Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Corbett walks around his old 'hood in Wilkes-Barre, mourns his zen garden

Those of you who miss Corbett's Times Leader ruminations about his South River Street neighborhood -- who can forget the Japanese pine tree in the front yard? -- should read his WILK column about his recent return. His verdict: "Wilkes-Barre is miserable."

110 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love him or hate hm, he's right more than he's wrong. In this case, he's right on the money.
Ask Todd Vonderhideandgoseek.

Anonymous said...

I hate him.

But he's right.

Anonymous said...

Corbett did have nice places when he lived in W-B. He can be a goof about certain things, but I can imagine that this indignation was pretty sincere.

Anonymous said...

It's a shame that this can't be seen in one of the WB papers. Corbett should submit it as an op-ed, think either paper would run it?

Anonymous said...

Corbett can be a fine writer when he's truly passionate about his topic, as in this instance. If you go through many of his blog posts, though, you see that too many times he's forcing himself to post something, anything. It is in these instances that he can be not just bad but truly awful.

Anonymous said...

Give us an example.
Then compare your best column to his worst.

Anonymous said...

I used to know Corbett pretty well before he went to Calif. I'm not sure what he's like now, but while he could sometimes be a pain in the butt and sometimes be arrogant, I never knew him to brag about what a great columnist he was, or to downgrade the work of anybody else. That was especially true of people with whom he worked. He was usually very complimentary of co-workers and their efforts. Maybe he's changed. But I think he'd be the first to admit not everything he writes is gold.

Anonymous said...

geez, what is Wilkes-Barre turning into Scranton?

Anonymous said...

While I worked with Steve he was always an encouragement. He disliked management as much as the rank and file. Love him or hate him, people read his column. And his blog entry does make a point. Wilkes-Barre is slowly dying.

Anonymous said...

Corbett's daily online column - every single day - puts the dailies to shame. Do better than he does. Write better than he does. C'mon know-it-all new cyber generation. You know so damn much.
Do it better.

Anonymous said...

I dont always agree with him and at times his pomposity overshadows the good he tries to do ..but this time hes right on the mark...is this the best they can do with the downtown...all style and no substance..and once again Frank(BIDS WHAT BIDS) Rodano makes out like a bandit...but dont raise an objection because then your ANTI WILKES-BARRE.. what the heck Vibrator races at the Hardware Bar is just the kind of thing this valley needs..Can we have another upscale resturant so us Joads can look in the window at some of those high priced vittles and wish we could have some, if only we didnt have to come up with our increased taxes..the problem is nobody questions things and the powers that be just roll right along without any fear..and dont look to our so called media their either sloven Lap Dogs like Bill Oboyle or too good to come off the mountaintop to mix it up with us common folk like Sue Henrey or just using this place as a temp. stop before moving on which would encompass both papers newsrooms.Yea Corbett has his agenda but at least he makes an attempt to give a damn. And that piece was some dam good thought provoking,i walk it like i talk it journalism..people should take heed and notice.And then maybe the powers that be might become afraid!

Anonymous said...

If Corbett is such a white-hot writer, what's he doing a half-step-up from being a disc jockey?

Anonymous said...

So who's better, hot shot? You? If so, put up or shut up. Show us your work. And you're not on the radio every day, to boot. Corbett does both. Every day. What about you? Seriously, who's better as a columnist? Who's a better social critic? Commentator? Who? You? You sound like that putz Kevin Lynn, for Crissakes.

Anonymous said...

yeah, 6:20, that was kind of a silly comment. You may not like Corbett, but you have to admit he brings more of a journalist's sensibility to the air than most local radio personalities. And he actually hits the streets and does some reporting for those blog entries, which is more than what can be said for a lot of columnists.

I enjoy his show; others don't, but you have to give the guy credit for at least trying to do it the right way.

Anonymous said...

As for me I have far eclipsed the audience to which Corbett has played and am sure I have at least as much hardware on my wall as he does.
That said, the indignance from my initial post was overblown. My point was constructive as much as anything: The man needs an editor, as all of us do, and he should refrain from writing when he doesn't have much to say. Corbett is used to writing two or three times a week and now he's shooting for five, which results in posting for the sake of posting.
One last point: As I've said before on this blog, WILK should allow comments on Corbett's posts. Then you'd have a truly "lively" blog and I'll bet the station would have another revenue source.

