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• Tommy boy should learn to take it like a man. The only thing classless and cruel about this whole incident was his article. To try and deflect blame to the alumni tells us more about Tommy boy then we will ever want to know. Good luck writing for the Pennysaver its about where you belong. (NT) -- RickFC77, Wed March 16, 2005 22:44:12
  • I feel really bad that this one article spawned this. Tommy was the first writer to EVER travel to Olean in my 4 years at Fordham and to at least go to the Atlantic 10 tournament. His writing has steadily improved over the course of the year and he has done a much better job running the Ram than some of the past editors. He really supports Fordham athletics. I talked to Tom a few days ago and he said that he knows he was over the top and feels bad, but is surprised by the lashing he's had here. He's one of the guys responsible for putting The Ram online and trying to better Fordham sports coverage. Not trying to apologize for him, but everything should be put into context! (NT) -- Tom Winter, Thu March 17, 2005 11:02:25
  • I'm not surprised at his response. I'm way behind on this, having not checked the board for awhile. It is not a good article, but it really is not that big of a deal. He tried to be funny, and wasn't. Geez, that defines half of what Maureen Dowd writes. His response is not unexpected, but if he is going to do this professionally, he should get use to the criticism. In the age of online publications, blogs, e-mail and "instant access," we all turn into critics. I'll accept from those who know him that he's good at what he does and this piece isn't reflective of his work. But if he is going to do this professionally, then he should get use to criticism. Online publications and articles usually include a e-mail link to reply to the author. What was posted here, though over-the-top at times, is nothing compared to the vitriol he'll have in his inbox if he chooses journalism as a profession. (NT) -- TrentonRam, Fri March 18, 2005 10:14:02

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• I work as a security guard on campus and I get a chance to read The Ram weekly. I think this board has been unnecessarily hard on Tom. It is a shame this article is the first that you guys have gotten to read, because he writes 3-5 a week that are always good. He wrote great feature stuff on Dunston, STout, and Jermaine. Judging by the above post, I think he showed a lot of guts apologizing on the St. Bonaventure message board with his name. Many of you have ruthlessly attacked him without really knowing anything about his ability, I'm not surprised if a 20 year old kid is a bit overwhelmed. I think the article was funny, a bit tasteless at times, but funny. This board shoudl support a young writer, by tactfully criticizing him(CONT). (NT) -- secureram, Wed March 16, 2005 23:17:07
  • This is this young mans early stages of building a career and you guys ripped him pretty bad. That would be tough for anyone to take, let alone a 20 year old. I know its part of the job, but come on, how much can one kid take? The sports section has greatly improved since he took over as editor, I think you guys should give him a chance before you write him off. Taking it like a man is one thing, this is now going on four days worth of abuse. Ligthen up. (NT) -- secureram, Wed March 16, 2005 23:17:28
    • It appears that it is Mr. Cataldo that is the one who needs to lighten up. Most of the posters (myself included) who criticized the piece I believe were very fair to the author, saying it was poorly written and in the end will prove to be a learning experience, but certainly not cause for removal. I'm astounded that Cataldo chose to react as he did towards "the alumni" since they can help him in his career (or not). Also, this is an open board and it's quite possible the "attacks" on him came not from Fordham alumni but from the various trolls and haters who occasionally stop by. Having said that, he really needs to learn to appreciate legitimate critique when he sees it, and develop a thicker skin in general to help deal with the inevitable harsh criticisms (justified or not). As for everything else he's done for and at the The Ram, that's nice but in the end every article must stand on its own. (NT) -- DamnRam, Thu March 17, 2005 12:33:36

