The Player's Tribune: Brayden Holtby - … And Then We Got Mario Kart Tattoos

[SaveByRichter35]

Quote

Mario Kart is all about the sound effects. That’s the beauty, at least for me. I mean, I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan with 900 cows, so I’m not exactly a video game connoisseur or anything. But in my humble opinion, it’s only Mario Kart if it’s the N64 version. That’s the key, because then you’ve got the controllers with the short wires, so everybody has to be hunched over right next to the TV.

And you’ve got the old-school sound effects.

With the sound effects, it’s like a spectator sport.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I guess you just have to imagine a hotel room full of grown men all huddled around a TV. It’s a couple of hours before the biggest hockey game of our lives, and everybody’s screaming out, “WHEL-COME TOO MAAAAAAR-EEO KART!!!!!!”

*BOING*

This was all Nate Schmidt’s idea, for the record. A couple seasons ago, he went to an old-school game store in Toronto and bought a used Nintendo 64. On the road, you have a lot of downtime, especially during the playoffs. So it was kind of a genius idea. But you know how these things go. First it’s like a little joke — it’s him and a few guys up in his room after the morning skate, messing around.

But then you start hearing guys chirping a bit in the locker room.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/braden-holtby-and-then-we-got-mario-kart-tattoos

[Xdave90x]

That is such a good article

[WillyGrips13]

I tell you what, this is the best vehicle for sports stories. The player writes his or her own article without questions from a reporter. We’ve seen many great articles now where the player directing the story is way better than if a sportswriter was interviewing them. 

[SaveByRichter35]

23 hours ago, Xdave90x said:

That is such a good article

It really was.  I was always kind of annoyed by Holtby.  Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way.  I tell you what though I have a whole new respect for him after reading this.

6 hours ago, WillyGrips13 said:

I tell you what, this is the best vehicle for sports stories. The player writes his or her own article without questions from a reporter. We’ve seen many great articles now where the player directing the story is way better than if a sportswriter was interviewing them. 

These are some of my favorite things to read when it comes to sports stories.  I love this website.

[jeff da goalie]

On 3/17/2019 at 9:38 AM, WillyGrips13 said:

I tell you what, this is the best vehicle for sports stories. The player writes his or her own article without questions from a reporter. We’ve seen many great articles now where the player directing the story is way better than if a sportswriter was interviewing them. 

I believe these are ghostwritten to a large extent.  

[kedjlng3]

1 hour ago, jeff da goalie said:

I believe these are ghostwritten to a large extent.  

Where'd you hear about this?

It'd be both shocking and very disappointing if true

[jeff da goalie]

9 minutes ago, kedjlng3 said:

Where'd you hear about this?

It'd be both shocking and very disappointing if true

It's pretty well known.  It's even in the Wikipedia entry:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Players'_Tribune and there are a host of articles about it as well:  https://awfulannouncing.com/2015/players-tribune-articles-arent-written-by-the-players-which-creates-a-host-of-issues.html

[creasecollector]

3 hours ago, jeff da goalie said:

I believe these are ghostwritten to a large extent.  

Not surprising, as athletes (for the most part) aren't experts at writing. No doubt these pieces are edited and formatted to tell the perfect story for the readers. That's nobody's fault, as The Players' Tribune needs to work to obtain a certain quality of pieces to attract readers, and the athlete themselves get a nice space to discuss their experience on a certain topic and (not entirely sure if true) but maybe some financial compensation as well? Total speculation of course.

I personally love the articles though, and I'm a big fan. 

[Moose75]

1 hour ago, jeff da goalie said:

It's pretty well known.  It's even in the Wikipedia entry:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Players'_Tribune and there are a host of articles about it as well:  https://awfulannouncing.com/2015/players-tribune-articles-arent-written-by-the-players-which-creates-a-host-of-issues.html

The top notch grammar and spelling is what tipped me off that the players might not be writing these articles by themselves.

[jeff da goalie]

21 minutes ago, creasecollector said:

I personally love the articles though, and I'm a big fan. 

Agreed. It's just misleading.  the byline should read: Braden Holtby and [actual writer] or Braden Holtby as told to [actual writer]

[SaveByRichter35]

Was anyone under the impression that the athletes actually wrote these articles?

[coopaloop1234]

17 minutes ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

Was anyone under the impression that the athletes actually wrote these articles?

I legitimately thought that every athlete that provided a piece was extremely articulate and a decent writer. 

[SaveByRichter35]

2 minutes ago, coopaloop1234 said:

I legitimately thought that every athlete that provided a piece was extremely articulate and a decent writer. 

[coopaloop1234]

6 minutes ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

>_> C'mon now.

[SaveByRichter35]

6 minutes ago, coopaloop1234 said:

>_> C'mon now.

I mean, normally I would know you were being facetious, but, you legitimately said legitimately.  I legitimately thought you were being legit. 

[coopaloop1234]

9 minutes ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

I mean, normally I would know you were being facetious, but, you legitimately said legitimately.  I legitimately thought you were being legit. 

That's too many legits

[SaveByRichter35]

2 minutes ago, coopaloop1234 said:

That's too many legits

Haha