My opinions have a forum, and now yours do, too

Let's try something different.

From now on, I will explain myself. From now on, I will be held more accountable to you. From now on, you will be given an opportunity to openly express your views, right alongside mine, in a blog entitled "Extra Points."

The goal is to spur better chemistry between you, the reader, and me, the opinionated scribe. It was my idea, not an editor's mandate. I want to give you insight into how a columnist thinks through a piece and invite you to join an ongoing discussion.

Here's how it works: Starting today, I will write blog entries giving you a behind-the-scenes look at my columns, mostly detailing how and why I choose topics. The URL is: http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brewer. You are invited to post a comment about the column, and throughout the day, I will interact with those who leave their thoughts.

It's kind of like sports-talk radio for the literate.

I call this a reader-appreciation project. During my short time in the Pacific Northwest, I've come to respect the passion and intelligence of sports fans here. This concept was born out of admiration for the many great e-mail exchanges I have with readers. We don't always agree, but often I feel smarter and more in tune with the community after conversing with you.

You deserve to know more about each column I write. And you deserve to have a forum in which we throw opinions back and forth. Debating is a sports fan's favorite pastime, right?

So let's chat.

I think Mariners pitcher Jeff Weaver will need more than 15 days to fix his confidence, er, tendinitis. I think Tim Lincecum will be a better major-league pitcher than Brandon Morrow. I think Felix Hernandez's right arm will be just fine.

But what do you think?

I predict the Sonics will conveniently luck into a top-two pick in the NBA draft lottery. I predict they will celebrate by hiring cheap coaching and general-managing labor. I predict Detroit, not Phoenix or San Antonio, will win the NBA title.

But what's your forecast?

I wonder why Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren seemed to snap last week at a question about Shaun Alexander's mysterious left foot. I wonder why no one's suggesting that Michael Vick, if found guilty for having a role in this dog-fighting-ring scandal, be required to go toe to toe with some vicious canines. I wonder why we even take Ricky Williams' comeback thoughts seriously.

But what are your musings?

I want to know.

Basically, there are two ways to write a column: preach or present.

Preachers stand behind elevated platforms, look down upon their congregation and express their views. No talking, please. When it's over, it's over until the next lecture. Many columnists prefer this method because they can send their message and not have to deal with the potential for harsh feedback. They want to be horses with blinders on, just running their race.

Presenters offer ideas for their audience to digest and then react to during a question-and-answer session. By the end, hopefully, the presenter has had his say, the audience its say, and wisdom has been transmitted from all over the room.

I want to be a presenter. I want to be a facilitator of conversation. I want to set the agenda and let you have the meeting.

The disconnect between the media and the public gets more troubling each day. The messenger keeps taking bullets, keeps having his motives questioned, keeps drifting to lowlife status.

It's now important for the media to be transparent. It's now important that you understand who we are, how we think and why we do things.

Columnists like to say they have an ongoing discussion with readers. We throw out topic after topic after topic, and you read, read, read. You get frustrated; you get inspired. You laugh; you cry. You vow to cancel your subscription, and then a year later, you make that same vow again.

But no matter what, you're destined to see that same face again in the newspaper and read opinions in a writing style so recognizable you could find it in a police lineup.

But despite the familiarity, we're merely strangers who grin while walking past each other every day.

Let's stop and meet, at last.

This is me putting down a welcome mat. Wipe your feet and come on in.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com