Posted
by Joel Mathis
November 5, 2004 at 1:49 p.m.
Joe Posnanski must be stopped!
To: jposnanski@kcstar.com From: joel@lawrence.com Re: Why are you stealing my name?Dear Joe Posnanski:Hi there. My name's Joel Mathis -- I write for the Lawrence Journal-World and Lawrence.com, just a few miles down the road from your home at the Kansas City Star. I'm a fan of yours, actually. Always enjoy your sports column, though I sometimes find it a bit saccharine. That story you did from the World Series about the dying Red Sox fan? I kind of chuckled, actually -- told my friends that if anybody could find the dying fan with a weepy story in Fenway Park, it would of course be Joe Po.But I'm given to sentimentalism in writing, myself, so I can't really begrudge that.![][1]I'm afraid I've got a bit of a problem, though, Joe. It's with the name of your [new column][2] in the Star's Metropolitan section."A Cup of Joe."Cute. Love it. Taken.If you have the time, take a trip over to blogs.lawrence.com and you'll find my blog -- which has found its way into print a couple of times in the Lawrence.com Deadwood edition. Look for me.See anything familiar?Like the balding beardy guy holding a cup of coffee? Kind of like your column mug? With THIS name: Cup O' Joel?Ring a bell?Now, now, I'm not saying you're copying me. You're pretty famous and all -- your bio on the Star site says you've been named best sports columnist in America -- so you may never have seen my lil' blog.But I was here first. First with the balding beardy guy with the coffee mug. First with the name. Go back and check the archives - had the name and logo since February 2003.So you see, we've got a problem. You're infringing on my shtick. I can't have no shtick-infringin'.I know, I know. I'm NOT the best sports columnist in America. And my name's not as recognized as yours. Never had my own sports radio show. But I have fun doing what I do -- kind of like you.So I'm not asking you to change a thing. Not one thing. I just have a favor to ask.Tell the world I was first. Before you. We can share the shtick, as long as you acknowledge that you were beat -- by a country mile -- to it.That's all I ask. That's not so much is it?Good luck with your new metro column, Joe. Hope it doesn't mean that you're finished writing in sports. The sickly sports fans of America need somebody to tell their stories to.Best, Joel Mathis Lawrence.com [1]: http://lawrence.com/blogs/cupojoel/cupofjoe.jpg [2]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/columnists/joe_posnanski/10102687.htm
and 2 others
Comments
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OtherJoel (anonymous) says…
You know I got your back. Damn Joes. Tell me something - did you get used to being called "Joe" because people couldn't pronounce your name? I don't get that much these days, but growing up in rural Missouri, it was pretty common.
1981 (Jason Barr) says…
Awesome! Go get im!
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
OtherJoel: I've gotten "Joe" a lot -- but, oddly enough, "Josh" more times than I can count. Go figure.
Fowler (anonymous) says…
The way I see it you can either change the name of your blog to "Cup O' Josh" or change your name to Joel Posnanski. Either prospect isn't very appealing.
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
Fowler: I will remain steadfast.
onearmeddrummer (anonymous) says…
I know a guy who for the right price can get rid of this wannabe cup of balding beardness.
CafeSiren (anonymous) says…
Joel -- the similarities are striking. To give him credit, "Cup of Joe" is something that he could have easily come up with on his own. "Cup o'Joel," on the other hand, is just enough less obvious to make it a creative coup.
Promise to keep us posted?
OtherJoel (anonymous) says…
Yeah, I have been called Josh a few times. Sounds strange, but for some reason I tend to get Kevins and Matts mixed up. Explain that one...
Shelby (anonymous) says…
Just the other day I got Shelton. It's usually Sheldon or something like that. What cracks me up the most is when I get other girly guys names like Stacy or Kelly.
The Pozz is a great sports writer...but the best? That's pretty bold. He's a true Royals fan so that makes any sportswriter ok by my account.