Anonymous said...

so show us your hardware. better yet, post some of your writing and we can see how good you are WITH an editor.

Anonymous said...

This morning Corbett asked Kevin Blaum - Times Leader political guru who co-hosted thje morning show with Kevin Lynn - if he was writing a column about Bonusgate. Blaum said no. Jesus, Connor. What's the use of a guru if he keep the enlightenment to himself?

Anonymous said...

Great post! Blaum knows where the pork is buried. Connor should kick him in the butt and tell him to earn his minimum wage the way the rest of the peasants do.

Anonymous said...

Corbett is Cool

Anonymous said...

So Corbett's got to do radio. Big deal. With the state of the newspaper business, lots of news guys and gals are making do where ever they can, doing whatever they can. Lots of talented ink-stained wretches are no longer in print and never will be again. No reflection on them, but the industry just doesn't value people with his kind of experience and knowledge and perspective. And that sucks.

Anonymous said...

A few months ago Rich Connor asked Corbett to write a column and Corbett declined. Ask anybody in the loop at the Times Leader. Corbett is taking his expertise where he wants to. How about you? Assuming you have expertise to begin with.

Anonymous said...

Did Wasser push to get Corbett back?

Anonymous said...

Radio is a good fit for Corbett. He's not a polished broadcaster, but the fact that he reaches listeners in both Scranton and W-B gives him a broader audience than he ever had at the TL.

Anonymous said...

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me why you (Corbett, I figure most of these posts are yours) aren't in newspapers anymore. The local papers are little more than "Penny Shopper" inserts and you can't find work THERE? You're working as a lowest-common-demagogue panderer at a local radio station? How the think-they're-mighty have fallen!

Anonymous said...

11:24 a.m. - your comments are arrogant and give some insight into why newspapers are losing the interest of the general public.
You just don't get it. Corbett's audience is much bigger now. More people hear his ideas, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's making as much, or more than he did at the TL.
I worked at the TL - except for Walzer, nobody made big money.

Only newspaper folks are impressed by people working in newspapers. The public isn't.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for confirming my "Penny Shopper" analysis. So Corbett fled the sinking newspaper ship for the security of . . . RADIO?????

RADIO?????

Anonymous said...

That Corbett inspires this much chatter, I guess, could be confirmation that he's still relevant. But I share in the suspicion that some of these posts are his because I can't imagine anyone other than him getting as animated about criticisms as 6:37 and 2:08.
And yes, self-importance thy name is Corbett.

Anonymous said...

Thank God for triple murders, right Steve-O? You should be able to coax a week's worth of hand-wringing out of this one.

Anonymous said...

He's got you slobbering, whining and hating his guts while he does what he does. He makes a good living and has the flexibility and freedom you lack. That's the career many of you will never have.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Steve.

Anonymous said...

(I've) got you slobbering, whining and hating (my) guts while (I) does (do) what (I) does (do). (I) makes (make)a good living and has (have) the flexibility and freedom you lack. That's the career many of you will never have.

Stevie

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Steve.

Anonymous said...

I knew Corbett back in his TL days. I can't imagine him taking the time to post here. Corbett got people talking like no other columnist ever in W-B. And don't forget that he is the guy who put Wolsieffer in jail.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Steve.

Anonymous said...

Corbett "is the guy who put Wolsieffer in jail"?????

HAH!

OK, first to be fair. The Times Leader did some pretty good reporting around that time and Corbett was as vitriolic as ever, keeping Wolsieffer's name in the paper with a seemingly endless series of columns that never seemed to say a whole lot except, "Glen Wolsieffer killed his wife and I'm not going to stop writing it until somebody does something." Most of what the TL reported in its "Till Death Do Us Part" series was stuff everyone knew, that was in police affidavits and that Bernie Podcasy had in his back pocket but upon which he chose not to act.

No, sorry Steve but the person who put Wolsieffer in jail was Corry Stevens. He campaigned on making an arrest in the case then followed through by getting Ernie Preate to appoint Tony Sarcione as special prosecutor. Sarcione put together a brilliant case, took mob lawyer Tony Cardinale to school with his closing argument, and got a very difficult 3rd-degree murder conviction.