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• If he doesn't know where Fairfield is on a map and he's from the metropolitan area, how did he get into Fordham? I'll note that the Fairfield line came from a Bonaventure's guy, to whom he apologized, not a Fordham alumnus, whom he trashes. I see that his research skills haven't improved over the past week. JoltinJoe, since he comes from your hometown, maybe you should have a heart to heart with this guy. No need to visit The Ram website anymore. Have fun making those networking calls, I'm sure you'll get a great response. (NT) -- Crass and Classless, Wed March 16, 2005 23:32:33
  • Crass and Classless, I guess I know you, but that screenname is no nelp. Far too many people I know from Fordham could go by that screename. :) I think he may have even gone to the same high school I did. Anyway, I don't think he should trash the alumni in general; however, some of the attacks on this kid were over the top, don't you think? It was a bad article, but he owes the alumni no apology. He owes the people of Olean and the students at SBU an apology (Tom, without strings and without an explanation). I hope that this article is an aberration and is not representative of the overall quality of his work. He's a student journalist, he made a mistake, and we should give him the benefit of the doubt that he will. We've made our point, and we should move on. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu March 17, 2005 07:01:39
  • Crass and Classless, I guess I know you, but that screenname is no nelp. Far too many people I know from Fordham could go by that screename. :) I think he may have even gone to the same high school I did. Anyway, I don't think he should trash the alumni in general; however, some of the attacks on this kid were over the top, don't you think? It was a bad article, but he owes the alumni no apology. He owes the people of Olean and the students at SBU an apology (Tom, without strings and without an explanation). I hope that this article is an aberration and is not representative of the overall quality of his work. He's a student journalist, he made a mistake from which he must learn, and we should give him the benefit of the doubt that he will. We've made our point, and we should move on. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu March 17, 2005 07:02:36
    • Come to think of it, Crass and Classless, you could be any guy I lived with in "G" House. :) (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu March 17, 2005 08:05:33
      • BTW, if this kid comes from my neck of the woords, I'm sure he plays a pretty mean game of roundball himself. You might recall an intramural legend from Union County about 20 years back who, although not gifted with size, could drain the nets with stunning regularity from 20 feet and in. :) (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu March 17, 2005 09:58:06

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• His writing may have caused offense to some, but I believe Tommy was more upset about the personal attacks made against him. Some alumni chose to complicate the situation and do the same exact thing he did, which was to insult another. What makes you doing it better? Some people on this board are a joke! (NT) -- Ram04, Thu March 17, 2005 01:17:23

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• It appears our sports editor grew up in the age of Clinton: "I did not have sex with that woman." He apologizes in one breath and takes it away in the next: "For that I am sorry. That being said, I do not regret writing it, nor it being published." As to personal attacks, please note that I'm attacking the contradiction in his writing, and I have focused on his writing throughout this episode. He engages in name-calling when he calls the alumni (as if all could be classed as one univocal group) as "both classless, and cruel." [Note the comma misuse.] Then he complains about personal attacks. Huh? Did Tommy take a course in logic at Fordham? It used to be one of the hallmarks of a Fordham education. Stop whining, Tommy. (NT) -- Drag-less, Thu March 17, 2005 06:33:52

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• Seems to me the "classless and cruel" alumni all supported this kid when people called for him to lose his editorship. Two notes: (1) being from a working class background (if that's what the reference to Elizabeth is intended to signify) doesn't give one license to insult others, nor does it tend to show that he did not; and (2) I suspect that, after 3 years at Fordham, Mr. Cataldo is well aware of where Fairfield county is (Fordham plays Fairfield in lots of sports). Claiming not to know casts doubt over the sincerity of his entire "apology". The young man's writing skills have a way to go yet. (NT) -- John, Thu March 17, 2005 06:46:50

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• Get a clue DeCataldo. It's nice that you apologized to the Bona fans, but to then continue the assault on the alumni was ridiculous. Granted, there were some jokers who decided to throw in remarks about his physical appearance, but be a bigger man and just ignore that issue. (NT) -- Air Hej '02, Thu March 17, 2005 08:00:40

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• Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and take it in stride. You felt that your article was fine -- I felt that it was quite nasty. What you do, you do in a public forum, and when you step out of bounds you're going to get an earful whether you like it or not. It doesn't matter if you're 20 or 60 -- that's the way it works, so you had better get used to it now if you have any notion of doing this for a living someday. Just develop a little thicker skin, and if you're good at being a sports journalist, the fair-minded readers who are faithful to you will more than offset of the fringe malcontents who call for your head each time you decide to ruffle a feather or two. I said the first day this whole thing appeared on this board that you should apoligize and you did -- sort of. But your apology is wrapped in an almost arrogant defense of all that you did (which, by the way, means you are not really apologizing). And the alumni comment? It's another mistake. (NT) -- Van Ram, Thu March 17, 2005 08:39:10

