Thomas Friedman writes for the NYT but Mark Steyn doesn’t

The latter observes wearily:

…I was struck by Mr Friedman’s sparkling way with words.

I’m not a credentialed Professor of Prose Style at Columbia School of Journalism or anything, but, for the “it’s generally not a good sign”/”you know you’ve got a problem” cliche to work, doesn’t the bit before it have to be something unexpected or unwanted?