In Praise of Ben Golliver

by Dave on Jul 24, 2008 7:18 PM PDT

As I was working on the second half of the blogger credential piece (see update below) I wanted to cite some general blog work which was distinct, remarkable, and well-done. To save time and researching headaches I decided to stick with our own, though there are thousands of great posts out there. I'm not going to spoil the piece by previewing which ones I selected, but I will say this: four out of the five links were to Ben's posts. It struck me for about the thousandth time in the last few months how lucky Blazersedge is to have a writer the caliber of Ben who also fits in so well with our "culture", both at the site and at the arena. Seriously...a ton of people who have met Ben from media colleagues to the team representatives he has interviewed have told me what an excellent person he is all-around. It also struck me how silly it was to keep these thoughts to myself and how inadequate an e-mail to Ben would be. So I decided to share it publicly today, so you would also have an opportunity to show your appreciation for Ben should you so desire.

Thanks for all you've done, Ben! I look forward to reading every post and interview. Here's to another great season in 08-09!

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

Tweet Comment 30 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

If only he could get more comments he would be the complete package.

Just kidding. Post game reports from the Rose Garden were the single biggest thing to happen to the Bedge last year. Look forward to being at all those games next year. Who knows….in the future he could be our playoff correspondent going to away games.

Bayless4Ever

by Sabonis4Ever on Jul 24, 2008 7:29 PM PDT reply actions

Way to go Ben!

You deserve it.

Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)

by 92wastheyear on Jul 24, 2008 7:38 PM PDT reply actions

Ben is a G

Dead Finks Don't Talk
But dead finks don't talk too well
They've got a shaky sense of diction
It's not so much a living hell
It's just a dying fiction

WORD UP. STAY. FRESCO.

by Dheepan on Jul 24, 2008 7:42 PM PDT reply actions

a G.G.

for sure.

PS Ben, my ol friend Peaches wanted me to tell you she says “Hi”

Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)

by 92wastheyear on Jul 24, 2008 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey! I was gonna type that ... :*(

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 24, 2008 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Ben and Dave do an awesome job

They have different strengths as writers and reporters, and they complement each other. The #1 reason I come here is to satisfy my need to debate, but Ben’s and Dave’s writings are a very competitive #2.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 24, 2008 7:56 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Exactly

The #1 reason I come here is to satisfy my need to debate, but Ben’s and Dave’s writings are a very competitive #2.

Darius Miles found me.

by prezofdeath on Jul 24, 2008 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions

In actuality though, I could debate anyone, anywhere, so really that is number 2. Dave + Ben = #1

Seriously though, Dave + Ben is simply the sickest blogging combo I’ve ever seen. Plus we’ve got tons of talent that shows up in the sidebar. It’s simply sickeningly sweet.

Darius Miles found me.

by prezofdeath on Jul 24, 2008 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I started to craft a response, but it was simply a repeat of what you said

Ben and Dave are definitely All-Star material, max contract kind of guys, up there with the best. They play slightly different positions and add a different set of skills to the mix. And then, to top it all off, we have some additional “players” that are amazing, and a bench that’s really solid.

by Corvid on Jul 24, 2008 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Hip Hip Hurrah

and the same thing 1 motr timr.

"We, as Blazer fans, are perhaps the luckiest fans in the league."-Idog1976, July 19.

by jorga on Jul 24, 2008 8:46 PM PDT reply actions

Awww Ben

You are indeed one great blogger. You are the ying to Dave’s yang (okay that sounds just wrong…) but yeah I really do enjoy reading all your posts. You are funny and ask perfect questions in interviews. I have tons of favorite posts but to be honest your interview with Nic. Batum ( I b et you didn’t think I was gonna saythat? ) tops them all . So thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks!

And I know it’s been stolen , I think It doesn’t sound the same w/ o me saying it.

You are such a g!

Love always,

Sophia

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 24, 2008 9:03 PM PDT reply actions

I used to come here for the chicks.

Now I come for Ben’s sweet caress of the keyboard, massaging out knots of Blazer ignorance.

--. --- | -... .-.. .- --.. . .-. ...

by tominhawaii on Jul 24, 2008 9:39 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs

rec

Dead Finks Don't Talk
But dead finks don't talk too well
They've got a shaky sense of diction
It's not so much a living hell
It's just a dying fiction

WORD UP. STAY. FRESCO.

by Dheepan on Jul 24, 2008 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions

You hear that?

