The Lockerroom
This is a the place to discuss the site, community issues, discuss ideas for opinions, and other things related to the community but not specifically about sports. You can add something to the locker room by clicking the link.
Expect a lot less Stiles on the 'chair for a while - It's a good thing for manny reasons!
I hate you all and I'm leaving forever!!!
Nah, no drama this time. I just have too much going on in the real world (the actual REAL world not the useless MTV show) to waste/enjoy my dwindling precious time here.
Besides an impending move from Arizona to Michigan (no ETA yet - stupid freekin' sucky real estate market) I have also been pursuing another move. A move to the "next level".
That's write... I mean right! Dr Commento is following in the footsteps of AGM pioneer Kenrick Thomas and writing a book! Well, actually attempting four of them to start off (a long story in it's own write, I mean right). But with the efforts of publishers not called "Me".
Journalism is fun and all, but let's face it - journalism is a dirty deed laying on a dirty mattress that never ceases and yet disappears into the wind daily. I want to write words that transcend here and now, then and again. I tried to break into the world of sports journalism in an unorthodox manner and was laughed down on many occasions due to not a lack of talent or creativity but because I haven't had my will destroyed and reformed in the form of the AP style guide.
The local media outlets have regarded me as a jester and blown me off as an ordinary "blogger". They disregarded my whackjobbiness, creativity and boundless energy. So be it. I've got something better in mind...
Books!!!
Why you ask?? Because I go to book stores and see the shelves full of garbage just as much as most journalists are garbage. Because writing books allows me to control my efforts more than journalism and the here and *poof* gone nature of daily reporting. Because I'm basically fucking broke after having the best year of my life - as a retiree/Stay at Home Dad/FREElance journalist and unlike Latrell Sprewell - I have mouths to feed that I actually DO feed personally...
Life would be a better time without greed and money. I have thoroughly enjoyed my existence to date without much greed but this money thing is starting to make me feel things that are probably going to shorten my lifespan if they continue. So I need to grow some greed and go and get mine! I'm gonna grow that greed and chop it down, roll it up and smoke me some greed. I'm gonna be a greedhead and dammit; I'm gonna LOVE it!!!
I knew this day was coming eventually...
Writing is the thing I enjoy the most that any part of society would consider a "marketable skill" - so I decided it was time to "Go for it!"
After freeking out in a drunken stupor the other night about the depressing thoughts of returning to the financial industry for gainful employment, I fired off an eloquent e-mail of pathetic desparation to as many respectful literary agents as I could locate (about 40). Despite selling myself and not any particular book idea (I need to know they understand who they're dealing with a tad) I got quite a few responses in return - "I'm too busy to take on new clients", "You are not a good fit for our agency" and "Not in a million years and only then if you blew me". A certain number of agents responded positively and in-roads were carved.
Now, Manny Stiles has created a minor bidding war (well, THEY don't know it's a bidding war yet) for his creative services and it's time to let the book queries begin!!! WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE!!!
So with all of this stuff going on, and only a mere 20-21 waking hours a day to handle such life duties, I decided the one place I could trim the most expendable energy was right here on the beloved 'Chizzy. (Sorry, my music recording is more important)
I will still lurk and pseudo-frequent randomly, but expect less words and more multimedia - I'm saving my words for ME (and my eventual readers)!!! It's on to overtaking Kenrick as AGM's most illustrious author!!! You guys can be "bloggers" all you want - I hate the term and have preferred to be called a "writer". But now I am aiming for "Author"
It sounds so glamorous, eh? (Oh GOD! I am going to be poor for the rest of my life, aren't I?)
My first project is called "Hey blog TROLL! Can we talk about sports now?" then it's on to "How to make only 15,000 comments on a website when it could have easily been 50,000 if I didn't show some restraint" and then "Everything that's NOT wrong about sports (yet)"... how about "Now I can die in a million little pieces - a tale of Rays fandom"???
Just kidding.. two of the projects aren't really even about sports (and one of the sports ideas will remain a secret until it gets published)! And hopefully I can sell two of them and turn to some other ideas I've been sitting on too long...
Sorry, there will be less 7,000 word articles for a while, I'll still post every so often but I'm focusing my energy better now,
It's on to seeking my own foolish destiny!!
I am hoping - if all goes well - I can hit the bookshelves twice before September 2008!!!
Thanks for letting me sharpen my wares of sarcasm, hone my voice with elaborate trash talk and gain enough real confidence to walk in the shoes my big fake ego created.
Now wish me luck or I'll practice santaria on effagies I make to look like your avatars!!!
