This is a real loss. It's not so much about "breaking rumors!" it's about consistent professional well written reporting.
The "RUMORS!" junkies may not have liked it but I certainly did. Reporting is about getting the facts correct day in day out with little popular realization as to just how hard it is to do that type of job.
Real reporters are a dying breed and the amateur bloggers (mayor et al or god help us DB) are not a replacement. They're to fan boyish with little long-term perspective and somehow think that ranting, raving, and acting like their on a cable new channel is how to be a reporter. Hammond understood the importance of being a verified source and worked to make sure when he reported something it was real. Amateur bloggers don't care if it's blatantly stupidly wrong. They're just trolling for clicks (more crazy means more money) and hide behind sources or "it's just rumors" as an excuse for being wrong.
This is a sad day for Kings fans. We've lost our only real consistent hockey reporter.
This nails it on the head. Most people who complain about Hammond seem to want him to act like a clown blogger like Eklund or Barry. He's a reporter. Most people have forgotten what that is.
He's an "insider." That means he's supposed to share inside information ahead of everyone else. We usually heard from other journalists (not bloggers) reporting on firings/hirings/injuries, etc. It's not so much rumor mongering, but getting information out there. He was way behind on the information on Darryl Sutter for example.
Not blaming Hammond for that, he's employed by the Kings, they probably preferred it be that way. Remember the hot water he was in when he broke the story on the Kings' trade for Justin Williams? The Kings had to surrender a 2nd round pick to Edmonton to keep them from backing out of the trade.
I'm sure it will remain that way whenever they hire the next "insider." They have rules they must adhere to.
This nails it on the head. Most people who complain about Hammond seem to want him to act like a clown blogger like Eklund or Barry. He's a reporter. Most people have forgotten what that is.
The Kings don't want a reporter. They want a mouthpiece.
Not Helen(love her or hate her) is a reporter. Those articles she's done slamming AEG and Kings ownership wouldn't have happened if she had the La Kings insider job
I just started following Mayors Manor recently and I have to admit the dude does a good job of asking the tough questions. He asks players and coaches about awkward and tough situations. I like that. Asking Morris if Kaunisto was a distraction, if Kozun is cocky, asking Muzzin if he thinks he belongs in the NHL. I dig this line of questioning. Hammond used to ask those questions to Lombardi...way back when.
Those are just the types of things he wouldn't be allowed to ask if he were hired as the new "Insider".
Rich was my source for just straight Kings info. I never went there looking for rumors or analysis or hard questions or even first-to-report breaking stuff, simply an always-confirmed source of information and some interviews. As Dingo said, just passing info along, it was nice to have it all in one place.
Rich was my source for just straight Kings info. I never went there looking for rumors or analysis or hard questions or even first-to-report breaking stuff, simply an always-confirmed source of information and some interviews. As Dingo said, just passing info along, it was nice to have it all in one place.
I will miss having that.
This was why I went there. Living in the Midwest meant very little to no Kings news ever. It was great to know I could stop by there, read a recap, read some interviews and get up to speed the morning after games while I had my tea.
Hammond was good but he will be replaced with yet another good journalist. It has always been this way for us. The best that we ever had imo was back when we had the Herald Examiner covering the Kings. They always had news and was a pro rag.
I don't see replacing RH as being too difficult a thing, he was good but not irreplaceable.
All the best to Rich and thanks for all of his hard work.
This latest news that one of the reasons Rich left was that the NHL was trying to censor his content should make those who think he was just a mouthpiece for the Kings management think again.
That blows. One more reason to hate Bettman and the owners.
Yep, the league is doing jsut about everything it can right now to make me not a fan of NHL hockey... It's sad, when I should be enjoying watching replays of a banner get raised to the rafters for the thousandth time.
I think it's unfortunate that Rich's decision was influenced by that. I am all for journalistic freedom and I respect his decision to leave but he really should have seen that coming from a mile away.
That would be like being surprised to step on a land mine in a mine field.
