New subscriber here... My "why-did-you-subscribe" note is "I'm a from-the-beginning FO guy. And if this is how we support writers these days, then I'm happy to step up. All the best , Mike. Your coverage is like a lifeboat in the storm of click bait, SEO nonsense and chest-puffing that NFL writing has become, all of which I've come to loathe."
Congratulations on your new life Mike! I had never been a big football fan, but several years ago my husband sent me one of your columns and I have followed you religiously ever since because I LOVE the way you write! In every column there's a sentence or two (or three) that I have to re-read and savor because the phrase is so nicely turned. You bring the weird universe that is football to life for me and you've helped me understand my husband's passion for the game. Thanks to you I can now hold my own in any football conversation. All the best to you and Too Deep Zone!
I am proof that your guest article at Defector netted you at least one reader. Good luck on your personal venture, and please go on The Distraction a few times!
Mike, I found you on BR and looked forward to your twice weekly column. Your writing is so much more interesting than most of the list-bait, hot-take garbage that is served up to readers on sports sites. Keep on keeping on, man
You write it; I read it. That's worked pretty well for me for over a dozen years. I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this. Good luck, and thanks for all the great reads over the years.
I think the FO archive, all 20 years of it, is forever Borked. I may repost a few things I have on my hard drive here in the 2DZ, but there is not much of it.
I’ve been reading and enjoying your work since I was 14 years old, thinking all of BR’s reporting was law (!) as I started becoming an NFL fan. While I know I’ve only been here for a part of the journey, it’s been a blast following you across the internet and having fun at every stop. I’m now a college student and excited to see what this new platform brings…while I may not understand all the references or agree with all the thoughts, there’s no one I’d rather read NFL coverage from. Thanks for what you do, Mike!
Mike, each time you've moved publications I've gone into withdrawals from your brand of smart, funny, serious but not in a I-take-myself-too-seriously sort of way until I figure out where you've gone. I've followed you everywhere (except social media, because, ya know, cesspool...) and I am thrilled to support you here. Literally the only subscription I can be proud of. So thank you thank you thank you. I'll follow you anywhere sir!
I subscribed to support good writing and you came highly recommended by Craig Calcaterra. I'm more of a football person than baseball but loved Craig's writing even before he had a newsletter. I'm excited to read what you have to offer and look forward to your success.
Craig is a legend. One of the first sports writers to come over here to Substack, back when I equated this site with folks who have overly spicy politics ;)
What's this? A comment section? Thought these got outlawed and banished to Discord streams. Looking forward to engaging in the use of these again after Mike's articles.
Most importantly, though, I'm looking forward to finding out if Mike showed up at the Super Bowl media center, only to have security look at his credentials and say, "The Messenger? Nah, sorry bro."
If you're in Las Vegas, Mike, hope Aaron Schatz has treated you to a beer (or six).
I was considering heading out there, because both my flight and hotel were non-refundable. Then I calculated that either food/Lyft/etc. would run into the hundreds of dollars unless I ate cliff bars two meals per day, and also was still dealing with cold symptoms, so I cancelled what I could for American Airlines Bucks and such. Good thing too: The NFL rescinded our credentials on Friday night.
We had a younger writer who lives in LA who was planning to drive out, crash with a friend, etc. It stinks that he does not even get to cover events.
“It’s like showing up in the boudoir in leather chaps with a belt sander and a box of Roman candles.”
Today I learned that a boudoir is not a different kind of armoire, so this makes more sense to me spatially, but what is the plan with the belt sander and the fireworks? Do you use the belt sander to light the wicks?
I think I discovered Mike in 2010 at F.O. Which was my favorite site. I first discovered stuff like Word of Muth OL film gifs. But Mike's pieces were always absolutely must read. And on to sportsonearth and bleacher and whatever the hell messenger was.
The Messenger may have been an disaster, but it was where I first came across your columns and now I'm a paid subscriber here. So it wasn't all bad! Plus... you still have Finkelstein's laptop!
New subscriber here... My "why-did-you-subscribe" note is "I'm a from-the-beginning FO guy. And if this is how we support writers these days, then I'm happy to step up. All the best , Mike. Your coverage is like a lifeboat in the storm of click bait, SEO nonsense and chest-puffing that NFL writing has become, all of which I've come to loathe."
Your note was better than mine, for sure; I'm countersigning yours. :)
Thanks to both of you!