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• I'v read through this several times. Where exactly is the apology? (NT) -- Bonnie Ball, Thu March 17, 2005 08:48:36

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• Here's how I think you could paraphrase DeCataldo's "apology": "To the people of Olean, I'm sorry I called you fat, even though you are, it was a joke. And to the Fordham alumni, how dare one or two of you call me fat, it's not funny! You're all classless, and don't attack my editor for being upset with me!" (NT) -- Wake up!, Thu March 17, 2005 08:50:12
  • Agreed, but if you read the replies on the Bonnies Bandwagon, they were equally classless. (NT) -- Bonnie Ball, Thu March 17, 2005 08:52:24
    • He didn't seem to have a problem apologizing to them, and if he's unhappy with them taking potshots at his appearance 1) he started it, he has no standing to take offense and 2) he should turn on people who supported him in his position as editor even as they criticized him for his lapse (hopefully that's all it was even though he seems to have repeated it) in judgement. (NT) -- Wake up!, Thu March 17, 2005 09:12:28

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• I've not commented on DeCandido's article before, but his attack on Fordham alumni is so clueless and childish that I will simply offer this constructive criticism/advice to him. First, before you attempt to write humor again, read as many Tom Shales and Dave Barry columns as you can. Second, understand that by your attack on Forham alumni in general, you're slamming doors that could be of help to your future career. Third, learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat them. (NT) -- TNRam, Thu March 17, 2005 08:53:11

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• ELIZABETH,NJ. DON"t use my hometown to try to bail yourslf out .Being from a suburb of Elizabeth is not being from Elizabeth.I grew up inELIZABETH ,ISTILL live inELIZABETH .DON'T TRY to embrace ELIZABETH now when you probably loked down your nose at it your whole life.IF your from CRANFOD or WESTFIELD admit it (NT) -- BIG SUR, Thu March 17, 2005 10:01:48
  • Big Sur, thought the same thing when I read "a suburb of Elizabeth." Westfield and Cranford ain't that far removed demographically from Farifield County, so the hope is that Mr. Sports Editor isn't dissembling even more by invoking Elizabeth in his apologies. By the way, those of us from Cranford and Westfield don't look down our noses at Elizabeth. Though I did growing up in Jersey City. (NT) -- 70sRam, Thu March 17, 2005 11:26:06
    • Naw, I bet he's from Roselle or Roselle Park. They are the only folks I've ever known who describe their hometowns as suburbs of Elizabeth. Folks from Cranford and Westfield would say they are from "western Union County," and folks from Linden and Union would not describe their towns as a suburb of Elizabeth. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu March 17, 2005 11:39:34
    • Naw, I bet he's from Roselle or Roselle Park. They are the only folks I've ever known who describe their hometowns as suburbs of Elizabeth. Folks from Cranford and Westfield would say they are from "western Union County," and folks from Linden and Union would not describe their towns as a suburb of Elizabeth. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu March 17, 2005 11:39:55
  • This guy is such lame. I don't give him credit for a half hearted apology. He deserved the personal attacks for one reason. The article wasnt funny. It was really shite and he should have realized it and scrapped it. If you can't write that style don't try. He could have done a simple diary approach with a couple of zingers. I wanted to scratch my eyes out as I read that garbage. (NT) -- joe b, Thu March 17, 2005 13:03:20

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• Tom's "apology" was what Richard Nixon used to call the "modified limited hang-out route", i.e. you partially admit culpability, then go on the attack . The comments of alumni were a reflection of our embarrassment at the article itself. We are entitled to those feelings given the tenor of the article. I hoped it would all be a learning experience, but his attack on his own school's alumni was knee-jerk emotion. If you make derogatory statements even in jest, you have to be able to accept a few barbs in return. Otherwise, you appear crass and classless. (NT) -- Upstate Ram, Thu March 17, 2005 13:28:19

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• This was an apology? (NT) -- Rose Hill Rat, Fri March 18, 2005 10:15:39