If you think King Carl hates the media...check out Dan Snyder

**dirk digler** · 03-09-2005, 04:40 PM

http://www.washingtonian.com/inwashi...2005/0304.html

Washington Post Toughens Redskins Coverage; Team Yanks Newspaper’s 267 Season Tickets
For many Washingtonians, a season ticket to Washington Redskins games is almost as valuable as a place at a White House dinner. This week the Redskins cut the number of season tickets held by the Washington Post from 279 to 12.

The team’s Los Angeles–based flack said the Post tickets were yanked because many recipients were scalping them.

The Post said most of the tickets were going to “newspaper delivery people—and their families.” Executive editor Len Downie said he had “no evidence” that any of the 51 tickets that went to newsroom staffers had been resold.

Here’s what really happened: Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins pushed Redskins owner Dan Snyder over the edge.

Last week Jenkins wrote a column asking if the wheels “are coming off this Redskins team, just as they have come off every Redskins team under the ownership of Snyder.”

She added, “If the Redskins have proven anything, it’s that the triumvirate structure of Snyder-Cerrato-name-the-head-coach doesn’t work.” Vinny Cerrato is the Redskins’ director of player personnel.

Snyder told associates that the Post was “persecuting” him.

Which fits into Sally Jenkins’s analysis of the inner Dan Snyder.

“I don’t pretend to understand the behavior of Dan Snyder,” she tells me. “It would take a Freudian analysis. But I do think that in the absence of any attention, he would take negative attention. He would rather be the central figure in a dysfunctional team than a peripheral figure in a successful team.”

Jenkins is the only Post columnist who has been pointed in her criticism of Snyder’s management of Washington’s beloved football team. Perhaps she has the perspective to question the team because she’s writing from New York, beyond the Redskins hometown spell, in contrast to fellow columnists Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon.

Snyder is probably also miffed because he grew up reading generally glowing coverage by the Post, and the Post covered the Redskins with kid gloves during his first years of ownership, even as he hired and fired coaches and players in what many saw as a too-impatient and mercurial desire to buy a winning team.

The Post has purchased a block of season tickets every year since the 1950s, a portion of which goes to the newsroom. Executive editor Downie is a fan, as are former managing editor Steve Coll and deputy managing editor Milton Coleman.

Could readers have expected unbiased coverage of the pro-football season when the Post gets to buy so many valuable season tickets—more seats than go to any other company?

Two new voices changed the tone of the Post’s coverage. Sportswriter Nunyo Demasio came from out of town and started to develop sources beneath the team’s management. He began to break stories about dissatisfied players and impending trades. Jenkins wrote columns that were openly critical of Snyder.

Now the Redskins have pulled the seats.

“I can’t imagine that my column had that much effect,” says Jenkins. “There have to be three or four more stories that have pissed them off more.”

Indeed, the Post first irritated the Redskins last year when it published several stories by Jason La Canfora and Thomas Heath about the addition of seats to FedEx Field, some of which put fans behind pillars.

In January the Redskins floated a plan to force season-ticket holders to use a Redskins charge card to buy tickets. A Post story broke the news; Kornheiser followed with a column critical of Snyder. The Redskins dropped the idea.

Last month Demasio broke stories about star receiver Laveranues Coles being unhappy with the Redskins and the way revered head coach Joe Gibbs has run the offense. Demasio also covered the contract dispute between Snyder and star linebacker LaVar Arrington, who claims Snyder owes him $6.5 million.

Says Jenkins, “It generally irks Snyder that he can’t control coverage of the Washington Redskins as he would like. He wants the friendly coverage that he thinks he’s owed.” Snyder’s temperament is “combative and unreasonable,” she says.

“This ticket thing is combative, silly, and vengeful—needlessly so,” she adds. “It has to do only with Dan Snyder’s mysterious temperament. He’s perpetually unhappy about something.”

Jenkins, an award-winning columnist who won the Associated Press Sports Editors’ top award last year and is up for the same this year, says her column was not the “tipping point” in the scrap over tickets.

But it could be a tipping point in the final separation of Washington’s dominant newspaper from the town’s dominant sports team.

In this round of Ticketgate, Post employees lose seats. Happily, the Post’s coverage probably benefits. The real winners could be the fans.

