Justin Walters / AP

Will Leitch runs the website Deadspin.com, one of the most read sports blogs on the internet.

4) The least defensible material that appears on Deadspin is not written by Leitch. Commenters can often be crude and frequent contributor A.J. Daulerio can be a scumbag.

It was Daulerio who, before Super Bowl LXI in Miami, snuck into a party that week, peered over the shoulder of ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, and eavesdropped on a text message that he was sending to a leggy model. Daulerio decided that the late-night peregrinations of Scott, and perhaps the company this husband and father was attempting to keep, was newsworthy. And of course, all of this character assassination ran on Deadspin.

In moments like that Deadspin is nothing more than a gathering place for impotent, frustrated males. It's readers and writers are those dudes sitting on the curb at the Gas 'n Sip in "Say Anything," trying to convince John Cusack why chicks are lame.

It is quite possible Scott's "lemme know" text was a prelude to bad behavior. How do we know, though? Daulerio never had the courage to approach Scott. The point is, what was Daulerio attempting to do by breaking this news other than humiliate him? And why should Stuart Scott be humiliated? Because he is wealthier and better-known and, as Daulerio would say, "F___ him" for that.

Will Leitch may not write what Daulerio or the commenters post, but as the editor of Deadspin, he is responsible for it.

5) The motto of Deadspin is "sports news without access, favor, or discretion." As the site's popularity, and thus Leitch's, grows, he will be granted more of the first two and be hard-pressed to keep from exercising the last. In fact, only days after railing against Costas in early March for a comment that he had made in print about bloggers, Leitch gladly accept a phone call from him.

Costas had phoned, back in mid-March, to clarify those comments. Once Leitch actually had a chance to speak to Costas, the Deadspin editor showed much more equanimity. The follow-up post was more conciliatory.

As long as Costas was one of those guys up there, he was fair game as a target. However, once Bob Costas deigned to phone Leitch, to acknowledge him and his site, he wasn't such a bad chap anymore.

And so we are left to wonder: Are the villains of Deadspin, these famous sports personages who live better lives than we do, objects of disdain and ridicule because they are hypocrites or bad people? Or is it because they don't invite us along to hang out with them?

More news

Lm Otero / AP file

Should parents let kids play?

The NFL's head injury issues are causing some parents of youth and high school football players to rethink whether football is safe enough for their children.

Focus on safety in youth, high school football

A few years ago, Omaha businessman Larry Hagan was watching a news report on concussions in high school sports and decided to do something.

AP

CFT: Slain CB's family wants $5 million from UConn

Headlines

• Label

5 heavyweight fights top UFC 146 card

Chandler: Motorcycles flying over MMA fighters? Yes!

Days after deaths, another crowd attempts Everest

NJ to defy federal ban, will allow sports betting

Alabama wins first NCAA women's golf title

Off the Bench: This is world's most marketable?

Mich school honors late hoops star at graduation

Castrodale: Don't call us tomboys anymore