The heartbreaking work of a really smart blogger

I was devastated when I read yesterday that the 49ers Huddle blog at the website of the San Jose Mercury News is being dismantled. Over the last three years, Vince Chhabria had built the blog into a reliably solid read. He and Erik Larson, who joined the blog as a co-writer last year, will be missed.

Here's why I'm so bummed this blog is defunct - 49ers Huddle was unlike anything else on the net. For one thing, Chhabria is a really smart fan. His blog didn't have to bother with scatalogical humor (like I do) to make a piece worth reading. He also didn't bother with dull topics or doltish imagination land nonsense. He found interesting issues and offered thought-provoking commentary in every piece. While other bloggers are plenty bright, Chhabria was just a cut above. What's more, Chhabria was an unapologetic fan of the team. Most of the blogs worth reading are written by journalists. These are good sources of news, but when a blog is beholden to journalistic standards there's a limit to the commentary it can offer. Chhabria didn't bother with news clips, just commentary. In my mind, that's what blogs are for.

Chhabria's gone the way of most adults. He's put aside a bright future as a blogger for his career and family. Whatever, Vince. I'm going back to bed to hug my knees and shake.