Just because you ’ re old doesn ’ t mean that you can ’ t be snarky

In the context of the Buzz Bissinger-versus-the-InterWeb freakout, let me send a big Yo Whaddup to the good folks over at Eagletarian, the Daily News' new Eagles blog. I know that we unpaid amateur journalists, ensconced as we are in our jammies in our many parents' many basements, do tend to sully the otherwise pristine waters of PROFESSIONAL SPORTS JOURNALISM, especially in Philadelphia. So I can't tell you how flattered we are to have you pretend to join our ranks!

In all fairness, I've actually enjoyed the first couple weeks of Eagletarian (and even have the positive comments to prove it!). What with the actual access that these guys have to players, coaches, scouts, other members of the MSM (in Philly as well as in other cities), giving them a forum to publish shorter stories with a bit more niche/ nerd appeal (that is, stories for the freaks for whom no level of detail is too minute) is an actual great addition to the overall portfolio of Eagles-related media.

Things I've liked so far:

An early opening salvo lobbed at Peter King. Talk about appealing to the early adopter/ nerd community! "Peter King is a d*uche who doesn't actually do his homework" is to Internet football nerds as "We need to trade for a wide receiver" is to popular opinion on the radio stations. "You seem to be pulling out of your Starbucks-loving derriere"? Pretty smooth, Les. You know how to charm.

That it include rumors and tips as well as actual data and extended reporting. They have information from scouts, friends around the team, and good juice about other divisions as well. And a lot of it feels like stuff that doesn't really merit more than a mention in the current framework of their print and online coverage from the Daily News. Basically, it's actually a differentiated, more detailed level of coverage. Cool. One more thing to read.

What they could improve:

Why not use social media tools and hooks? Why no tagging? Why not search within the blog? Why not hang some buttons there and make it easy for me to share? This is easy stuff; don't cost nuthin'.

What we don't know:

How they'll handle the dramas involving dialogue with the main characters. That is, what will they do in re: textual deconstructions of Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid remarks? Will they have extra juice? Details the rest of us don't see? Axes to grind?

All in all, this is goodness. Eagletarian, you've made it in the far-left column of my Netvibes sports page. Congrats!

And just in case you think we're going soft, rest assured that we still have plenty of haterade available when blathermonkeys attack!