My idea, right or wrong, is that a beat writer's job is to convey information about the team and the games.  A columnist's job is to give opinion.  I'd prefer a beat writer that tells me what's going on with the team and occasionally provides me with info I haven't otherwise come across.  GT gives me game and team info but veers off into the columnist opinion stuff.  I also don't find much of anything new about the team in his articles.  I get just as much or more info on here.
 
	 
 
	Just to clarify, I wouldn't be any more or less pleased if he was a cheerleader/homer.  Its a personal preference and maybe not a realistic one in today's journalistic format.  Maybe his style appeals to some.   My preference is Joe Friday's "just the facts."