Page 2's Demise (Part 2): Scoop Jackson

The jury is still out on whether Scoop Jackson passed high school English.

Over a month ago Scoop Jackson wrote a phenomenal article detailing how Lebron James' experience w/the Pistons would help grow as both a player and as a person. The series was 2-0 at the time, and sure enough James and his crew battled (though ultimately unsuccessfully) and turned what was originally thought to be an easy sweep into one of the most entertaining series of the playoffs.

Since writing that article Jackson has spewed out multiple articles lacking any argumentative thesis or objective. He feels compelled to expand a one affirmative sentence statement into an entire page.

Following the James piece, Jackson wasted three pages of writing to essentially ask the question "who you wit?" to the general public in regards to whom they prefer of the dueling point guards: Steve Nash and Sam Cassell. Had he written on this matter before the start of the series I may have been able to accept this weak effort to forcibly establish a rivalry. Sadly Jackson was 4 games too late and anybody who hadn't been watching the series would not be roaming Page 2 for a play by play account of the point guards' accomplishments that could've easily been seen on sportscenter. Jackson then concludes his work by failing to provide the reader with any insight in to how the evidence he has provided should sway our leaning and who indeed has the upper edge. Not a single prediction or judgment is made, rather he ends with "Pick one. The choice is yours." Thanks Scoop I did that the moment I turned on TNT, I didn't need your assistance.

A little more than a week later Scoop began howling about the amazing finishes and struggles that we'd been witnesses to over the first 2 rounds of the playoffs. Jackson's entire article can be expressed in one sentence: "The playoffs have been thrilling so far and I hope the action doesn't slow down like it did after a many exciting rounds in the NCAA tournament." He sits around and says "what if" and "hopes". I'm sorry, but your petty little wishes are for discussions with your friends, and even during those arguments you would normally make some prediction? Perhaps you'd at least make it known whom you were rooting for? Nope, not Scoop.

On May 30th the sports gods cried as Page 2 published an article who's main topic was about Scoop Jackson's hair. His poor attempt to relate such an issue to rasheed and then to the Pistons failed miserably, as did his attempt to claim that he saw their collapse coming. "But after the Pistons' 89-78 loss, after they went down 3-1 in the Eastern Conference finals, I knew..." Was it really then? Not when the Pistons nearly blew a 2-0 deficit in the 2nd round to a team that didn't deserve to get out of the 1st. This man couldn't predict rain with a weather report.

"The Phoenix Suns either will not make the playoffs or finish seventh in the conference."
"The 76ers will win the Atlantic Division. The Kings will win the Pacific Division."
"The Detroit Pistons will finish fourth in the East."

Jackson finally grew a pair on June 7th when he engaged Eric Neel in a debate as to which team would win the NBA Finals. I felt Scoop had lost the debate, but the more important factor was that he had actually expressed his opinion for the first time in several months, and actually made a valid attempt to support his reasoning. Sadly five days later his Heat were down 2-0. So what does he do? Springs into support for the Mavs and writes another article that can be expressed in one sentence: "The Heat are in trouble because they've lost 2 games and Josh Howard hasn't scored 20 points yet, and we all know the Mavs are 23-0 when he does." Every word he typed I had heard 3 times on ABC's broadcast or in the daily boxscore.

It was only fitting that Howard score 20 in game 3, only to watch his D-Wade soar past him on his way to leading the Heat to their first victory in the series.

Frankly, I am tired of Scoop Jackson. I've only been watching basketball for two seasons and even I could have supplied better predictions for the playoffs and regular season. Page 2 needs to seriously reconsider their collection of writers. As for Scoop, he should be demoted to typing up game summaries for espn because that's essentially all he's doing. If you want to write for the most prestigious sports network in the world then do a couple of things: Learn how to write with a thesis, learn how to make an argument (and more importantly standby your view), don't switch topics mid-article without out sufficiently arguing the first, and stop dropping names and discussions you had with celebrities/sports stars to try and boost your credibility, cause in my mind, you have none.