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Announcing My Intention to Turn Pro

14
Vote

by user Manny Stiles

Rant Warning! Rant Warning!

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" - Hunter S Thompson

Twice in One Day!@!!!

TWICE in the SAME DAY!@!!

Those bastardized versions of "writers" stole my stories!!! I opened up ESPN.com today and felt like I was reading my own articles... not one by chance, same idea article... TWO articles.

Keep in mind, since Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Wiley died, I hardly ever read ESPN for anything other than news wire and scoreboards, (also TMQ and Uniwatch) the better content is here...

OK, it's entirely possible one could come up with the same ideas I had months ago... Anyway, Bill Simmons finally got one right (for the most part) only about TWO months after the Stilesman... Simmons basically reiterated everything I said... IN NOVEMBER!!! Maybe he just took a while to get to it with all of the TV watching he does...

Witness: Exhibit A - Bad Start, So What?

Exhibit B - What's wrong with Amare and the Suns... - also includes "The moment the Suns season changed", which also coincided with start of the 15 game win streak...

Exhibit C - Why we should have had a 28 game winning streak

OK, the Suns are good... MAYBE it was a coincidence an unabashed Suns basher finally saw the light that has been beaming here in the Valley for years.

OK, just coincidence...

Then I turned the browser in the direction of Jim Caple. Normally, Caple and I agree on some Yankee hating points, but I feel he has turned turdward for quite a while now... He had a story about stats, I love stats... fun!

So I perused his article it starts out about the websites he reads and it was an Interview with Sean Forman!!! Yeah, I didn't do THAT FOUR MONTHS AGO!!! Son of a...

CLEARLY Jim Caple reads ArmchairGM... Where's the props at fellas? Where's the shout out? Are we THAT threatening? Is this site SO good that people are afraid to mention it and give away their secret sports stash?

God, WHAT am I doing here? Maybe I died long ago and this is hell....

I started writing sports on the web at the urging of my wife. I wrote and wrote about everything else for the love of writing. I didn't want to be a "Sportswriter". Sportwriters do not live in a realm that includes creativity or imagination. But wifey said more people would read it, I talk about sports all day anyway, no brainer.

I wanted to inject some creativity into sports journalism. I can't help but imagine what would happen IF I ACTUALLY TRIED... These jackasses have 2-3 articles to write a week and STILL have to leach (AND leech) their material from "the people". Now I sit here with the taste of puke in my mouth and rage flowing through my veins... What's next??

If I see something similar to this, I might have to do something very drastic... like pull the veil back on OZ.

So, screw it... I am declaring my intentions to turn pro. Obviously I already do the work. ESPN, Sporting News, SI etc...all of you... I'm tired of your tired ideas. I'm tired of you blatently stealing, robbing and pilfering the "good stuff".here at Armchair. Send your best offers to MannyStiles@aol.com (apologies and thanks are also welcomed, Jim and Bill)

With my turning pro, I promise my league-leading and often controversial commenting will NOT be part of the package. I'll even promise to write less about myself! Seriously. I can get WAAAY better.

Give me the opportunity to quit my job and do this creative writing stuff full time I'll give you more than you can imagine (and probably WAY more than you can handle) Here's my ever expanding resume.

If you want fresh, original content MONTHS before you'd think of it on your own, give me and/or the ArmchairGM community a call...

In the meantime, prepare for a very angry, motivated and focused Manny Stiles. Grrr!

I know I'm not the only one who has had this happen. So I ask of the ACGM Nation, if you feel you've had your articles ripped off by the big bad COMMERCIAL media add 'em in comments.... Thanks! --E--

