. And don't get me started on the ratio of ads to content on a televised NFL game. This year college seemed even worse.
This type of "If this guy were that guy, then the media would..." is way overdone but I'm going to do it anyway: If Russell Wilson had the same plane experience as Patrick Mahomes, the media would have flipped out! "Russ has no friends on the team" etc.
I agree and I also understand why it's true. Russ cares so much about his public image and it's all come crashing down. He strikes me as incredibly tone-deaf. He didn't just want to be a HOF QB in Seattle, he wanted to be the best to ever do it and went to Denver to "cook". He did high knees on a plane, and wanted the world to see it. He was the "fastest healer in the world" after his thumb injury. I think the recent news about his charity might be the worst of all as far as his image is concerned. Someone on Field Gulls compared him to Icarus flying too close to the sun, and that felt apt.
I have no doubt in my mind that he believed in Recovery Water/nano bubbles ability to heal. At 24 I was willing to believe a lot of things that I would dismiss without even giving thought 30 years later. People online called him a huckster then, and I still feel he was just naive.
Wilson's just like everyone else. People want to be loved and sometimes go about it in the wrong way. We all want to be recognized and yet no level of recognition feels like enough because the need is insatiable. Unless and until we love ourselves. Then the need starts to abate. Which is the great thing about growing old. One learns to look in the mirror and really like the person looking back. At least those of us who are lucky. Then, what the rest of the world thinks becomes way less important.
Yep. Go through some life and ups and downs, bury your parents and best friend, and you'll probably find that you aren't too concerned with whether your jacket is still in style.
I'd guess that most years most people mostly don't care about the outcome of the Super Bowl.
I think podcasts should be reserved only for people already well known for being exceptional in some way or another. Ramblings from your favorite musician or theoretical physicist, for example.
What's amazing to me is how many celebrities have podcasts that nobody knows exists and don't get many views/downloads. I'll find out about some comedian doing a podcast for the last 3 years and had no idea. Because they're so easy to create but that's what makes them so hard to find. "Well, I just have to talk to a friend for an hour. I'd do that anyway!"
The host really needs to give a shit about the form, the episodes, the guests, and I think people don't quite realize how tedious and uninteresting a weekly show becomes. Or that it is a unique skill to be a good show host of any form: radio, late night, TV. Countless people washed out in late night and there was a lot of time and money put into those. Kind of interesting how many regular people have considered themselves capable of being the next Howard Stern or (fill in the blank your favorite host) what have you, without any training, practice, or expertise. And this comes from one of those people!
Your podcasts were interesting. But most of the insights were the same ones you wrote about. So it isn't necessary. I'm content to read your thoughts and comment on the subjects you cover with you and other readers.
I see this SB as validation or repudiation of the "the QB isn't everything--it's the only thing" POV. If Mahomes pulls it off, then hats off to him, and "finding the next Mahomes" continues the NFL-wide quest. But an Eagles win will Hurts that narrative.
Frank Clark? Meh. It helps that he makes a difference in big games. But the 'hit rate' in the first round (and draft generally) is the answer to "why haven't the Seahawks..."
It definitely doesn't help that the Seahawks haven't had the high draft picks, but they've also had some really awful picks relative to their draft position at DE, OLB.
The Hawks have been at best average in the draft between 2012 and last year. But the thing is that's not good enough to win much. The average team is . . . well . . . average.
He's pretty wooden but I actually enjoy those commercials. Find them funny. Would be great if they didn't play them so much and maybe created some new content every now and again. But I'm not the kind of person who lauds or enjoys commercials . . . ever. So it says a lot, I think, that these are the exception.
Andy Reid is much better in the commercial with the magic marker than Mahomes. He's actually got some talent as a comic actor. "I'm gonna get to the bottom of this" while pitching the marker is really well done. Clever writers, clever direction. But not stumbling over lines like Patrick.
I also don’t care who wins this year’s Super Bowl. Two good teams that I care nothing about, good or bad, and no underdog or Cinderella story. Meh
I listened to a couple of your podcasts and have listened to podcasts from many others. I found yours through your writing and always preferred the writing. Since you moved to Substack I’ve found several other writer/communities I enjoy so I read many essays a day on many subjects and rarely listen to a podcast.
The wings are already marinating. The popcorn is... well it's in the cupboard. The pre-game Rihanna background playlist is created. The "friendly" bets are being worked out. I for one am pumped to have friends over and have a party and enjoy ourselves. The actual game is background to all this, as it is every year the 'Hawks don't make the title match.
There are better awards than the Oscars. You've got the right approach here, using the broad spectrum appeal of the Oscards name to highlight other wonderful movies and performances.
The Mia Goth-Ti West pairing has been fire this year! I've you've not seen it check out Emma, where Mia goes toe-to-toe with Anya Taylor-Joy (which is no mean feat). I hope we see Mia branch out into more non-horror films because she has talent.
The actor at the top of my "watch anything at all they are involved in" is Daniel Radcliffe. Since being Harry Potter he's made a real effort to go nuts and be hands on with a wide variety of interesting, insane and fun projects. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story might be the most overlooked/underrated movie of 2022!
