I like to think that since St. Louis is situated almost dead
center in the middle of our country that we get the best of everything. While this assertion is generally
patently false, I do truly believe that St. Louis is home to one of the best
sports writers in the country. One of Bernie Miklasz’s greatest strengths is his self awareness. He understands that he writes for a relatively small paper in a relatively small city. He gets his readers. He has no delusions about a national readership, or much outside interest in the goings on in the city of St. Louis. In a sports market dominated by baseball even during the offseason, Bernie manages to keep us entertained and up to speed on all manner of sporting news. While I personally think that he’s at his best when writing about baseball, Bernie has the knowledge and ability to go 800 words on any sporting topic. He can write a column chock full of stats, or can hit you with a narrative piece that tugs at your heartstrings. His strengths truly lie in his ability to combine the two.
A self-professed sabremetrician, Miklasz never bogs down his
pieces with too much raw data. His ability to combine stats and storyline make
for an impressive article on a daily basis.
Bernie doesn’t generally mince words. This, plus a ton of talent, makes him
the perfect columnist for St. Louis. In a city and fan base that is heralded
for its courtesy and respect towards others, Bernie’s straightforward approach
is perfect. He possesses the knowledge and whit to put together pieces as
opposite as an examination of the Blues’ midseason struggles to a touching
tribute to his old pal, the late great Rick Majerus. Miklasz employs logic and historical context (he’s been
writing in St. Louis since 1985) to craft stories that one can’t help but agree
with, and to those who find themselves in disagreement with Mr. Miklasz: I’d
advise you to make sure you know exactly what you are talking about before you
start talking. If not, Bernie will tear you apart.
Bernie, like any decent journalist/urbanite knows there will
always be plenty of boneheads around.
In the blandness and blistering heat that a St. Louis summer can often
offer, Miklasz does not hesitate to take on, say the seemingly endless legion
of fans that think releasing Matt Holliday and Sam Bradford would somehow help
their respective franchises.
Unlike some media personalities, however, Bernie won’t
simply tell you that you’re a moron. He’ll provide you with an eloquent, easy
to understand, multi-layered explanation as to why you’re a moron.
To some, it may seem inappropriate for a big shot to respond
to dissention in such a way, but to St. Louis, Bernie is just a member of the
community. He is extremely accessible to fans, often engaging in banter via
twitter and formerly on the air at ESPN Radio.
It is this sense of community inhabitation that endears a
figure like Bernie to the people of St. Louis. He is one of our own. He is here to report on the sports
world, both local and in a broader sense, but he does so as a concerned
citizen. It is clear through his writing that he cares about the Cardinals, the
Rams, the Blues, SLU, Mizzou, etc. He knows and understands the cares, concerns
and ravings of St. Louis fans. When
he praises the Cardinals, for instance, he does so as an appreciative
spectator, and when he criticizes the club, he does so respectfully,
matter-of-factly and with genuine concern for the team and fans.
Bernie certainly isn’t the best-known or widest-read
sportswriter in America. His face
doesn’t grace the pages of nationally distributed papers, or magazines. You
won’t find him on Around the Horn. He’s not here to cause controversy or garner
attention for himself. He writes with dignity, experience, logic, and a healthy
sense of humor. Bernie’s style is
perfect for the people of St. Louis: earnest and genuine, with a healthy dose
of stubbornness and, admittedly, more than a bit of insularity.
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