Beliefs, contacts fueled columns "After more than 33 years, this will be my last column for The Chronicle. I still will be with the paper, but management has re-assigned me to general-assignment sports reporting."
Whaaa? The guy my Dad loved and hated, the guy I have loved and hated? The guy EVERYBODY loved and hated? The Chron re-assigned him? Oh man...
If you remember when the Chron sports section was called the "green section" and was printed on green paper, then you know about Dickey. You've cursed him as a fool many times when he knocked your favorite team or coach or school (maybe all in one shot!) You've also quoted him as being an absolute genius and wise one when he said something good about the above.
He has probably made, lost, remade and relost more friends in the sports world than any local writer. I always tried to read him, but a quick scan of his column sometimes meant I wouldn't. I didn't want to hear how bad an owner, or coach, or athletic director was screwing things up. But I knew he was probably right.
As rough as he could be at those times, his stand for the little guy, his stand for local high school sports, his stand for women's programs, was a nice match for his targeting many of the Bay Area's sacred cows.
He has written books and his out of print Raiders book is a good read if you can find it. Al hates him. Go to the barber shop in Oakland's Montclair district and have a seat in the chair farthest from the window. Ask about Al's reaction to that Raiders book. You'll get a good story and a good cut.
As a burned out baseball fan (too many strikes, too many players traded, games that go on for hours, etc, or as my friend says 5 minutes of action jam packed into 3 1/2 hours) I had not much reason to read the paper's sports section. But Glenn Dickey was always a must read, even if I knew it would wind me up some days.
Now I'll pretty much pass I guess. I love the outdoor section on Thursdays, and the NFL reacap section. But I don't have much reason to read the old green section now except for a quick glance at the headlines.
Dickey's last self serving, gradiose, pompous, jackass, insightful, completely accurate, must read, column (well for now) is here and some past columns are linked here.
Also Tom Fitzgerald's top of the sixth sports feature is a gonner.
Wazzup at the Chron? More changes ahead? Probably.
If they cut Paul McHugh Stienstra or Brian Hoffman I could just pass on the whole thing. Well except for their excellent motorsports coverage. (ha ha)
And to think I just got over them hiring Scott Ostler from the LA Times...
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