After receiving the most recent blog post from Ramsey Mohsen, (http://www.facebook.com/l/;Ramseymohsen.com) I found myself quickly going for the delete button. (Sorry Ramsey.) I receive about 5 blog posts a day from a group of bloggers that cover stories that range from Global Travel, Animal Rights, Semester at Sea, Real estate agents and well… whatever the hell Ramsey has been up to that week.

I enjoy all of them, however I never have the time to read them, and most of the time I delete all of them. Actually if I didn’t feel as thought I was obligated to continue to receive them due to a family tie or a friend of an x-girlfriend, (you never want to piss them off!) I would ask them to remove me.

As I was saying- I was hitting the delete button when I saw that he had been given a press pass to the Kansas City Chief’s game. Growing up a Chief’s fan I decided to take a look. Ramsey was over the top excited as usual, seeing the game from a very unique point of view. He walked through the stadium like a child! Sitting in on pre and post game interviews, he had the chance to walk through the locker room, and was given his very own “designated” seat in the press box. (Possibly the best seat in the house!)

I found this to be a typical Ramsey blog, and deleted it from my inbox. I hopped on Facebook later this week and saw that another Kansas City Blogger had posted a blog about Ramseys Kansas City Cheifs experience, and titled it, “Loser Chiefs Will Give Great Access To Bloggers Who Don't Say Anything Critical!!! -As i see today, it has recieved even more comments on your style and direction.

This sepcific Blogger started his blog by stating his respect and went on to professionally critique Ramsey’s blog. As I’m sure his jab was directed more at the Chief’s organization as a whole, I am guessing it didn’t reach their ranks. However, it indirectly reached Ramsey’s. This Bloggers recommendation to Ramsey was to “give this a shot”When the chiefs lose next time, Ramsey might want to point out that…·

Their head coach isn't brilliant but an incompetent dweeb who let people think he had something to do with his former team's success.·

Larry Johnson is old and slow and not worth the money.·

The Hunt family needs to refund all of the Jackson County taxpayer cash they took if the team finishes with less than a .500 record this season.

You see, the reason people like, no… are drawn to Ramsey Mohsen is because of his happy soul. Ramsey breathes in a life that not too many people get to experience. His life is filled with joy, kindness, and love with an awareness of others feelings and a continued goal to make the lives of those around him happier. We like what you do Ramsey because you act like a child in places that we could only dream to see. You share with us experiences, passions, events and a life that not typical. Your goal has always been to share experiences, not get a pat on the back from KU's J-school.

It is not your obligation to call out the chief’s organization, they know they suck. It is not your job to state the, “could have done them betters”, or the “stick it to the man’s”
– We like you because you choose to replace negative blanket statements about Larry Johnsons poor performance with “Pretty Darn Cool! And, “This is insane!” or any other ridiculously cheesy line that only you can make us laugh with and understand.

Thank you Ramsey for your kindness and your ability to see past the crap, and negativity that this world continues to produce. Thank you for the efforts you make every day to share with us some of the coolest opportunities that I would never get to see without you. Thank you for your positive outlook on life and your opportunistic stance you take on 99.9% of what you share with us.

If people say your integrity of a blogger is not that of a journalist, tell them they are right. It is not… That has never been your intention or goal. However, this is the news I want to be a part of, these are experiences that I hope you continue to share, this is the position that I wish more Professional Journalists would take. If they are still mad, ask them if they want to join you on your next court side adventure, suite concert or VIP access event.

Less time vlogging blogging updating facebook Twitter. More time working.

I will leave it to you to decide whether your original or your updated version is "better" or "more honest," but I object to the idea that anybody else should define for you what your opinion or your experience ought to be.

You had a Facebook status update awhile back about how you see Mondays as a new opportunity to accomplish something, and to me, that sums up what you're about. The world is full of people who bitch about Mondays, and everything that's wrong about life. Certainly there's no lack of material for someone who wishes to write about what's wrong; people who view life that way are being true to themselves in expressing that. Personally I find it refreshing, and more distinctive, to hear from somebody who meets life experiences from the perspective of what they offer, which is the approach you generally seem to take.

Either way, as long as it's your observation and your perspective, not what you think somebody else thinks it ought to be, it's all good for me.

Interesting and informative comments...with regards to Ramsey being "pressured" to write/publish positive comments makes me chuckle...he was on his own and free to write/publish what he wanted...he did have to pay for parking! :)

@Whitney: you hit the nail on the head here. Dead on.

@Ramsey: you were incorrect in your original post -- you WERE compensated via your ticket to the game. As a former freelance music critic, I know how that game works and the pressure to only print/publish the positive. Don't. Be real and be truthful if not for the sake of your readers then at least your integrity.