Who is Tiger Woods?
This links to an article that details how the Chiefs were built. It's a comprehensive look that has some application to Seattle.
https://www.bigblueview.com/2023/2/7/23582219/2023-super-bowl-how-kansas-city-chiefs-were-built
Thank you Kenneth for focusing on writing instead of podcasts and tweeting. I really enjoy reading what you write. I just enjoy reading...period.
For me, if I’m reading an article or newsletter, I can read it as fast or slow as I want. I can back up and reread a portion and consider what I really think about it. And that’s harder for me to do if it’s a podcast.
While I’m on the topic of your writing, thanks for making this such an intelligent newsletter. You’re not just sharing opinions. You lay out a case for something, bring lots of supporting data and discuss the “how” and “why” without being condescending.
I feel like I’m a more informed fan this year than last, thanks to Seaside Joe.
I'd feel like you about this Superbowl if my wife and in-laws were not Eagles fans. They're from Philly. So this weekend, I'll root with them for the Eagles. That said, I don't hate K.C. I like both teams, which makes for a boring game.
As for writing about the draft, I remember your comments last year on Cross, that the Seahawks wouldn't take him, and you got us stoked on Breece Hall. We wound up with Cross and without Hall but with Walker. It was interesting and we were better informed. No one can fault you for not having a crystal ball.
I think you're right that, with the fifth pick, you'll wind up writing about someone we land, unless Schneider trades down. Hard to imagine a reach for a guy who couldn't have been anticipated. If that happens, both Schneider and Carroll should be shot. Then fired. Then shot again.
As for building a following, I agree with your comments. Do what you love and then see who loves you back. Build a community of loyal followers. Ideally, a community of people who interact with and like each other. That's what works about Seaside Joe. I valued your insights and also the insights and presence of other fans who post here.
I'm not going to watch the Super Bowl. I just don't care.
1) I spend so much time focused on what’s happening with the Hawks during our season that I’m happy to have a break by not even watching any games once they’re finished. 2) Frank Clark always felt like he wasn’t a character fit for the Hawks. He seems more of a thug. Wondering if the Hawks’ emphasis on character and fitting into the team automatically self-selects against that type of player? 3) Much as I love podcasts, it’s great to make the choice not to waste the time on something that doesn’t really do it for you. Makes the other stuff more valuable. Kudos!
I guess I’m an outlier! I’m looking forward to pulling for the Iggles—love their pass rush and their physical play. Plus they can show that running backs *do* matter.
Here's a thought. I'd rather watch the Super Bowl than get started on doing my taxes.
I fully undrstand your feeling of malaise about this year's SB, and I also don't totally understand why. Perhaps because there is no underdog? Two diametrically opposed team builds (at least salary-wise) sure, but we're talking about top seed versus top seed and both teams have recently won a SB.
But yes, it feels like a Christmas where you already know what you're getting and you know dinner is going to be a family fight with dry turkey/ham. It's still Christmas, so you show up and try to enjoy, but it ends up just, blah.
Yaaaawn, I agree😑
Yes, that could be it!
I saw the headline and I was ready to COME FOR YOU. Then you went and made me remember why I come here; because I respect you're writing and the work you put it into it.
Anyway, this year's Super Bowl is the most interesting in YEARS. Can you win with an absolute worldy QB who costs you 17% of your cap space? Have Philly nailed the elite roster-cheap QB combo and made themselves a championship factory? Alongside the McCaffrey trade, this SB is one of the most interesting data points in the last few seasons.
Hahaha. Thank you MJ!
I am looking forward to this Super Bowl because I'm curious to see if one-legged Mahomes can live up to his hype and actually win a second ring, but I also like watching complete teams go head to head and this is probably the best match up since...the Seahawks played the Pats (I hate that I had to bring that up).
Mia Goth: Hollywood (and the Academy) does recognize lead actresses in horror films (Jodie Foster won for Silence of the Lambs, 1990; Toni Colette for Sixth Sense, 1999) and supporting actress (Ruth Gordon for Rosemary's Baby, 1968) but typically those actresses all had critically-acclaimed careers before those roles and all three of those films were hugely popular and highly successful.
The Academy generally doesn't take genre films that seriously, and when they do its typically because a respected, well-known actor is in a big, highly successful hit film. X and/or Pearl don't really fit either bill, unfortunately. Being considered a "scream queen" won't help Goth either, the Academy seems to disregard actors who predominantly only do genre work, which is a shame.
Yeah, very true Joel. It's a big joke that Toni Collette wasn't nominated for Hereditary, also!
Hereditary did $44m in the US. I bet if it did about 3 or 4 times that, she would have gotten a nom. Which is hilarious because Spotlight won Best Picture in 2015 and it only did $45m domestic.
You’re 100% right Joel! I shouldn’t say I was shocked that Collette or Goth weren’t nominated. More that I’m saddened that they didn’t get that recognition. I grew up as a massive fan of the Oscars but as I’ve gotten older it became clear to me what awards show are reall about and that’s a shame.
Enjoyed this article very much. I laughed out loud at the tweet about Mahomes wanting players to wear fake mustaches and then your chosen follow up.