Corbett was merely a spectator at the trial, just like me.
Now we know for sure Steve is posting here.

Anonymous said...

You're right. Anyone who knows Steve knows he wouldn't take the time to post here.

Anonymous said...

epony, we seem to be agreeing more than disagreeing. Steve did exactly what you say...kept whining about the case when everyone else was willing to let it go...and the right people finally stood up and did the right thing. Take Corbett out of the equation and there would never have been a re-trial.

Anonymous said...

Aaaaaah, but look the power of Corbett has you posting.


silly kids/Trix are for...

Anonymous said...

Ask Corry Stevens what role Corbett played. Ask the Tasker family.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Steve.

Anonymous said...

Better yet, ask Glen.

Anonymous said...

Tell Eponymous Anonymous to shut her mouth

Anonymous said...

just curious...is Glen out of jail now?

Anonymous said...

Yes good old Murdering Glen is practicing some where in the Carolinas if im not mistaken.

Listen this case was FUBAR from the begining starting with the one idiot cop who almost accidently(?) destroyed the one solid piece of evidence which was either a footprint or something on the ladder used to get into the house.

I was was just starting out in the bis. when i heard a bevy of rumors floating thru. There was alot of interconnecting fucking around going on, Glen was friends with lot of 1980s power players in the Wyoming Valley,a good portion centered on softball and a certain W-B fitness club and alot had to do with sex and wife swapping,Glenn was connected to some connected people as they would say.And from what i understand there were many road blocks thrown up as far as that investigation was concerned, by people who are still in positions today,makes you think doesnt it?Too bad the only person who really knew, drove his car into a cement truck on River Road near present day Brews Brothers,Glen the Rippers brother, on the the day he was supposed to give a deposition.

Boys and girls no matter what you may think about this town think again because below the Barnes and Nobel,Waterfront Park, Paint a flowery Art Universe mural culture that is force fed to us lies a river of slime and scum as deep as the Grand Canyon!Pardon the grammaticals cause its been a long night.

Anonymous said...

I guess the McCain folks never heard of Glen Wolsieffer, OR Steve Corbett. Corbett sounded incredulous Wednesday morning when the McCain staff stiffed him on his request for a one-on-one.

Anonymous said...

Corbett never asked for a one-on-one. He explained it on the show today. WILK will likely air its McCain interview tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

The day Glen's brother drove into the path of that truck...man, that was one of the strangest stories I have ever been around.
Still gives me chills.
What does it take to get a man to that point?

Anonymous said...

WBRE interviewed Corbett tonight about the local press being banned from the McCain fundraiser at the Westermorelend Club? Where are the rest of you great First Amendment defenders? The NEPA press used to actually protest with attorneys.
Anybody remember? Anybody care? Anybody still want to fight for journalism?

Anonymous said...

No we dont have anyone left, all we have are puke inducing debutantes like Kevin Lynn,Scott Schaffer,Sue Henrey,Bill OBoyle to name a few who only care about their bottom line ,Volvo upkeep, and allowing us MUDPEOPLE ,the vague idea that out opinions matter and that we matter. When all we are are just time fillers till their next paycheck.

Anonymous said...

7:13,

Yeah, I heard him deny the one-on-one request Wednesday afternoon. Strangely at odds with what he said in the morning.

Also: I guess reacting to what's posted here means he READS what's posted here, right Steve?

Anonymous said...

Since when does the First Amendment grant the media/press access to a private club?

If they wanted to attend, offered to pay the $250 and were denied that would be a story! But complaining that you weren't allowed into a private club for a private event? Yes I know it featured John McCain but again it wasn't a public forum, held in a public place.

Steve manufactured a news story out of this, instead of reporting it....

Anonymous said...

The national press was allowed in to the "private property?"
Why not you little locals?

Anonymous said...

STeve never mentioned the national media was allowed in, or if he did, I didn't hear it.

Once they let the national press in, the local should have gone along for the ride.

So what national news got in, Faux News?

Anonymous said...

Early in Thursday's show and he's still bitchin' about the fact that the national media got inside and he was left outside...kept out of McCain's fundraiser by representatives of the Fourth Reich.

