Sportswriters frequently have harsh opinions on the topics they write about. It's required for the job. It is the responsibility of sports writers to speak their minds and tell it like it is. Additionally, it is all well and good to voice criticism of a team or individual if they are doing poorly on the court or exhibiting bad behavior off it. NBA fans are criticizing a recent article on Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns for going beyond critique. Furthermore, due to its insulting tone and lack of substantive critique, a recent SB Nation essay attacking Towns has drawn outrage from Minnesota Timberwolves supporters.
According to fans, there was a great example of unfair and poor criticism and writing in an SB Nation column by Abe Beame that was published on Tuesday, titled "An ode to Karl-Anthony Towns, the most annoying guy in the NBA." Good sports writers will strive to be fair and avoid unwarranted and unnecessary criticisms. Fans say that Beame was not fair and reveled in unnecessary and personal criticism towards Towns. Overall, the piece has been derided by fans as an attempt to tear down a player for no real reason.
Fans Come To Karl-Anthony Towns Defense Over Article
The column's insulting and nonconstructive criticism has drawn criticism from Minnesota Timberwolves supporters. The article started a discussion on where to draw the line in sports journalism between discourteous comments and constructive criticism. Additionally, fans also noted that although the article is over 1600 words, only 40 words describe Town's performance in the Western Conference Finals. Ultimately, Fans say It was a pretentious way of stating that Towns is annoying.
The internet has called out the piece, saying there was really nothing substantial to criticize about the article. Fans are saying that the sports writing was subpar, without any of the components that elevate a column. Yes, it was critical, but it wasn't about anything significant. Additionally, some of the barbs included that Towns looks annoying and that he's goofy, weird, and awkward. Furthermore, Towns was also called a "tryhard," which seems like a strange insult for a professional athlete. Overall, the article has sparked a lot of backlash and discussion around what is valid criticism and what is just mean-spirited insults.
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