I kind of care about the Super Bowl, but would be much more invested had the losers of the championship games advanced. But considering I don't care much who wins, I suppose I'm not particularly invested. I expect the Eagles to win big, but I suspect that Jalen Hurts will be more injured than Mahomes. I'd wager after the game it will be announced that he's getting shoulder surgery. But the Eagles seem a much more complete team, and how I wish the Seahawks would have built themselves.
I'm sad you no longer do a podcast, but I get it. I love radio, and for me, podcasts are long form radio (hopefully) without ads, or at least with ads you can easily skip using the 15 seconds forward button. I listen to 6 Seahawks podcasts and subscribe to several other sports podcasts that only I listen to when I like the subject or guest. I'm probably an outlier though. I haven't tuned in my car radio in ages -mostly due to ads. In a 60 minute Brock and Salk segment. 21 minutes and 40 seconds are advertisements. And don't get me started on the ratio of ads to content on a televised NFL game. This year college seemed even worse.
This type of "If this guy were that guy, then the media would..." is way overdone but I'm going to do it anyway: If Russell Wilson had the same plane experience as Patrick Mahomes, the media would have flipped out! "Russ has no friends on the team" etc.
I agree and I also understand why it's true. Russ cares so much about his public image and it's all come crashing down. He strikes me as incredibly tone-deaf. He didn't just want to be a HOF QB in Seattle, he wanted to be the best to ever do it and went to Denver to "cook". He did high knees on a plane, and wanted the world to see it. He was the "fastest healer in the world" after his thumb injury. I think the recent news about his charity might be the worst of all as far as his image is concerned. Someone on Field Gulls compared him to Icarus flying too close to the sun, and that felt apt.
Remember his miracle water back in his early years? 🤣🤣
I have no doubt in my mind that he believed in Recovery Water/nano bubbles ability to heal. At 24 I was willing to believe a lot of things that I would dismiss without even giving thought 30 years later. People online called him a huckster then, and I still feel he was just naive.
Wilson's just like everyone else. People want to be loved and sometimes go about it in the wrong way. We all want to be recognized and yet no level of recognition feels like enough because the need is insatiable. Unless and until we love ourselves. Then the need starts to abate. Which is the great thing about growing old. One learns to look in the mirror and really like the person looking back. At least those of us who are lucky. Then, what the rest of the world thinks becomes way less important.
Yep. Go through some life and ups and downs, bury your parents and best friend, and you'll probably find that you aren't too concerned with whether your jacket is still in style.
I'd guess that most years most people mostly don't care about the outcome of the Super Bowl.
I think podcasts should be reserved only for people already well known for being exceptional in some way or another. Ramblings from your favorite musician or theoretical physicist, for example.
What's amazing to me is how many celebrities have podcasts that nobody knows exists and don't get many views/downloads. I'll find out about some comedian doing a podcast for the last 3 years and had no idea. Because they're so easy to create but that's what makes them so hard to find. "Well, I just have to talk to a friend for an hour. I'd do that anyway!"
The host really needs to give a shit about the form, the episodes, the guests, and I think people don't quite realize how tedious and uninteresting a weekly show becomes. Or that it is a unique skill to be a good show host of any form: radio, late night, TV. Countless people washed out in late night and there was a lot of time and money put into those. Kind of interesting how many regular people have considered themselves capable of being the next Howard Stern or (fill in the blank your favorite host) what have you, without any training, practice, or expertise. And this comes from one of those people!
Your podcasts were interesting. But most of the insights were the same ones you wrote about. So it isn't necessary. I'm content to read your thoughts and comment on the subjects you cover with you and other readers.
I see this SB as validation or repudiation of the "the QB isn't everything--it's the only thing" POV. If Mahomes pulls it off, then hats off to him, and "finding the next Mahomes" continues the NFL-wide quest. But an Eagles win will Hurts that narrative.
Frank Clark? Meh. It helps that he makes a difference in big games. But the 'hit rate' in the first round (and draft generally) is the answer to "why haven't the Seahawks..."
Podcasts are for lazy writers. There, I said it.
I think you're onto something with podcasts.
It definitely doesn't help that the Seahawks haven't had the high draft picks, but they've also had some really awful picks relative to their draft position at DE, OLB.
The Hawks have been at best average in the draft between 2012 and last year. But the thing is that's not good enough to win much. The average team is . . . well . . . average.
I am right there with you on the Super Bowl and Mahomes commercials! If I cared, my support would be for the Eagles.
If ever there was an NFL star who I know won't have a post-career job in TV, it's Mahomes.
He's pretty wooden but I actually enjoy those commercials. Find them funny. Would be great if they didn't play them so much and maybe created some new content every now and again. But I'm not the kind of person who lauds or enjoys commercials . . . ever. So it says a lot, I think, that these are the exception.
Andy Reid is much better in the commercial with the magic marker than Mahomes. He's actually got some talent as a comic actor. "I'm gonna get to the bottom of this" while pitching the marker is really well done. Clever writers, clever direction. But not stumbling over lines like Patrick.