Do ya suppose it was because the organizers didn't recognize him, or was it because they DID?

Anonymous said...

What ever happened to the "death threats" Corbett received that were (he said) sent (he said) from an Obama web site (he said).

We got a day or two of "The Secret Service BETTER listen" but haven't heard anything about the investigation since.

Is Steve still hiding under his bed, afraid that the boogie-man is going to sneak in and cut off his pony tail?

Anonymous said...

What's CJR?

Anonymous said...

The CJR is the Columbia Journalism Review: not to be confused with the TSHQ, the Talk Show Hosts Quarterly, which is more likely to be interested in Corbett getting escorted off the grounds of the Westmoreland Club.

It's Day Two of Corbett's campaign defending his inalienable right to be alienating.

Anonymous said...

Well all i know is the Piedmont of Journalistic Excellence Claire (Gee McCains Coming to Town Today so we have to have a staff meeting to form a committee to figure out how to get out of the building to cover the event in a timely fashion tommorow, what did i say is going on oh yes the farmers market) Schecter, was in attendance gee i hope it was out of pocket, and not sponsored by Times (we just dont have money for etc, etc) Shamrock but i doubt it.

One of the few places where incompitance is rewarded with a $250.00 lunch!

Anonymous said...

Excuse any misspelling on the above but my medication to control my rage was kicking in and i am sorry for any mistakes!

V for well, oh F**k it!

Anonymous said...

6:04PM
I always thought "dumbass" was one word, but I could be wrong.

Anonymous said...

Pissant is one word and so is asshat. You know who you are.

Anonymous said...

No wonder newspapers are dying.

Anonymous said...

Newspapers are dying because Steve Corbett left for radio?

Anonymous said...

Newspapers are dying because of corporate greed. But longtime wanabee,neverwere reporters, columnists,editors (copy and otherwise)and the new breed of ipod/text messenging imitators who view journalism as American Idol are killing the news business as well. You are an immature gang of clerks who have never been part of a good newspaper. You have already failed but don't even know it. Corbett has allies here. You know who you are. Clerks of fact need not apply. And many of us no longer live in NEPA gossip land.

Anonymous said...

Real talent exists in NEPA. But too many neverwills will never get it. TO them, neverwills rule! I'm with Corbett on this one.

Anonymous said...

Shit, you ARE Corbett.

Anonymous said...

I'm Corbett, too.

Anonymous said...

No me.

Anonymous said...

Rich Connor is Corbett

Anonymous said...

Walzer is Iseman.

Anonymous said...

Iseman is exiled in the Ozarks

Anonymous said...

Mark Guydish is not Corbett

Anonymous said...

Mitch Morrison is Pam Turfa who is Jacob Sullum who is Dave Bender who is Corbett if I am not mistaken.

Anonymous said...

Where's Brad Brannan during all of this????

Anonymous said...

Do any Times Leader reporters still have illegal drug problems or cheat on their wives?

Anonymous said...

Can of worms here.
Spouses?
Prescription drugs?
Ex-employees included?

Anonymous said...

In a larger, ontological sense, aren't we all Corbett?

Anonymous said...

Who would win a wrestling match between Terrie Morgan Besecker and Josephine Campbell?

Anonymous said...

I like the drug question.
How about all the new hip hires. Is a drug test required to work at the TL?

Anonymous said...

Gimme a break 6:32.
Look inside any US daily over 25,000 circulation and you are going to find illegal drug do-ers and cheaters. Truman won dude. Stop beating your wife already.

Anonymous said...

And all the local papers have circulations over 25,000 -- THIS week.

Anonymous said...

Boy, that who's using illegal drugs question sure shut this discussion down.

Anonymous said...

The very first post in this thread started, "Love him or hate him..."

So now I've listened to him--and I hate him. He may have had something to say as a newspaper columnist, but as a talk-show host he's an overbearing blowhard. And does he HAVE TO SHOUT ALL THE TIME?????

Shush little Steve. Be still. Be still.

Anonymous said...

Where's Corbett's buddy Schechtman?

Anonymous said...

Newsday. History marks him as the best ever editor at the TL. Duncan comes in second only because he left the journalism side to become publisher.

Anonymous said...

