Column published, then pulled... your reactions

Somehow, I knew the school before I looked on Google

 

If the column was good enough to be posted originally it shouldn't have been pulled by some morning editor.

That's amateur hour.

The reasons for pulling that column had better be that the newspaper was trying to avoid a LAWSUIT, not avoid criticism or discomfort because of your opinion.

 

This should answer most questions:
http://westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com/2008/03/tough-times-at-zoo.html

Mr. Shanley, it looks to me as if your column has a lot of flaws. Just my opinion.

 

If you don't mind my sounding like my publisher for a second, that column reads like you're giving vent to spleen. Have you done any reporting by asking the AD WHY she's retaining the coach? What about talking to players? What about talking to folks from other schools who can give informed opinions?

Column writing isn't just about expressing your opinion. You have to get facts to support your opinion, which you do by doing original reporting. And I'm not talking about saying the team hasn't won anything since Ronald Reagan was in office. What is it about training techniques, the system, etc. that causes this team to win nothing more than the odd game against ranked opponents?

Looks to me like you did none of that.

 

Because she's a former gymnastics coach and she can keep the coach another year because he's a grad of the school... other than that and knowing the coach when he played defense for the school, I got nothin

 

I agree with the above issues.

Solid columns are based in solid reporting.

Looks like there was zero reporting done here, but it reads like something that would come out of someone's mouth while he was at the bar with his friends.

The column should have been pulled. Not to hurt your feelings, but it was terrible.

 

Do any of us work at papers that allow freelancers to write opinion columns? Because I don't and never have.

 

To this joe reader, the column is no different than any rant in any city, USA. Substitute Isiah Thomas for Culhane and Jimmy D for Beauregard, and you've got your average NY Post rant/column.

Sure I would've liked to have seen a quote or two from these allegedly peeved fans....

But it didn't seem any more spike-worthy than...

Oh I don't know, "They sat in the stands, in their M.S.U. clothing..."

 

Mine does. Then again, the writer is good enough to be at a daily.

 

My thoughts as well.

 

True, but no one spikes the Almighty Mitch, particularly the Almighty Carole Leigh.

Otherwise, agreed. It probably was amateurish to spike the column online after it had already been published, but this is looking like a worthy case of "better late than never."

 

Besides some of the issues listed above, I would have a problem running a column by a beat writer calling for the coach's head. That's just a line that I would not want to cross.