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Reality Bytes: Holding JdJO Accountable

Earlier last night, I was alerted to the recent Chron.com blog piece by Jose de Jesus Ortiz, and his idea to get Brian Ching back from the Montreal L'Impact. You can read the full blog piece here. In my time as a Dynamo Theory Blog writer (ok, I know I haven't been nearly as active as of late. I blame work), I've read over a ton of ideas about how to fix or better the team.

Heck, I personally pushed the fan base of Dynamo Theory on a consistent basis to think outside the box to find ways to do so. However, as a fan of the Houston Dynamo first and foremost, I cannot sit idly by and allow the lunacy of JdJO's piece to go un-accounted. Read on for my take on the lunacy spewing forth from JdJO after the jump.

Star-divide

If they follow my advice, Ching could be back in Houston on Thursday, Andre Hainault will be headed to Montreal and the No. 1 pick in the SuperDraft will belong to the Dynamo. Don’t laugh, it’s really not that far out of the question.

After the second paragraph I'm already ready to give JdJO a piece of my mind. Who in their right mind thinks giving up one of our stalwart defensive linemen, one who is considered within the MLS to be a top tier type of defender, for a first overall pick? Perhaps this may seem lunacy in and of itself, after all it's a first overall pick in the Draft, that has to be worth a fortune right? Wrong. Thanks to USA Today, we can clearly see more often than not the 1st overall pick doesn't live up to the hype.

It's amazing to look at the names over the last six or seven years in particular. Most of them are hard to remember, or failed to be memorable. Yet, according to JdJO we should ship out a stalwart defender for someone who may or may not materialize as a future asset? I'm with you guys and gals. I don't want to take those odds to Vegas.

This way everybody sacrifices a bit, including team president Chris Canetti, who has been extremely quiet about the Ching matter since declaring his sadness immediately after Ching was drafted by Montreal. Wouldn’t it be awesome if the role that once was held proudly by Oliver Luck could be held by Ching? The fans would love it, especially knowing how much he sacrificed in personal income to help the team in 2012.

Look, I understand JdJO doesn't like Chris Canetti running the Front Office of the Houston Dynamo, but as the mainstream coverage, to sit there and underhandedly provide low blows and jabs like this is just unprofessional. Hell, if you're going to go after a guy, do it to his face. Be more like the sport you cover, and less like the sport you covered.

Seriously though, JdJO wants to put a guy with absolutely zero front office experience into a VP position for a couple of years in preparation for taking over as the full-blown President of the team? Look, Canetti isn't perfect, but with what he has had to work with, he has done a damn good job. I hit on this a few days ago, but Canetti and Kinnear are a combination that is hard to beat when it comes to building quality season after season. They don't cut corners, they operate in a manner we, as fans, can be damned proud of.

I don't get it. What is there to not like about Canetti? He's personable, he cares and is damned passionate. He works his tail off, has helped create a viable and thriving economic infrastructure around the organization. He's helped bring a soccer-based stadium to the downtown Houston area, and furthermore he's constructed a team which should compete for years to come with the aide of one of the best minds in MLS today.

But no, if we followed JdJO's advice, we could start basically from square one, and hope Kinnear elects to stay under Brian Ching as Dynamo President. It can't work, it wouldn't work. And don't get me started on how overpaid Brian Ching is as an athlete right now who is no longer in his prime.

His knees are going to give out, his time is over. It's time to put him to bed, let him rest. If he wants to come to the Dynamo, let him do it in the Front Office as a player talent evaluator or scout or something, but not as the President. Too much responsibility for Chinger right now, and not because he couldn't handle it, but because he has ZERO experience at it.

What worries me most is there are those who read the Chron blogs, who read JdJO's pieces and actually agree with his thoughts and ideas. This one, however, even as much as Chinger is beloved, is straight out of bat-shit insane territory. Furthermore, JdJO tries hard to remain objective, but most of the time his writing is flat. I'll leave with this final thought, to allow you all your space to blast me or not for my opinions...

A fan without passion is a spectator. A writer without emotion is an observer. A spectator and an observer merely see, but they do not live what they see or feel. There is no connection, and thus, there is no depth to their opinions.

Poll
Is JdJO out of line for continuing to silently remain critical of Canetti?
Yes, he's an ass
42 votes
No, he's within his bounds as an objective writer
7 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 11 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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we here at DT often struggle with the writers the Chron have on the Dynamo beat, though I will say that JdJO has grown into the role over time. But yes in this case, he needs to get called out on it.

If you want to criticize Canetti then of course its fair play; he’s a team official and should know that comes with the territory. But what exactly is he trying to criticize? And why in such a strange, passive-aggressive way? To my reckoning the only “bad” signing we had was Koke (DRRRRIIIINK), but even then the deal was structured so that both parties walked away without any long-term commitments; that’s a win in my books. Same thing with Costly: both were calculated risks, with emphasis on calculation. That shows a very shrewd manager of team finances and position where you don’t structure deals that could hamper you in a worst-case scenario…so I’m not sure exactly what you’d criticize Canetti for. Is it because we don’t have “big name”, DP talent? Ok, well he can only do what he’s given by his bosses at AEG; again, I think Canetti has done a great job of offering smart contracts to talent that Kinnear has identified. I’m no Canetti apologist, but at the same time if you’re going to criticize then come out and say what you want to say.

