What Grinds My Gears: Journalists making comments without Merit
News 
/ Imper1um / 01 August 2008 / 6 Comments
You know what really grinds my gears?
Journalists who manufacture opinions about people they write about without merit.
I have recently discovered that a Poker Player Magazine "journalist" named Jennifer Newell has written numerous online articles and blog posts regarding my account buying debacle. This is all fine and well within her right as a poker reporter, but what particularly grinds my gears, is that without having even met me she has decided to invent certain characterizations about me in a June 23, 2008 article in Poker Player Newspaper entitled "Bodog Signs Reformed Justin Bonomo" by Jennifer Newell.
Newell states, "Players like Mizzi seem to expect immediate acceptance of whatever apology is issued, and they come to tournaments as cocky and full of themselves as ever."
I found it really amusing to be classified as a "cocky" big-headed individual when I have gone out of my way to be respectful and courteous at the poker tournaments I am involved in. The "journalist" labeled me without having even met me and had no basis for her opinion.
After reading the article, I promised myself that I would ask Jennifer about her accusations and get her side of the story as her comments totally caught me off guard. Two days later, I managed to find her at a the World Series of Poker and I politely and respectfully confronted her about the issue, asking her what exactly she based her comments on regarding my conduct at the tables. She simply looked at me and stuttered, failing to come up with any basis, and obviously being put in an embarrassing situation of being called out on her content-filling "creative-journalism". She tried to make the excuse that she thought I came across that way in my blog, but then retracted that as not being the real reason. Finally she said she saw my point, and I then asked for her to issue an apology. I gave her my number and she said she would talk to her coworkers and get back to me. I have never heard back from her.
Reviewing the other articles/posts that Newell has written about me, I definitely notice an undertone of sarcasm and general dislike towards me. She has taken this to a personal level which I do not think is called for.
Although I know an apology is unlikely I just wanted to air my views because Jennifer, you really grind my gears.
Comments (6)
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apal | 01 August 2008
I'm with you on this one. I read her blog about the subject and thought she was a bit condescending re you not knowing the difference between slander and libel. Who does?
Even if you did appear cocky then so what? It's live poker and there is no harm seeming confident. That's part of the game. You can't live the rest of your life looking humble over the account incident that happened a long time ago.
Any keep the blog posts coming and any chance of just talking poker strategy? next time I really enjoyed and benefited from your article about closing out satellites.
jay | 02 August 2008
why u want to date her shes ugly as sin and she offended ya. whats up wit ya missi.
jbong | 03 August 2008
I think she's bang out of order !!! ..
You've done all you can do about the account incident and it was so long ago now that its history !!!
Having met and played poker with you at the irish open i have to say i didn't find you one bit cocky in anyway ..
She is obviously so low on anything happening in the poker world that she has to go back to that old chestnut !!!
Keep up the good work sorel . Look forward to your next blog
jb :0)
Patrick Halbestran | 03 August 2008
There are many ruined buildings; but no ruined stones.
Pud's Poker | 04 August 2008
Jay - I think your sarcasm detector must have been switched off!
I wouldn't care what she says about you, you've explained your actions, apologised and got on with things.
Jennifer | 06 August 2008
Okay, Sorel. Just taking my opportunity to say a few things here.
First, I may have stuttered a bit when you spoke to me at the WSOP, but it was because that article had been written weeks - if not months - prior to our discussion, and I wanted to refresh myself before I commented. I was also taken aback by the entire conversation because I was in the middle of working on something entirely different. But I had no problem defending what I wrote because my wording was "players LIKE Sorel." Sure, I threw your name in there, but I did not say that you were cocky on any particular occasion. I stand by my choice of words.
Second, the column is filled with my opinions. It is not a news piece but my personal take on news/events.
Third, if you notice a general tone of dislike toward you, it is not personal, as I do not know you and only met you once at the WSOP. My tone of sarcasm and displeasure is my reaction to your actions.
I do also want to say, for the record, that I did text you after we chatted at the WSOP in order to have a follow-up conversation. You just told me on Facebook that you didn't get my text, so I'm not sure what happened, but I did try to reach out to clear the air. I'll say that I did not intend to apologize or print a retraction, but I did want to offer you the opportunity to respond to me in an interview wherein you could comment openly. That offer stands, and I will print your comments in a future column, if you'd like to do that.
I'll ignore your comments about dating. ;) And I will definitely choose not to respond to your commenters. Seriously, though, did you have to put my picture up? (Note to self: Get my pic out of Poker Player Newspaper.)