Football news and sports analysis is a popular topic for many across the country. Mark Craig, sports columnist for the Star Tribune, does the best he can to inform football fans across Minnesota of the latest Vikings news. In his articles “I Call Myself The Greatest”, “Vikings’ NFC North division foes have some work to do”, and “Vikings re-sign Forbath: Kicker who joined team in 2016 gets one-year deal” he primarily uses statistics and facts, comparisons, and his bias towards the Vikings to convey his message. One of Craig’s most widespread strategies to prove his point is the use of statistical analysis and fact based assertions, which can be seen in his articles “Vikings re-sign Forbath: Kicker who joined team in 2016 gets one year deal” …show more content…
His use of comparisons is most prevalent in his articles “I Call Myself The Greatest” and “Vikings’ NFC North division foes have some work to do”. He uses comparisons as a method of proving why a certain player or team is better than another. Craig is able to demonstrate why Randy Moss is a supreme receiver through comparisons to other first ballot hall of fame receivers such as Steve Largent, Lawrence Taylor, and Terry Rice (I Call Myself). By using Moss’s stats, which are superior to that of other first ballot receivers, he is able to achieve his purpose of the article: to prove why Randy Moss deserves first ballot honors. On a little different note, Craig is able to use comparisons in the article “Vikings’ NFC North division foes have some work to do” to show why the Vikings had the strongest offseason of the teams in their division. In a summary statement of the offseason across the division, Craig mentions that “Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemian and Sheldon Richardson aren’t the only newbies of the North to keep an eye on. Allen Robinson joins the Bears’ much-needed overhaul at receiver, and Jimmy Graham teams up with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay” (Vikings NFC North). He then continues on an in depth comparison of each team to help him achieve his purpose of proving why the Vikings are the strongest team in the