No, No, Walzer was the best editor ever you asshat

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Schechtman and Walzer are making twisted, bald headed babies together off the coast of cape cod?

Anonymous said...

Schechtman knew what it took. Most of you complainers don't have and never will have what it takes. Blog that.

Anonymous said...

11:09 PM, what does it take? Godlike praise of people who left more than a decade ago who few remember, a yearning for the good old days that never really existed. An ability to continue to complain and blog about someplace you obviously left a long time ago but still can't get over? Does that about sum it up?

Anonymous said...

Schechtman's biggest mistake: Hiring Iseman.

Anonymous said...

"If you worked for Cliff you'd know. You pansy ass reporters that fill the TL and CV newsroom today wouldn't last 10 minutes with him. He'd say you were all lazy slackers which you are. Journalism today is for pussies."

Dear misinformed, I did work with Cliff. Interviewed with him and was hired, you dope

Anonymous said...

I competed against Cliff for many years. By now I believe it is a well-established fact on this forum that Cliff, indeed, was the man.
Let's move on.

Anonymous said...

"competed against Cliff for many years. By now I believe it is a well-established fact on this forum that Cliff, indeed, was the man.
Let's move on"

no, let's not. You seem pretty sensitive to criticism of your savior. Why so thin skinned? You seem pretty quick to criticize others? Feeling a little inadequate that you've been replaced and yet magically a newspapers still comes out every day?

Anonymous said...

How's the Ozarks, Iseman?

Anonymous said...

Competed how? If you were with the Voice you didn't compete, you lost. If you worked for Schechtman, you didn't compete, either. You probably wanted to be more than you were and likely failed to be more than a shadow. If not, tell us who you were and how you made the TL a great mid-sized daily in America, the likes of which have never been seen since and likely won't be, either.

Anonymous said...

I neither worked with Cliff nor against him with the Voice, and I no longer work in print but I am bigger than a breadbox and kicked the Times Leader's ass repeatedly, routinely and with unmitigated glee. I did, however, have a great deal of respect for Cliff Schecthman.
What's my line all you nepa genuises? I'll tell when you do.

Anonymous said...

"If not, tell us who you were and how you made the TL a great mid-sized daily in America, the likes of which have never been seen since and likely won't be, either."

A little full of yourself, no? Great mid-size daily. Really? Is that what you want to say? Great? I think you're boasting a bit much.

Anonymous said...

The TL was that good back then. A time when most of you posters were in diapers or playing doctor with your childhood friends.

Anonymous said...

"The TL was that good back then. A time when most of you posters were in diapers or playing doctor with your childhood friends."

Question Mr. arrogant, how high up did you get in the TL chain back in the glory days. Ever above reporter, or were you shown the door or pushed out?

Anonymous said...

"Def above reporter. I knew how to handle that bitch Allison."

right, right, you knew how to handle Allison. Unless you're Pat McHugh, I don't you were very succesful at it....

Anonymous said...

As an outsider, I just LOVE hearing you used-to-wuzzers talking about which paper was/is better.

Oooooh, how will I ever decide?

Sorta like asking which 5'3" guy you want playing center on your basketball team.

Anonymous said...

"As an outsider, I just LOVE hearing you used-to-wuzzers talking about which paper was/is better."


Hey dopey, if you're an outsider, why read this? Is your life in Wilkes-Barre that bad?
What's the matter, Topper's girls just aren't paying enough attention to you?

Anonymous said...

I read it for the entertainment value. If you folks wrote with as much energy and honesty in your so-called "news" papers, each might still be alive in five years.

As it is...

Anonymous said...

I actually agree with you, newspapers soon will be dead (or close to dead). And that's ok, at somepoint someone's got to come along and see it's a lot easier to make money if you have to pay print the paper. Internet news is the future, and it's here now.
Unfortunately, too many newspeople just refuse to see it and keep losing ground to outsiders.

Anonymous said...

Corbett saw it. And that's the bottom line to this thread. You better listen!

Anonymous said...

what is schechtman doing at Newsday?

Anonymous said...

Schechtman rose to Associate Editor at Newday, earned the paper a finalist citation for Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, then left to become Executive Editor of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram in Maine where they just won a Polk Award with the likes of the NYTimes and the Washington Post.

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