Media Approval Ratings: Darrell Bird

As we move on the media caravan, we pull right up into the home of the Cats Pause Editor Darrell Bird (not him above, but it was all that came up on Google). Bird has been in the business a long time and has been covering UK sports for longer than he may care to remember. Bird took over for Oscar Combs (whose time is coming later) at the Cats Pause and has helped see it through an important transition in its history, from a primarily print media source to its current internet popularity. Bird was there when TCP and Kentucky Sports Report merged to create the largest UK internet community. Over the years, TCP has been the primary spot on the internet for UK sports and Bird has been the manager of that transition. Darrell is not really an internet guy however and most of his work remains on the print side of the media. But nevertheless, he will always be associated with Cats Pause, both past and present. Besides sharing his last name with what I like to flip, here is the breakdown on Darrell: PROS: --- Runs one of the top five fan publications in the United States. Along with the Notre Dame football newspaper, the Cats Pause was the original gold standard of the genre and Bird has done a good job keeping up a high standard. While most young people no longer get the publication and havent likely looked at it in some time, it is very well done. Darrell lays out stories well and it is a good way to keep up with games, especially if you are far away. --- Darrell also runs the Cats Pause Yearbook which is exceptional. For both football and basketball, the TCP yearbook is a must-have. If they did nothing else, that would make his yearly salary worthwhile. --- Hates the internet....sometimes I am on here so much I agree. CONS: --- Has helped TCP reach a plateau in terms of fan experience, but has leveled off. In the area of new media, new sites (including this one) have attempted to provide audio, video and blogging technologies that TCP hasnt moved on. They have the video from the Rivals network and have started an occasional video piece, but TCP still generally is a message board platform....still the best place on the internet for recruiting profiles and interviews (if you like that stuff), but it could use more of a substance upgrade. --- Famously cantankerous personality. Can be difficult to deal with, and at times it hurts the finished product. --- That whole Billy Donovan "done deal" to UK thing. Overall Darrell Bird is likely more associated with his "product" than any other media member that we will cover. There is little to say about Darrell that is different than TCP and vice-versa. He rarely writes on the internet and his presence is best known by those older who still get the print version. On a personal interaction level, I have had some difficult dealings with our man Darrell and he is most decidedly in the "doesnt talk to Matt and often stares at him shooting bullets with his eyes" camp. However I cant not acknowledge what a big deal the TCP work has been for UK fans and I am first in line to get my TCP yearbook every year. Thus based on that alone, he would have to get a "yes" from me. What say you? Give us your comments and vote on the poll on the right....