Congratulations on your new life Mike! I had never been a big football fan, but several years ago my husband sent me one of your columns and I have followed you religiously ever since because I LOVE the way you write! In every column there's a sentence or two (or three) that I have to re-read and savor because the phrase is so nicely turned. You bring the weird universe that is football to life for me and you've helped me understand my husband's passion for the game. Thanks to you I can now hold my own in any football conversation. All the best to you and Too Deep Zone!
Good luck Mike! Go get em.
I know it's an insane endeavor, but I really enjoyed your draft coverage at BR.
Dunno if I will do anything QUITE that crazy this year.
I am proof that your guest article at Defector netted you at least one reader. Good luck on your personal venture, and please go on The Distraction a few times!
Make that two readers!
Thanks! I am so happy the Defector allowed me to tell my story. Welcome aboard!
Three!
3
Mike, I found you on BR and looked forward to your twice weekly column. Your writing is so much more interesting than most of the list-bait, hot-take garbage that is served up to readers on sports sites. Keep on keeping on, man
You write it; I read it. That's worked pretty well for me for over a dozen years. I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this. Good luck, and thanks for all the great reads over the years.
Mike's Chargers Wine post in Football Outsiders hooked me to his writing. For my money, Tanier is The Best NFL writer.
Thanks! Welcome aboard!
Chargers wine was epic. Are all those classic FO articles lost to time as well? Website has been borked for months.
I think the FO archive, all 20 years of it, is forever Borked. I may repost a few things I have on my hard drive here in the 2DZ, but there is not much of it.
I’ve been reading and enjoying your work since I was 14 years old, thinking all of BR’s reporting was law (!) as I started becoming an NFL fan. While I know I’ve only been here for a part of the journey, it’s been a blast following you across the internet and having fun at every stop. I’m now a college student and excited to see what this new platform brings…while I may not understand all the references or agree with all the thoughts, there’s no one I’d rather read NFL coverage from. Thanks for what you do, Mike!
This means a lot! And I feel old.
Mike, each time you've moved publications I've gone into withdrawals from your brand of smart, funny, serious but not in a I-take-myself-too-seriously sort of way until I figure out where you've gone. I've followed you everywhere (except social media, because, ya know, cesspool...) and I am thrilled to support you here. Literally the only subscription I can be proud of. So thank you thank you thank you. I'll follow you anywhere sir!
Thank you! The withdraw pangs end on Tuesday 2-13, with part one of the Worst Coaching Hires of the 21st Century!
Hi Mike,
As a "present at the creation" FO lifer, looking foward to this. Besides, my FO subscription needs a new home...
I came here for help with high school math MIKE MY KIDS NEED HELP
I can still fill in an entire unit circle!
I subscribed to support good writing and you came highly recommended by Craig Calcaterra. I'm more of a football person than baseball but loved Craig's writing even before he had a newsletter. I'm excited to read what you have to offer and look forward to your success.
Craig is a legend. One of the first sports writers to come over here to Substack, back when I equated this site with folks who have overly spicy politics ;)
What's this? A comment section? Thought these got outlawed and banished to Discord streams. Looking forward to engaging in the use of these again after Mike's articles.
Most importantly, though, I'm looking forward to finding out if Mike showed up at the Super Bowl media center, only to have security look at his credentials and say, "The Messenger? Nah, sorry bro."
If you're in Las Vegas, Mike, hope Aaron Schatz has treated you to a beer (or six).
I was considering heading out there, because both my flight and hotel were non-refundable. Then I calculated that either food/Lyft/etc. would run into the hundreds of dollars unless I ate cliff bars two meals per day, and also was still dealing with cold symptoms, so I cancelled what I could for American Airlines Bucks and such. Good thing too: The NFL rescinded our credentials on Friday night.
We had a younger writer who lives in LA who was planning to drive out, crash with a friend, etc. It stinks that he does not even get to cover events.
“It’s like showing up in the boudoir in leather chaps with a belt sander and a box of Roman candles.”
Today I learned that a boudoir is not a different kind of armoire, so this makes more sense to me spatially, but what is the plan with the belt sander and the fireworks? Do you use the belt sander to light the wicks?
Anything I tried to do with that combination of elements would result in serious injury and divorce.
I think I discovered Mike in 2010 at F.O. Which was my favorite site. I first discovered stuff like Word of Muth OL film gifs. But Mike's pieces were always absolutely must read. And on to sportsonearth and bleacher and whatever the hell messenger was.
I was the guy reading 2023 FO almanac In Crete.
The Messenger may have been an disaster, but it was where I first came across your columns and now I'm a paid subscriber here. So it wasn't all bad! Plus... you still have Finkelstein's laptop!
Thanks! Gonna have to figure out where I left that laptop.