Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Writing while angry

Last summer, Washington Post political columnist Dana Milbank spoke to a Georgetown University class I teach, the "Reported Opinion Piece," and gave our next generation of writers a pearl of wisdom about how he writes his biting columns with edge but not bitterness: "We've all heard about how you're not supposed to drive while angry. You also shouldn't write while angry."

It's a lesson Cleveland Cavalier head coach Dan Gilbert would have benefited from hearing before he penned his online screed to basketball star LeBron James this week, charging him with a "shameful display of selfishness and betrayal" for his decision this week to leave the Cleveland Cavalier to play with the Miami Heat.

In a letter to fans, posted on the Cavaliers' website, the Cleveland coach declared James would carry a "so-called 'curse'" to Miami, writing: "The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does 'right' by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma."

Ominously, he writes: "Just watch."

Full report here Huffington Post

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