Meet The Columbian's Brian T. Smith

[ABM]

Sincerely hope he gives the guys at the O a proverbial run for their money:

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/8/6/980003/lets-meet-the-columbians-new

Why, it's Brian T. Smith, the new Blazers Beat writer for the Vancouver Columbian. As you read first here on Blazersedge, his predecessor, Brian Hendrickson, recently moved out of state. Enter The New Brian, who officially started work for the paper last week.

I caught up with The New Brian via email so that we can have a headstart in getting to know the newest adddition to Blazers Media. Click through for our lengthy conversation, in which we discuss his career path, what's missing from Blazers coverage, the funniest complaint he's received, and whether investigative reporting, one of his specialities, is a dying art.

 

[ODENISGOD]

what a nerd

 

[MickZagger]

what a nerd

All you do is infiltrate the board with your filth. Find a new hobby.

 

[ODENISGOD]

All you do is infiltrate the board with your filth. Find a new hobby.

lol take it easy

 

[blue32]

All you do is infiltrate the board with your filth. Find a new hobby.

more people need to put him on ignore, then all he'll do is talk to himself

 

[ABM]

more people need to put him on ignore, then all he'll do is talk to himself

[video=youtube;gGnl8dqEoPQ]

 

[Idog1976]

My god the media handjob affair with their fellow members of the mutually handjobbing local media is really out of control at Blazersedge.

The Oregonian's Jason Quick and John Canzano are one of -- if not the -- best beat reporter/columnist teams in the country

What kind of inhalants make one think, that anything short of Shakespeare himself could lift Canzano up enough to become the best beat reporter/columnist writing team in the country?

Of course Ben too pays frequent homage at the Shrine of Quick. When he doesn't put himself into the story (underwhelming anyone?) Quick is a decent writer, sure, but dear lord I'm sick of the mutual media hand jobbery.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'll miss Brian Hendrickson, he was easily my favorite Blazer beat reporter; he understood the CBA, he understood advanced stats and (apparently) had little ego -- or at least he kept it out of his reporting.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I'll miss Brian Hendrickson, he was easily my favorite Blazer beat reporter; he understood the CBA, he understood advanced stats and (apparently) had little ego -- or at least he kept it out of his reporting.

Same. He was easily the best we had available, probably one of the best in the country. Especially when you consider The Columbian probably doesn't have even half the resources The Oregonian has available to them.

Don't really like the Brian Smith guy so far.

 

[Idog1976]

I'll miss Brian Hendrickson, he was easily my favorite Blazer beat reporter; he understood the CBA, he understood advanced stats and (apparently) had little ego -- or at least he kept it out of his reporting.

Should have balanced my lambasting of Quick and Canzano with some praise for the ones I like. I usually like Dave at Blazers Edge and also Ben if he isn't injecting himself into the story ala Quick he's quite good. I hate posting there due to their restrictions on content but BE is definitely good for news.I also forgot to say I like(d) Hendrickson along with Eggers and Holdahl they are my favorites. Oh and of course HCP who is really the least appreciated sports genius around.

 

[Rodolfo]

My god the media handjob affair with their fellow members of the mutually handjobbing local media is really out of control at Blazersedge.

What kind of inhalants make one think, that anything short of Shakespeare himself could lift Canzano up enough to become the best beat reporter/columnist writing team in the country?

Of course Ben too pays frequent homage at the Shrine of Quick. When he doesn't put himself into the story (underwhelming anyone?) Quick is a decent writer, sure, but dear lord I'm sick of the mutual media hand jobbery.

I think you meant circle jerk.

 

[barfo]

Well, we'll be tearing him a new one pretty soon. Welcome, Brian!

barfo

 

[alex42083]

I'll miss Brian Hendrickson, he was easily my favorite Blazer beat reporter; he understood the CBA, he understood advanced stats and (apparently) had little ego -- or at least he kept it out of his reporting.

Don't know if he was the best but he was different and would've made a great complement to Quick at The O being the stat geek and Quick being more of the feature-ish writer.

I still think Quick's Behind the Locker Room pieces are the best beat writer features I've ever seen. They were a joy to read.

The Columbian's in a tough spot, not being able to afford travel expenses for their beat writer but Hendrickson made up for it big time with his analysis. Hopefully the new Brian gives us something new.