Enable Comment Auto-Refresher
False ProphetAll-Star
1047 days ago
Score 4+-
I have been, with my NFL BCS coulumn spun off by ESPN
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
Yep. There's another blatent one... It would be one thing if they'd acknowledge us, but you know they're in their ivory offices smoking fat cat cigars, sipping cognac and munching extra fancy potato chips, making jokes about "whackjob blogsters" and the like...
Permalink
ChristofMVP
1047 days ago
Score 1+-
Manny, at least you are in Arizona and not near CT. If you were, I think you would go postal at the ESPN center in Bristol.
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
I'm not a threat or danger to anyone (unless my kids get brought into it) But I'm gearing my creative skills for war. It's ok to blow off an ordinary whack job, but FEAR the motivated, creative, hypercrazy whack job. Stay tuned... it's 'bout to get hectic fo'sho'.
Permalink
ChristofMVP
1047 days ago
Score 2+-
As Aerosmith begins to sing "Manny has a gun, the whole world has come undone"
Permalink
Davis21wylieMVP
1047 days ago
Score 2+-
ESPN stealing from the blogosphere? That's a new one!
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 1+-
Well, they skimmed the wrong dude. Heads will spin. I want to be a nice guy and enjoy the fact that my ideas are good enough to be pawned off as someone else's, or feel priviledged that my same idea can be done "professionally" by the expensive hacks, but that's no fun...
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
The revolution has just taken another turn. That's all.
Permalink | Reply
RoblefkoLegend
1047 days ago
Score 4+-
So you retired first, and then you turned pro...doesn't it work the other way around?
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 1+-
that's how Manny Stiles rolls...
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
I just figured it out! ESPN is mad at me for not re-upping my Insider membership!
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 4+-
ESPN.CON This user was ripped off by
Evil Sportswriter
Parasite Network.
Permalink
Anonymous Fanatic #1
1047 days ago
Score 1+-
Boo Hoo. Everybody's gotten ripped off at one time or another. All these talking heads do all day is sit around and surf the net looking for ideas. Without copyright, no credit is due, plus it would ruin their own credibility by coming off less knowledgable than they appear. The only difference between them and us is they get paid and we don't. That's life.
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
Amateurs borrow, professionals steal. I'm not crying, I'm screaming!
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
1047 days ago
Score 2+-
@*@&$!># logouts!!
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
just log in and agree with "the handsome and knowledgable anon #1" instead of cussing... =) (I haven't done that in months and I still lead the league in those)
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
1047 days ago
Score 2+-
Borrow/steal, good one. Trying to figure out in which cheek was your tongue as you were writing. I had a stolen article situation from '92 that still ticks me off, and it ended up in a National Publication. So the only lesson I learned is not to do the same situation again without spending a few bucks for copyrighting.
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 0+-
I like it when my Jeter articles get tossed around the internet, but now I'm just motivated to open the doors on this whole sportswriting puppy... I've always been well protected with my music recordings concerning copyrights, but it's different with this online media deal. It really doesn't bother me, it just adds ful to my fire. I will NOT be duplicated!!!
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
1047 days ago
Score 1+-
I'm with you Manny!
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1047 days ago
Score 1+-
now there's a twist on "You're with me, leather"
Permalink
The BeastAAA-er
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
Once again Manny has chosen to write another article that makes no sense, poorly written, and most of all discusses nothing sports related.
Permalink | Reply
Davis21wylieMVP
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
As our (rarely-seen) buddy Patrick Burke once said... ouch!
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
Pardon me for a moment, everyone:

Beast, please challenge me, let's duel whatever... Get it out of your system' because me and my irrepressable ego aren't going anywhere. Whether it's jealousy, fear, or just a total lack of understanding you aren't going to overcome it until you let go and enjoy the ride. I'm a much better friend than enemy to have. It's your choice, not mine.

I don't care what you do, what you think about me or what you think about yourself, but give up the friction. I've forgotten more sports than you lived through. And I choose to entertain, express creativity and not just regurgitate what the talking heads regurgitate on TV.
Permalink
The BeastAAA-er
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
Lets see who can write more "I am now retired articles."
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
Well, you better get typing, I'm already leading 1-0
Permalink
The BeastAAA-er
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
Sorry, but I don't like to lie to people.
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
So then you lied about letting us see who can write more retirement articles? Weren't you lying about this article having nothing to do with sports (as opposed to your sports-drenched comments)? and weren't you also lying about me being a dumbfuck?
Permalink
The BeastAAA-er
1046 days ago
Score -1+-
No I wasn't lying about you being a dumbfuck. You act in that mannor sometimes. I was being sarcastic about the retirment article. I don't like to post lies. If you don't like sports-drenched comments, than leave the site. This is a sports site. Isn't it.......... dumbfuck.
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
You haven't posted one single sports related comment on this post that is VERY ESPN.com related, Dr Dumbfuck. It's THEN, not THAN, the Yeast
Permalink
PeanMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
haha..a manny quote from 195 days ago


"I'll be bored with this all soon enough..."
Permalink
PeanMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
^ oops, I meant from that link that D21 posted
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
Sports is my crack, ArmchairGM is my pipe. Quote that, m-fer =)
Permalink
PeanMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
that makes me your dealer
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
Now who's on crack??? Are you my pipe dealer? I get my sports all over the place, even in different towns!!! I don't discriminate when it comes to getting my sports on...
Permalink
PeanMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
haha after i submitted that, i realized i was your pipe dealer...oh well
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
You can still be my pimp, Pean Machine!!!
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
Game, set, match Manny Stiles
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 0+-
they don't learn and I don't mind teaching them. It's very symbiotic (and very sad)
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
Its almost 9pm in California Manny, I guess your nemesis had curfew.
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
Nah, I'm ultimately a peace maker... "The Yeast" just had some guff in his craw that I had to redirect into a positive manner. We'll be best buds in a few days, watch... or at least until the next Suns-Lakers game =) No one can hate Manny for too long. It's why I have no enemies... well, living enemies at least. Armchair is a community! Communication + Unity = Community!
Permalink
PeanMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
hating manny on armchair is like hating jeter in new york!
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1046 days ago
Score 2+-
Or loving the Cowboys in Philly/Owning a pet wolverine in Ohio/taking the peanut butter out of my chocolate/Coaching the Arizona Cardinals into the playoffs/Removing your implants in LA/Driving Good in New Jersey, etc...
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
Interesting to see if your challenge offer is accepted.
Permalink | Reply
Anonymous Fanatic #2
1046 days ago
Score 1+-
God Bless the United States of America and Manny too.
Permalink | Reply
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Retrieved from "http://armchairgm.wikia.com/Announcing_My_Intention_to_Turn_Pro"

This page was last modified 19:32, 17 January 2007. Content is available under the GFDL.

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