03-09-2005, 04:40 PM	Topic Starter
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $3254644	If you think King Carl hates the media...check out Dan Snyder http://www.washingtonian.com/inwashi...2005/0304.html Washington Post Toughens Redskins Coverage; Team Yanks Newspaper’s 267 Season Tickets For many Washingtonians, a season ticket to Washington Redskins games is almost as valuable as a place at a White House dinner. This week the Redskins cut the number of season tickets held by the Washington Post from 279 to 12. The team’s Los Angeles–based flack said the Post tickets were yanked because many recipients were scalping them. The Post said most of the tickets were going to “newspaper delivery people—and their families.” Executive editor Len Downie said he had “no evidence” that any of the 51 tickets that went to newsroom staffers had been resold. Here’s what really happened: Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins pushed Redskins owner Dan Snyder over the edge. Last week Jenkins wrote a column asking if the wheels “are coming off this Redskins team, just as they have come off every Redskins team under the ownership of Snyder.” She added, “If the Redskins have proven anything, it’s that the triumvirate structure of Snyder-Cerrato-name-the-head-coach doesn’t work.” Vinny Cerrato is the Redskins’ director of player personnel. Snyder told associates that the Post was “persecuting” him. Which fits into Sally Jenkins’s analysis of the inner Dan Snyder. “I don’t pretend to understand the behavior of Dan Snyder,” she tells me. “It would take a Freudian analysis. But I do think that in the absence of any attention, he would take negative attention. He would rather be the central figure in a dysfunctional team than a peripheral figure in a successful team.” Jenkins is the only Post columnist who has been pointed in her criticism of Snyder’s management of Washington’s beloved football team. Perhaps she has the perspective to question the team because she’s writing from New York, beyond the Redskins hometown spell, in contrast to fellow columnists Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon. Snyder is probably also miffed because he grew up reading generally glowing coverage by the Post, and the Post covered the Redskins with kid gloves during his first years of ownership, even as he hired and fired coaches and players in what many saw as a too-impatient and mercurial desire to buy a winning team. The Post has purchased a block of season tickets every year since the 1950s, a portion of which goes to the newsroom. Executive editor Downie is a fan, as are former managing editor Steve Coll and deputy managing editor Milton Coleman. Could readers have expected unbiased coverage of the pro-football season when the Post gets to buy so many valuable season tickets—more seats than go to any other company? Two new voices changed the tone of the Post’s coverage. Sportswriter Nunyo Demasio came from out of town and started to develop sources beneath the team’s management. He began to break stories about dissatisfied players and impending trades. Jenkins wrote columns that were openly critical of Snyder. Now the Redskins have pulled the seats. “I can’t imagine that my column had that much effect,” says Jenkins. “There have to be three or four more stories that have pissed them off more.” Indeed, the Post first irritated the Redskins last year when it published several stories by Jason La Canfora and Thomas Heath about the addition of seats to FedEx Field, some of which put fans behind pillars. In January the Redskins floated a plan to force season-ticket holders to use a Redskins charge card to buy tickets. A Post story broke the news; Kornheiser followed with a column critical of Snyder. The Redskins dropped the idea. Last month Demasio broke stories about star receiver Laveranues Coles being unhappy with the Redskins and the way revered head coach Joe Gibbs has run the offense. Demasio also covered the contract dispute between Snyder and star linebacker LaVar Arrington, who claims Snyder owes him $6.5 million. Says Jenkins, “It generally irks Snyder that he can’t control coverage of the Washington Redskins as he would like. He wants the friendly coverage that he thinks he’s owed.” Snyder’s temperament is “combative and unreasonable,” she says. “This ticket thing is combative, silly, and vengeful—needlessly so,” she adds. “It has to do only with Dan Snyder’s mysterious temperament. He’s perpetually unhappy about something.” Jenkins, an award-winning columnist who won the Associated Press Sports Editors’ top award last year and is up for the same this year, says her column was not the “tipping point” in the scrap over tickets. But it could be a tipping point in the final separation of Washington’s dominant newspaper from the town’s dominant sports team. In this round of Ticketgate, Post employees lose seats. Happily, the Post’s coverage probably benefits. The real winners could be the fans.
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