My favorite rock critic writes about sports for the New York Post. A Post columnist since 1982, Phil Mushnick writes the media cool column "Equal Time" where he slamdunks the ridiculous Mike Francesca and the powerful, ESPN with equal alacrity. Not mention the Nets, who he recently claimed should be renamed the New York N—-gz or something like that due to another preening idiot, Jay-Z's. involvement.With Hova, I've gone from fanboy to sneerer so I have no kick against Phil kicking him to the curb. Although, I don't really agree with Mushnick. The Bitch, ho's and N words may infuriate Phil, but I don't think anybody involved in the rap world see Jay-Z as a bad guy for it.
And if in Phil's world, Jay-Z ownership in the Nets is a blot on the NBA, he hasn't been reading his column very often.
The rule is, it is OK if black people use "N" but not white, A rule I consider completely asinine.
Anyway, I prefer Phil when he is nailing Mike Francesca as a pompous liar. A blowhard who won't let anyone say anything except him during the show (classic line off Wikipedia: "Francesa's self-importance is so advanced that when the light turns green, he thinks it's because he knows people down at the DOT."
I love the way he is completely fearless in his writing, nothing cowers him at all and I wish he wrote about music. It's the sort of voice the music criticism biz is sorely missing. Right now, rock critics feel cowed by publicists, they never really question anyone or why anything is happening. It is a blinkered hero worshipping music writing landscape. Some of it might be as simple as an entire industry in hiding from PR firms who can cut you off at the knees. Some of it is the unseemly impropriety of Rolling Stone voting whether you're going into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame or Pitchfork hiring indie bands to play at their"Festivals" or producing their movies. The connection is too close.
Whatever, the entire rock writing community needs a kick in the behind. It needs good guy rock muckraker of the caliber of the incomparable Phil Mushnick.