If I were you, I would have told Tony to sit on it. There was nothing wrong with your post. The fact that you didn't torch the team, its players, the organization, and the people around you (like Tony does frequently does) doesn't mean you're "sacrificing access for analysis." Frankly, I don't think think people sign on to your blog to hear your takes on Larry Johnson, the Chiefs, etc. They do to get your take on social media and the like, and that's what your blog post provided.

I dropped Tony from my RSS reader a long time ago. He's rude, he's not-safe-for-work, and his entire blog seems dedicating to tearing everything down around him. Who's a bigger loser -- someone who actually tries to do something and fails (like the Chiefs), or someone who does nothing but make fun of others?

Rams - It's awesome to see you trying to be more objective about your blogging experiences. But I think this situation exposes a few obstacles that come with blogger outreach. I'll preface all of this by saying I know how jazzed you get about making video blogs, so I'm not positioning any of my comments as personal attacks. We are, and always will be, good friends. I hope you don't take this personally, because it applies across the board - not just to you.

First, like you said, the Chiefs are in a bad situation when it comes to positive media coverage. You can't take a sh*t sandwich and sell it as a diamond ring - unless you have a blogger who gets so flattered by being asked to come to Arrowhead that they forget that watching this team play is about as entertaining as a colonoscopy. I would know. (Too much?) Then that blogger is so wrapped up in how cool the media's pre-game buffet is that they won't settle down long enough to ask any semi-challenging questions or make any critical observations.

I feel the art of good storytelling (something not easily learned) is ultimately lost with blogging due to personal branding. The blogger usually wants to tell the story that will get them the most page views, not the story that is the most accurate or provides the most complete information. That makes this a win for the Chiefs and a loss for Ramsey. Your credibility has been damaged by not pushing (or even licking) the envelope when you were given an opportunity to address one of the city's hottest topics. Now the Chiefs laugh all the way to YouTube because you were so excited about LJ's locker, you didn't stop to formulate a question about one of the most dramatic losses of the season.

While I agree that bloggers and real journalists can co-exist and (sometimes) work together, there is no substitute for press. There is a reason that journalists get a degree for studying the First Amendment, ethics, grammar and storytelling. Because - when done correctly - they stop acting like tourists and piece important facts together to bring the world information... not make a brand for themselves (Whitlock is an exception to that. So are 24-hour news networks.)

On a personal note, I think your work to date has been extremely well-crafted, but ultimately it showcases you, and not the interesting content that could be shared. Also, I feel like you published this update with complaints that you scrambled to formulate after you were called out. You've published complaints in original reviews before - why not this time?

To cover my own ass with this rant, I know I'm far from perfect. I've been given press access as a blogger, too, and when I had a less than fabulous experience, I included the basic complaints in my original post: http://www.whitneymathews.com/blog/2009/7/26/beckh...

Finally, I know they're taking baby steps, but I'm gonna call the Chiefs out for their part in this. By inviting brand-conscious bloggers into the press box, they haven't really lifted the veil. Why not try giving ticket or concession discounts to participants in your online community? Why not hold a tailgate for Twitter followers? Show the community you actually appreciate them. Don't hide in the press box with a digital camera and CoveritLive.

OR just win some freaking football games so I don't have to wonder why the team sucks so hard. I'd take a playoff win over blogger outreach any day.

So whatever. That's my ridiculously long-winded opinion. And you know I'd say it all to your face over sliders.

My vote goes to the updated post, much more informative.

Ramsey, based on your initial stated objective of providing a "behind the scenes" view of the game/press experience, I believe you did just that. Whether it's positive or negative is irrelevant. It's what you experienced. End of story.

Tony's criticism has everything to do with the Chiefs/KC/fan/money situation, and it has nothing to do with a blogger's experience in an NFL environment. The Chiefs are a touchy subject (locally), so you've had a pundit project their two cents upon you. Not everyone is a hater, and you do a nice job of exposing that.

Please don't let you objective, rational, well-articulated approach to blogging/vlogging be tainted by the cynics who are vying for attention in the over-saturated, online world of media.

Phil

I agree with Shane. It was very interesting video to watch. You didn't have to worry about hearing how bad the Chiefs were or how there was some big breaking news that would skew your video. Instead you showed us what it's like just to be on the inside. From a reporter updating his radio listeners by phone to NFL legends passing by in the hallway.

Ramsey, I appreciate your desire to provide a balanced review of your experiences. I feel like you are always fair in how you portray your subjects.

Tony is being a little hypocritical in calling you out. I would challenge him to try and find the positive side in all his stories. I bet he can't do it.

I know you. You are a positive, upbeat guy and you see the good in things before you see the bad in them. Tony is the opposite. That is why I continue to subscribe and read/watch you and discount his opinion.