By throwing out that bizarre “…wouldn’t it be awesome if the role that once was held proudly by Oliver Luck could be held by Ching?” he’s implicitly saying that somehow Canetti has tarnished that role and I don’t see it. In fact, one could argue that he has done an equal job and is poised to write his own legacy at this point. Bringing Ching back as a player is already a dicey prospect – and by the way, offering Hainault for Ching + 1st pick is a WRETCHED suggestion – but bringing Ching back with the idea of being GM/President?? Wow, just, wow…I’m not sure I can begin to even address that. Look, giving E-Rob a Academy coaching spot makes sense and makes for a great transition…but for Ching to go almost straight away into a high-visibility and high-stakes FO position? Hoo boy

You know, he tweeted later that his kid was playing a 3v3 tourney this weekend and said to come on out and talk footy and I would almost consider taking him up on that offer just to ask him…why? Why this?

by Michael_D on Jan 12, 2012 8:28 AM CST reply actions  

Ortiz has consistently gone the cheap route in terms of writing something controversial just to piss people off and get page views

Although that tactic might eventually land him on ESPN, it’s not the kind of coverage of the team I want. I think most fans would agree. It’s one thing to be critical of the team, or to challenge fans to think i a different way. It’s another to invent opportunities to rip the front office at every turn.

I got fed up with him when he was “calling out” the Dynamo front office for not trying to trade for Marquez and insinuated that the fans(including me) who were telling him that was a horrible idea were just being racist.

Then he ripped Canetti for saying the team would have an announcement later that day. As if that’s much different than scheduling a press conference. All Canneti did in that case was build a little buzz around the team. Which is kinda part of his job. It’s not his fault a bunch of irresponsible journalist created crazy rumors.

I’ve tried to not fall into his trap, but with limited coverage it’s hard too. I still follow him on Twitter, and occasionally read his articles, but I really don’t have a lot of respect for his work.

"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds

by papabear on Jan 12, 2012 8:28 AM CST reply actions  

+1

You know, if you look back I’ve always given JdJO slack because being a Chron writer that covers the Dynamo and area footy in general is a tough beat in terms of getting more pagehits/attention as opposed to guys like McClain, Solomon, Feigen and Justice. But I thought as time went on he was beginning to find his own voice and liked to take “unpopular” stances – it seemed contrived at the time but again, trying to stand out I thought “why not”. Now he’s taking the Jason Whitlock/Jim Rome contrarian stance and I don’t know if its real or calculated or both. The cynic in me says calculated because it generates “controversy” and response and buzz but at the cost of credibility. I took the whole Marquez thing as just being a piss-take but I’m really starting to wonder if he’s going to keep riding this anyone-but-Canetti train because its a first-class ticket to irrelevance. He has the writing chops to be better but I agree that it seems he’s trying to take a short-cut to prominence. Shame…

by Michael_D on Jan 12, 2012 8:42 AM CST up reply actions  

I've always tried to follow as much of the local coverage as I can

I think Ortiz’s tactics are completely calculated. To be honest, sometimes I think the team is in on it too.

"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds

by papabear on Jan 12, 2012 8:53 AM CST up reply actions  

It wouldn't surprise me

It falls in line with every other Chronicle beat writer and the way they do things. A little controversial blog post every now and again spurs activity, and ultimately is what Chron wants. However, to do so by consistently and as said above “passive-aggressively” continuing to go after the head honcho without warranted justification is just…piss poor.

-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog

by Fuzion on Jan 12, 2012 8:56 AM CST up reply actions  

That may very well be the fastest 6 votes for yes ever

Guess this makes JdJO an ass in the eyes of the fans…

“In the eyes of Naranja,
The unsuspected writer,
Had better know he sure ain’t quite right,
‘cause the eyes of Naranja are upon you,
Any post you make, we’re gonna see,
When you’re downtown look behind you,
Cuz that’s where Naranja’s gonna be”

I couldn’t resist…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-GCJHwvCms

-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog

by Fuzion on Jan 12, 2012 8:43 AM CST reply actions  

Make that 7 and counting.

-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog

by Fuzion on Jan 12, 2012 8:47 AM CST up reply actions  

We're up to 9. Wowsa. Lol.

-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog

by Fuzion on Jan 12, 2012 8:56 AM CST up reply actions  

I'm glad I'm not the only one

I was so glad to see this post in Dynamo Theory after I saw the article. I was wondering whether I was the only person that thought Ortiz had lost his f’ing mind. I stopped reading Ortiz after his first few articles. He seems like he’s more into creating a buzz about himself than actually reporting anything of merit.

by BadMonkey7 on Jan 12, 2012 8:50 AM CST reply actions  

I honestly haven't read him since the Koke ordeal

His writing is getting less passionate, and it’s becoming more like the rest of the Chron beat writers. And I simply can’t stand them either.

-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog

by Fuzion on Jan 12, 2012 8:52 AM CST up reply actions  

DRINK

"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie

by Martek on Jan 12, 2012 2:14 PM CST up reply actions  

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