That is the sound of a thousand hearts being broken, as if they were fragile china plates—dashed by a swiftly-swinging hammer.

Darius Miles found me.

by prezofdeath on Jul 24, 2008 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Now you're green with envy...

or something

by royroty on Jul 25, 2008 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

What amaze me is not only his great work...

He also shows awesome capacities in development and open mind in learn mode. He´s like these players playing great basketball who you know are going to play much better each time.

The Midnight Rambler

by amlmart1 on Jul 24, 2008 11:57 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

OK, this has to be said

Does no one find it suspicious that Dave puts out something praising Ben just after they spent a week in Vegas?

What is the real motivation? What does Ben know now that the rest of us don’t know, and Dave wants to keep it that way? Look for Dave to keep lavishing the praise, but eventually, Ben is going to want money. Someday, when Ben arrives to take away baby PG, Dave will realize just how deep the abyss into which he has fallen.

Dave’s dark secret? Here’s my theory.

Because of the heat in Vegas, Dave (without thinking about it) went out and got a tank top to wear to one of the games. After one of Jerryd’s drives to the hoop, in sheer excitement, Dave threw his arms in the air, and Ben just happened to turn to say something to Dave right then.

Ben hired a photographer to wait across the gym, and sure enough, the next game it happened again. Ben now has evidence.

Dave shaves his armpits.

Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo

by jscot on Jul 25, 2008 1:47 AM PDT reply actions

Ingrown hairs?

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 25, 2008 2:24 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't know where you found Ben...

I’m just glad you did.

Ben, is there any truth to the rumor that you got confused and spent 30 minutes feeding quarters into a stamp machine in the lobby of the motel?

"I love this game!" -Moonbeam, from 'Rollerball' right before he was knocked into a permanent coma

by -ken on Jul 25, 2008 4:07 AM PDT reply actions

I was going to post that question.

Dave, how/where did you discover Ben. Quite a find it was.

I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I

by TwoDeep on Jul 25, 2008 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions

...

http://draftkevindurant.blogspot.com

ryan white wrote an article in the o last summer referencing DKD and BE and we started talking after that.

im pretty sure i was hounding dave for links to DKD even before the article but the 2007 draft craze is a haze now.

"You'd rather say 'whoa' than 'giddyup.'" ~ Dean Demopoulos

by Ben Golliver on Jul 25, 2008 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually I found him

at the blogger’s shelter. I wasn’t really meaning to pick up a new blogger but he looked so cute all jumping up and down with his tongue hanging out that I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t believe someone else had just left him there. I was going to name him “Mr. Rufus” but it seemed too formal, so we just settled on “Ben.”

—Dave

by Dave on Jul 25, 2008 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Is he house trained....

....yet?

Homer: "Oh no!! A Bear is eating my father!." (On seeing Selma kissing Grampa)

by 92wastheyear on Jul 25, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Mr Rufus?

I came by my Rufus (feline) in the same way. Only it was loud purrs that got my attention. Had no intention of getting another cat, but 16 years later he is the senior feline – and still purring very loudly.

BTW, his name is officially Rudy, but he goes by Rufus at home. (Don’t ask.)

"We, as Blazer fans, are perhaps the luckiest fans in the league."-Idog1976, July 19.

by jorga on Jul 27, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Sooooo...

You sir actually wanted to draft KD? Heresy!
Does Dave demand repentance for this every day in order to achieve salvation in GOd? Will you sing Hallelujah and at least try to make Bill Simmons apologize (“Even for the team Portland had, Durant was the logical pick—the Blazers could have kept Zach Randolph and played Durant at small forward instead of stupidly giving Randolph away”) once Oden lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy in the sky?

Oh, and until then keep doing the great work. You are the Yin to Dave’s Yang – or just the other way around.

Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Jul 25, 2008 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd suggest holding off on the repentance thing Ben

until Greg has actually played in an NBA game. Doesn’t KD already have 78 of them under his belt? And a ROY to boot.

I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I

by TwoDeep on Jul 25, 2008 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions

HaHa, Dave! Did you really say "culture?"

Don’t you owe KP a buck now?

Oh, wait – you pobobly “gave” all of your singles away in Vegas-

My bad!

Ben – you are raw-some, to be sure!

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Jul 25, 2008 7:10 AM PDT reply actions

Dave...

Got me pregnant.

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 25, 2008 11:27 PM PDT reply actions

And by Dave

I meant Ben.

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 25, 2008 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions

By Ben

I meant this is a great site. Thanks D & B.

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 25, 2008 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions